Billed as the premier sports bar andrestaurant in the Kansas City area, the 810Zone is certainly one of the most hi-tech,boasting no less than 48 high definitionplasma screens, 25 smaller interactive LCDscreens, four remote touch-screen controlpanels and two large 15' x 12' wide-screenprojectors including one quad-view wide-screen projection system, not to mentionpool tables, video arcade games and a fullyinteractive virtual golf course. The bar isdivided into several different zones, bothphysically and in audio-visual terms.Naturally, one of the biggest issues raisedby such a complex installation was that ofcontrol – how on earth do you manage somany elements without getting lost in amaze of buttons, switches and remotecontrols, and preferably without breaking

the bank? AV systems integrator Bob Scottof Sound Products in Lenexa, KS, had theanswer – Stardraw Control.

The 810 Zone comprises five separatezones, each with a different function anddifferent equipment that had to be capableof operating in a standalone capacity or aspart of a whole. The large mainentrance/bar area has a very open ceilingspace and lots of plasma screens includingthe hi-def quad-view wide-screen projector.Then there are four more areas, each ofwhich can be hired out forprivate functions: the UpperDeck, which can cater for upto 400 people (200 if seatingis required); the Skybox, aprivate glassed-in room with

a 360˚ view of the entire facility, whichoffers two plasma screens, its own separatesound system, a laptop jack forpresentations and a remote touch screencontrol panel; the 810 Suite, a larger roomthat offers multiple plasma screens, its ownseparate sound system, a laptop jack forpresentations and a dedicated DVD player;and finally the Fieldhouse Game Roomwhich can handle up to 200 people and isfilled with pool tables, plasma screens,video arcade games and the full-swinginteractive golf attraction.

“There's no doubt that StardrawControl offers a number ofadvantages over competing control solutions . . .”

Stardraw gets into the Zone in Kansas CityThe 810 Zone Bar & Grill concept is the result of a highly successful partnershipbetween Union Broadcasting, the owners of KC-based WHB Sports Radio 810,restaurant and brewpub management company, K.C. Hopps Ltd, and a group of localinvestors. The second location has just opened on Broadway in Kansas City in thewake of the undeniable success of the first 810 Zone in nearby Leawood, KS.

C A S E S T U D Y

"The client knew from the outset that thiswould be a complex installation," admittedScott. "All screens are fed high definitioncomponent-video signals through a digitalmatrix switcher so that any TV can see anychannel," he explained. "Programming isdelivered via DIRECTV satellite and twoCATV boxes for local sports networks notavailable over satellite. All of this meantmore knobs, dials, switches and remotecontrols than Kennedy Space Center, andthe client didn't want his restaurant staffgetting tangled up with it all, so he askedme to come up with a touch-screen controlsystem. The single largest criterion (apartfrom the control element of course) wasthat it had to be simple for the staff tooperate. I offered him a solution built onStardraw Control, and that was finally whatwon me the contract."

However, although Scott recognized thebenefits of a Stardraw Control solutionstraight away, both for himself and hisclient, he also recognized that, as acomplete newcomer to the software, andwith a complex system to design, he mightbe in need of some help. So, he went ontothe Stardraw Control Forum to see what hecould learn from other users. StardrawForums is a free, online service fromStardraw where users can exchange ideas,ask questions and share hints and tips.Forums have been established for allStardraw products, including Stardraw

Control of course, and are continuouslymonitored by Stardraw experts to ensurethat replies to postings are both timelyand accurate. As Stardraw points out, theweb is by far the most important way thatthey communicate as a company;therefore it makes complete sense to have as many online resources as possible.Since they went live over three years ago,the Forums have become an invaluablepart of the Stardraw community with users all over the world sharing ideas and experiences.

Scott's experience of the Stardraw ControlForum is a case in point. His post to theForum was actually a request for help withdrivers, given the scale of his project (hispost was entitled, 'Anyone in the mood towrite some drivers?') and he got a more orless instant reply from Paul Clark, aStardraw Control Certified Programmerbased in the UK. The Certified Programmernetwork has been established by Stardrawas a way of extending support for StardrawControl out into the field. By contacting aCertified Programmer, all of whom areactive on the Forums, customers areguaranteed a very high level of technicalcompetence up to and including C#programming skills, which are occasionallyrequired for complex systems like BobScott's where bi-directional drivers arerequired, and hence the reason forimplementing the CP network.

