Easy Audio: A Roadmap to Confident Integration in Hospitality Projects
In the world of hospitality, incorporating audio into projects can often be seen as a daunting task. However, with a structured approach, focused on both the application and guests’ needs and preferences, the process can certainly become an opportunity for success. Rob Voorhees, CTS, CTP, DSCE, CTNS, Dante, BDM II – Technical Specialist at Exertis Almo, has shared with us some valuable insights on how to start incorporating sound into projects with ease. Let go through some of these tips together and turn any uncertainties into endless possibilities.
1. Understanding the Application and Customer’s Needs:
You can begin the audio integration journey by gaining a basic understanding of the application and the specific requirements of your customer. This involves asking targeted questions, much like you would for other components of a project. For example, inquire about the need for microphones, amplification for live bands or pianos, and sound systems. This initial step helps demystify the process and eliminates the “scary unknown.”
2. Creating a Roadmap:
To simplify the integration process you can create a roadmap that starts with the customer’s display or source. Consider how the content will be heard, which most likely requires speakers. These speakers require amplification, potentially involving a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or mixer for sound control and tuning. Following this roadmap systematically guides you through the integration steps, instilling confidence in both you and your customer to provide a comfortable guest experience.
3. Selling Comfort and Confidence:
Recognize that many integrators may not be entirely comfortable with audio topics. Therefore, focus on selling comfort and confidence throughout the integration process. By breaking down the project into manageable steps and clearly defining each component, your not only simplifying the task at hand, but also assuring that your customers are fully informed and set up for success.
4. Knowing Your Resources:
One key to removing the unknown and building confidence is being aware of your available resources. Numerous vendors and sites, such as Harman Pro Training, offer online support made specifically to enhance your audio knowledge. Additionally, you can utilize any available design tools provided by audio vendors. For example, JBL’s Distribute System Design can assist in determining speaker quantity and required wattage for amplifiers based on specific dimensions. Need to know your sound reinforcement system will be free from feedback? Check out the Exertis Almo PAG-NAG calculator.
5. Utilizing Exertis Almo Support with Manufacturer Relationships:
For support beyond training and design tools, our BDM team acts as a direct connection to our manufacturer partners. From technical support and system design to product training and demo programs, our BDMs are here to assist you and to connect you with our manufacturers for additional help with designing a system or creating the ultimate Bill of Materials (BOM). If certain questions make you uncomfortable or if uncertainty arises, remember that Exertis Almo and our manufacturers are there to assist you and your customer. If you leverage your available resources correctly, then a successful audio integration is certainly achievable!
In conclusion, incorporating sound into hospitality projects doesn’t have to be a complex and intimidating process. With a structured approach, a clear roadmap, and a utilization of vendor resources, you can confidently navigate the world of audio integration, delivering exceptional results for both you and your customers!
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It would seem to make sense then that we should be designing the room, and the meeting environment, first around the human and then applying the appropriate technology within the boundaries of human factors and ergonomics.
A close second to the maximum allowable background noise level is the acoustical performance of the space. This is the actual sound signature of the room, and I can think of nothing more important that is also the least considered or even ignored. While the trend has been towards glass walls, shiny floors, wood panels and other acoustically “hard” surfaces, these materials are the least friendly when it comes to the acoustical criteria needed for human communication. Jun Lim recently wrote, “No matter how excellent an audio system is, it cannot surpass the limitations imposed by the acoustic environment.” The late John Murray once said, “Once the sound leaves the loudspeakers, it’s out in the wild”. “Acoustically friendly” doesn’t have to mean plain or ugly but aesthetics devoid of acoustical considerations impedes the ability to communicate.
Being that I am now 42 years old and have worked in Telecom and AV for the better part of 2 decades, I have 12+ trips to Las Vegas completed and feel like I know what to expect each time I fly into Harry Reid International Airport. First, it was the annual DIRECTV Revolution Conference, then it was Channel Partners, followed by InfoComm in alternating years. As I have explained to my wife (who has never been), I feel like the mystique of Las Vegas wears off after the first or second trip out there. However, when I was approached back in 2019 with the chance to attend my first ever JBL Fest, I felt the type of excitement as if I had never been there and was eager to experience a new list of firsts. Unfortunately, a family health scare cancelled my trip that year and 2 years-worth of a Pandemic further delayed my first JBL Fest until 2022. Having enjoyed last year as much as I did, I still felt a certain sense of the “exciting unknown” when I was invited to attend again this year. Along with our Exertis Almo Incentive Winners – Josh Taylor, Kyle Smith, Randy Robinovitch, and Ray Farler, I headed out to Las Vegas and made sure to document JBL Fest 2023 for all of you!
