“Matching Extron’s DMP 128 Plus Series audio processor with Shure array mics and Sony PTZ cameras, all managed by the IP Link Pro control processor, has proven to be the absolute best solution for our classroom environments.”

Joel BennettManager of Media Services Group at Santa Clara University

SCU Automates Lecture Capture with Array Mics and Extron Audio and Control Systems

Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University - SCU blends together a rich, Jesuit

educational tradition with the innovations expected of an institute of higher learning. Recently, they

began a multi-phase renovation of their academic buildings. Part of the project included upgraded

AV systems designed to provide exceptional audio and video quality to support the learning process.

SCU partnered with AV integration firm Avidex to validate appropriate designs for each learning

space and integrate the new AV systems. While Extron video, audio, and control products are widely

deployed throughout the campus, this story focuses on the unique lecture capture system developed

for the Leavey School of Business at Lucas Hall. The design provides automated directional tracking

that allows the instructor to step from behind the lectern to teach and mentor student synergy.

To enable instructor mobility and operator-free lecture capture, the design incorporates a Shure®

MXA910 MicroFlex® Advance™ ceiling array microphone, two Sony® SRG300H/W PTZ cameras,

and an Extron IPCP Pro 550 IP Link® Pro Control Processor.

Lecture Capture EvolutionTraditional lecture capture systems include one or more small surveillance-class cameras. Without

an AV system operator in the classroom, the instructor must wear a wireless microphone and

position tracker or remain fixed at the lectern to stay in the frame during recording. Student questions

are often inaudible, requiring the instructor to repeat questions for the recording or pass around a

handheld microphone. Employing a stationary microphone requires students to leave their seats to

ask a question.

Use of audience boundary microphones were an alternative for lecture

capture. However, they tend to pick up spurious sounds such as

papers shuffling, the clicking keys on multiple laptops, and general

noises like coughs and sneezes.

SCU’s solution solves all of these concerns. A couple of touches on

the TouchLink Pro touchpanel’s screen turns on the AV system and

activates lecture capture, allowing the instructor to begin the lesson

without fuss or assistance from the support team. The system

recognizes the presenter's location and follows their voice. As they

move around the room, it automatically selects the best settings for

each AV system component. The instructor is not required to carry

or wear a microphone or tracking device and can move freely among

the students and groups. Questions from any seat are also captured,

eliminating the need to pass around a microphone or have students

move closer to a stationary mic. This facilitates the natural exchange

of information and interaction. The use of the ceiling-mounted array

microphone greatly minimizes background noise that occurs with other

microphone arrangements.

“It was important for us to leverage the most up-to-date recording

technology as students increasingly rely on remote instruction and

recorded lectures to stay ahead in today’s competitive fields,” said

Nancy A. Cutler, Deputy CIO for Academic Technology at SCU. “Using

Extron AV and control systems with the Shure array microphones

helps us deliver on our promise of enhanced, connected learning

environments for our students and user-friendly system operation for

our faculty and staff.”

SCU Automates Lecture Capture with Array Mics and Extron Audio and Control Systems

Rooms such as Lucas 126 provide automated lecture capture capabilities and do not require system setup nor operation assistance from the university support staff. Courtesy of Santa Clara University

The Shure ceiling array microphones connect to the DMP 128 Plus C AT via Dante.

The rack-mounted IPCP Pro 550 control processor is programmed to recognize varying sound levels and automatically activate camera presets.

The design includes two PTZ cameras slaved to the MicroFlex Advance ceiling array microphones using the Extron IP Link Pro control processor.

Automatic Audio/Camera Angle Tracking with Extron Pro Series Control SystemAn Extron IPCP Pro 550 IP Link Pro Control Processor is programmed

to continuously monitor the sound levels from each of the MXA910’s

eight microphones. The control processor identifies the direction of the

best sound and immediately recalls the appropriate camera preset.

Each preset activates the designated PTZ camera and sets the angle

and zoom. Various camera presets are triggered as the instructor

moves around the room or when a student asks a question. If no voices

are discernable for eight seconds, the control processor defaults to a

wide angle shot. The wide-angle view includes the lectern, the screens

and whiteboards, and a portion of the seats.

