Room Design

Automate VX functions in a variety of spaces, however, these spaces often have specific considerations that need to be made. The following sections provide information on the types of spaces that Automate VX is effective with, and what considerations need to be made when designing a room.

Extra Large Rooms

Extra large rooms hold 12 or more participants. Automate VX accommodates extra large meeting space configurations where participants are either facing one monitor, or facing various monitors throughout the room. Depending on the size of the room, more cameras and microphones may be required to provide speaker tracking for all participants.

Multi-Purpose Spaces

If the room is a multi-purpose space (such as a training room where furniture will be moved and regularly reconfigured), account for multiple furniture layouts with appropriate camera and microphone placement. A multi-purpose space may require additional cameras and/or microphones compared to a room with a static furniture layout. This ensures that cameras are always facing participants regardless of furniture layout.

TIP: Use a physical indicator in the room such as a marking on the ceiling or floor to accurately position furniture. Automate VX requires furniture to be placed consistently for each respective room configuration.

High Value Rooms

High value rooms are meeting spaces that are considered important and custom video conferencing is required. Automate VX provides a custom tailored experience for these spaces, allowing for dynamic compositions and camera shots. Examples of high value rooms include but are not limited to a CEO's boardroom or a client-facing location.

The intended usage of a high value space can change the required amount of cameras significantly. For example, if side by side compositions are used, ensure that speaking participants are able to be presented simultaneously.

Divisible Spaces

Divisible spaces are very large rooms that can be sectioned off into two or more rooms, often with folding walls or sliding doors. These rooms have multiple configurations that change depending on the event and number of participants. They can also include multiple presentation areas and multiple furniture layouts.

To ensure that all presentation and participant areas are captured with speaker tracking video, one Automate VX system should be used for each room within the divisible space. Each divisible space that uses an Automate VX requires additional cameras and microphones.

Crestron NDI enabled cameras are recommended for divisible spaces because they can connect to multiple Automate VX systems. For more information on Crestron NDI enabled cameras, refer to Cameras.

Training and Learning Spaces

Training and learning spaces are rooms where there is an audience and a main presentation area. These are typically classrooms where a presenter stands in front of a class of students. Automate VX provides the ability to track a presenter's movements while camera switching to the students when they speak. A side by side composition is common with training and learning spaces, where the presenter and a speaking student can be seen simultaneously.

The AutoTracker camera is typically positioned at the opposite side of the room facing the presentation area, enabling the presenter to be accurately tracked. PTZ-IP 12 and/or PTZ-IP 20 cameras should be positioned at the presentation side of the room facing the students.

Microphones should be positioned within the space to accommodate a moving presenter and stationary students. A lavalier microphone is recommended for the presenter, while intelligent ceiling array microphones are recommended for the student section.

Component Implementation

Automate VX relies on a combination of cameras and microphones to properly operate, and the location of these peripherals is crucial. The following sections provide information on implementing cameras and microphones in a room with Room Designer for Automate VX. For more information about Room Designer, refer to the 1 Beyond Automate VX Product Manual.

Camera Implementation

Camera usage in a room is dependent on the room itself (shape, orientation, and purpose of the room), but there are general guidelines to implementing cameras. The following sections provide information on camera room requirements.

Camera Quantity

Two PTZ-IP 12 or PTZ-IP 20 cameras should be placed at the same position to ensure fast and clean video shots, and to avoid camera panning. This also ensures that participants in the room have an available camera to switch to them when one camera is already preoccupied.

Typically only one AutoTracker camera is required in a room, as it is best used for presentation areas. Use AutoTracker cameras only when presenter tracking is necessary for the room configuration.

Camera Placement

Cameras should always be placed facing towards where participants and presenters are located. This often means placing cameras on the top of or around monitors where video conferencing occurs. Ensure that there are no obstructions blocking the camera shot.

NOTE: All camera placements require proper lighting for the video output. 500 lux is the recommended minimum lighting for a camera shot.

NDI and SDI

All Crestron cameras that are compatible with Automate VX have SDI or NDI outputs available. NDI enabled cameras are recommended if the room has more than 7 cameras, or has multiple Automate VX units. Otherwise, SDI or NDI outputs can be used interchangeably depending on preference.

Caution: Do not use NDI and SDI outputs in conjunction with one another. Doing so will negatively impact the camera switching performance of Automate VX.

Microphone Implementation

Microphone usage is dependent on the room itself (shape, orientation, and purpose), but there are general guidelines for implementing microphones. The following sections provide information on microphone room requirements.

Microphone Quantity

The microphone quantity required for a room depends on which microphones are used. For intelligent microphone arrays, determine the microphone quantity by using the Proximity Check setting in Room Designer on Automate VX. Proximity Check will give an accurate assessment of where intelligent microphone arrays should be placed in a room for adequate speaking participant coverage.

For microphones that are not intelligent microphone arrays, the microphone quantity required is equal to the number of speaking participants in the room. For microphones that require a DSP, ensure the DSP has a sufficient channel count to meet the microphone quantity. For more information on DSP channel limits, refer to DSPs.

Microphone Placement

The microphone placement for a room depends on which microphones are used. For intelligent microphone arrays, optimal placement can be determined by using the Proximity Check setting in Room Designer on Automate VX. Proximity Check displays the range of intelligent microphone arrays, and will notify when a microphone is not in speaking range.

When using a lavalier microphone, use an AutoTracker to follow the presenter's movement. For all other microphones used with Automate VX, microphones should be placed where speaking participants are located in the room. If a DSP is present, the DSP location does not affect the performance of Automate VX.

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