Landing Las Vegas, you are almost immediately greeted by hosts holding “JBL Fest” signage at the baggage claim area and are ushered to a waiting shuttle (aka a rather swanky party bus) which took us to the Park MGM where we would be staying for the next 2 days. Surprise #1 on this trip was while I was checking in and I lift my head to notice Kevin Humphrey, Harman Distribution Manager (and close friend), standing next to me. I have always said that I am only as successful as those around me, so to be able to share this experience with someone deserving like Kevin made the event that much more rewarding. We then walked to the Hospitality Suite where I received a welcome packet and the “infamous” JBL Fest Swag Bag. This year, the bag contained several JBL branded items such as water bottles and hand sanitizer, but the highlight was the customized pair of JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds. If you are not familiar with these, they are JBL’s newest noise cancelling earbuds which were featured in WIRED’s Best of CES 2023. Spatial Audio, wireless charging, and a first of its kind touch display on the charging case make these anything but your typical earbuds. I had to open and pair them with my phone the second I got to my room! Once we got to the complimentary lunch, I was able to meet with our team as well as with Frank Joseph and Whitney Bosch from the Harman marketing team as we game-planned the day and discussed all that was happening.
Next stop was a VIP-access tour of Allegiant Stadium which is where the Las Vegas Raiders play their home games. Seeing as how I just recently took my daughter on a tour of Citizens Bank Park as well as Lincoln Financial Field, this was right up my alley! Aside from going down to the field level and experiencing this newer facility up close, we received some behind the scenes sneak peaks into the A/V which included their control/IT room which housed an impressive 50+ Crown DCI4x1250N amplifiers and multiple BSS Processors amongst other items. Simply standing next to the rack of amps was eye-opening as you realize how much it takes to truly power that type of operation. While we didn’t get up close to the speakers, we did learn it was the JBL VLA Series of Line Array Speakers which are typically found in stadium-type applications. Following the tour we had a little downtime before meeting up for the evening welcoming reception at the Hotel, which we were greeted by a team photo opportunity and another swag bag complete with a custom JBL Fest Masterclass Bluetooth speaker. This opening event was followed by an even bigger party at the onsite club. Mingling with a diverse group of worldwide influencers and Harman executives is always fun but I was fortunate enough to make my way to the Harman VIP lounge which then led to a once in a lifetime opportunity! Kyle Smith and I were invited into a back room where we met and had a photo opportunity with Lenny Kravitz! To finish things off was a rather surprise appearance from Grammy winning artist Bruno Mars who sang along with some of his biggest hits. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night!
Waking up on Friday I knew we were in for a long but rewarding day. First off was breakfast which came complete with a Johnny Fly Sunglasses gifting station! You essentially walk up and try on several pairs of high-end sunglasses and then say “ok ill take these”. The wrap them up in a custom JBL case and you are on your way! We then made our way to the Installed Audio Masterclass presented by 
We immediately went to the JBL Stage with VIP access where we all met up for drinks, food, and music. I ventured off while Bebe Rexha was performing and found myself with perfect view of the main stage where an EDM DJ was getting the crowd fired up for the next act. After looking through the street vendors and other areas, I called it a night as I listened to Bebe Rexha perform with special guest Tyler Hubbard (from Florida Georgia Line). The Killers were the headliner of Friday night and through videos I saw from Josh Taylor, it seemed our entire team left the trip on a high note!
For me, I was always looking for the connectors on the cables to give me some sort of indication as to what signal they were sending, and to a certain degree they do. An XLR mic cable is GENERALLY used to for mic level audio, but not always. In many cases, there aren’t cable connectors at all, sometimes there’s just PHEONIX1 block connectors. Anyway, it became clearer to me when I learned that they’re all pretty much the same signal just at different voltage levels.
So, really, an audio signal is just like a little 
Xilica has already seen great success in other parts of the world with conference and system processing applications. Besides the card-based approach to the DSP, they have also developed a plenum rated POE+ amplifier (
a passive ceiling speaker (
On top of this, two versions of control appliances allow simple, user-friendly control of any system. The 
more advanced control of user defined parameters in an easy-to-use format. Controls can also be integrated with other well-known control platforms such as 
One of the worst case scenarios is when the client’s equipment budget expectations and reality are not one-and-the-same. I had one of those recently.
My neighbors had a yard sale recently, and amongst the treasures was an older Master Appliance heat gun. It was missing the base and the nozzle was a little beat up. I snatched it up right away. Why? Because I knew I could order replacement parts like bases, elements, switches, and more. It is not a throwaway product. It’s a quality product that you can keep running for decades, because if something does need attention, parts can be obtained, the unit fixed and put back into daily service easily.