“As a system designer and integrator, being the first to build AV systems

that have such an incredibly rich feature set as the SCU classrooms

was a challenge,” says Bill  MacLeod, Design Engineer at Avidex.

“Teaming with Extron and Shure allowed us to design the unique

AV system in Lucas Hall that has brought higher learning technology

experts to Santa Clara to examine and copy their automated lecture

capture system.”

In rooms such as the pilot installation within Lucas 126, the Forbes

Family Conference Center, and classroom Lucas 107, the design

provides a complete AV signal switching and routing system based

on an Extron DTP CrossPoint 4K Series scaling presentation matrix

switcher. A confidence monitor is at the lectern, and display devices

include a combination of two or more projection systems and LCD

flat panel displays, depending on room size. Sources, such as a

computer, document camera, or media player, and the AV equipment

are split between the intermediate distribution frame — IDF rack in the

back of the room and the lectern. Embedded in the lectern are Extron

Cable Cubby® enclosures that offer convenient AV connectivity and

power for the instructor’s laptop and other devices.

The IPCP Pro 550 control processor provides additional communication

ports to supplement those available with the IPCP Pro processor

built into the DTP CrossPoint® matrix switcher. Extron's powerful

Global Configurator Professional - GC Pro software monitored external

feedback using local variables, and conditional logic was applied

through camera presets.

The instructor can manually operate the system using the Extron

TLP Pro 1220TG 12" Tabletop TouchLink® Pro Touchpanel installed at

the lectern. A screen can also be raised to allow the instructor to use a

whiteboard while the other projection system provides content.

DMP 128 Plus with Dante Supports Array MicrophonesThe DMP 128 Plus C AT processor supports various audio tasks

and signal routing. These include audio conferencing with AEC —

acoustic echo cancellation, mixing and processing of the various

microphones, audio sources output to the amplification system,

and audio signal transmission to the room’s other systems. Extron's

SCU Automates Lecture Capture with Array Mics and Extron Audio and Control Systems

Logic blocks within Global Configurator Professional enable the IPCP Pro 550 control processor to continuously monitor the microphones, detect the active lobe, and recall the appropriate camera preset. Courtesy of Status Controls, Certified Extron Control Specialist

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Touches on the TLP Pro 1220TG TouchLink Pro touchpanel screen turns on the AV system and starts lecture capture, enabling the instructor to begin teaching immediately. Courtesy of Santa Clara University

The TouchLink Pro touchpanel installed at the lectern or the wall-mounted unit can be used to manually control the AV system. Courtesy of Santa Clara University

SCU’s campus renovation project included upgraded AV systems designed to provide exceptional audio and video quality. Courtesy of Santa Clara University

SCU Automates Lecture Capture with Array Mics and Extron Audio and Control Systems

DSP Configurator Software facilitates audio DSP management of the

DMP 128 Plus C AT processor. The software’s flexible graphical user

environment simplifies the complex assignment of automatic mixing.

Internal logic built into the MXA910 and the DMP 128 Plus Series

processor ensure seamless, consistent sound without clipping.

The MicroFlex Advance ceiling array microphones connect to the

DMP 128 Plus via Dante. The processor's Flex inputs allow the Dante

channels from the MXA910 to utilize the AEC and input processing,

along with mixing the program audio and other audio sources. For

power, the array microphones operate on PoE from a network switch,

and the rest use phantom power provided by the DMP 128 Plus. “When

designing the Lucas Hall classrooms, we knew the Shure MX910

paired with the DMP 128 Plus audio processor was the missing piece

for our automated lecture capture system, especially when camera

tracking is controlled by Extron’s IPCP Pro 550 control processor,”

says Sean K. Kennedy, Senior Media Systems Specialist at SCU.

ResultsEach room is ready for use when the instructor arrives. There is no

need for university support staff to set up or operate the lecture capture

system. Instructors enjoy being free of carrying or wearing devices and

continually repeating student questions.

“It’s been a goal of mine to build rooms like these in Lucas Hall,”

says Joel  Bennett, Manager of the Media Services Group at SCU.

“Matching Extron’s DMP 128 Plus Series audio processor with Shure

array mics and Sony PTZ cameras, all managed by the IP Link Pro

control processor, has proven to be the absolute best solution for our

classroom environments.”