"It's an incredibly useful and efficientresource," commented Scott. "I was able todetermine very quickly with Paul what wasrequired, and he went away and wrote thedriver for me at an extremely reasonablerate. The whole process took very little timeand was extremely cost-effective."

Once he had all the necessary elements athis disposal, including the drivers written byPaul Clark, Scott sat down with StardrawControl and designed a system (and theaccompanying user interface) to control allthe elements of the AV system, namely; thecomponent video digital matrix switchers;the DBX audio processor that enables eachzone to select their audio source and adjustvolume; DIRECTV channel selection;switching the wide screen projector fromquad-view to single-view and vice versa.The control UI also provides master on/offswitches for all screens and projectors inthe facility and buttons that group anumber of commands, such as setting upall the inputs to certain stations atparticular times of day, into 'lunchtime' and'evening' settings. There are also buttons toswitch all the screens in the house to oneparticular channel, for instance when thebig game is on. Finally Scott provided awireless UMPC touchpad to enable theclient to control everything from whereverhe happens to be in the facility.

"There's no doubt that Stardraw Controloffers a number of advantages overcompeting control solutions," noted Scott."For a start, the fact that it's openarchitecture means that we could select ouraudio and video components to best suit thefacility (and the budget) instead of beingrestricted to whatever would work with thecontrol system. Secondly, we didn't have tomeet any certification requirements or have acomputer programmer on staff to managethe system. Thirdly, I can make changes to theprogramming and GUI (Graphical UserInterface) myself – I don't have to spendhundreds of dollars to hire a programmereach time the client wants to changesomething. Finally, the whole Stardrawexperience has been remarkably easy fromstart to finish. The support via the Forumswas great; I got the information, the contactsand the results I needed quickly andefficiently. For the first time I've been able tooffer a viable alternative to Crestron or AMX,and in this instance, I got the job because ofit. Stardraw Control has proved to be cheaperand easier to implement, easier to use andmore flexible. The client has really appreciatedhaving the ability to be able to control all theequipment from remote locations using awireless touchscreen, and it's given me adefinite competitive edge."

Sound Products company bio:Sound Products was started in 1990. Initially,just two products were offered - headsetsfor the fastfood industry and five channelsof satellite music for businesses.

Today, Sound Products is the largest DMXMusic franchisee in the country, servingover 1,500 customers regionally andnationally with more than 100 musicformats. An extended product line includes audio and video environments,audio and video marketing programs,intercom communication systems andsurveillance systems.

Headquartered in Kansas City, SoundProducts sells, designs, installs and servicesthe highest quality audio, video and securityproducts and systems. The aim is to deliversolutions that increase sales, profitabilityand operational efficiencies by creatingoptimal audio environments and securebusiness settings. The company providesinstallation and service throughout thecountry in partnership with a nationwidedealer network.

Sound Products is a member of the NSCA(National Systems Contractors Association)and adheres to the industries code of ethics.

“Stardraw Control has proved to be cheaperand easier to implement, easier to use andmore flexible.”

”For a start, the fact that it's openarchitecture means that we could select ouraudio and video components to best suit thefacility (and the budget)...”

”The single largest criterion (apart from the controlelement of course) was that it had to be simple for thestaff to operate. I offered him a solution built onStardraw Control, and that was finally what won methe contract.”

C A S E S T U D Y

280 Madison Avenue, #912 9th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USATel: +1 212 386 5644 Fax: +1 888 317 7812

The 401 Centre, 302 Regent Street, London W1B 3HH, EnglandTel: +44 (0)20 7692 7117 Fax: +44 (0)20 7692 7118

www.stardraw.com info@stardraw.com

Download YourFree Demo

Today

DTV

Configuration Utility

Equipment ListMovie Theater50x Global Cache GC-100-6 Network adapter,

1 serial and 3 I/R3x Global Cache GC-100-18-R

Network adapter, 2 serial and 6 I/R4x Obvios KM-T 12" screen3x D-Link DES-1026G 24 port ethernet switch1x Planar PT1500MU Touchscreen1x Tablet Kiosk V7110 EO UMPC Tablet PC2x Desktop computer1x 8 port KVM switch

TVs39x Electrograph DTS4225PTD 42" plasma4x Electrograph DTS55PTD 55" plasma1x Electrograph 20PF5120 20" LCD TV2x Panasonic TH65PF9UK 65" plasma monitor2x Panasonic TH50PF9UK 50" plasma monitor

Infrastructure1x BogenTP30D AM/FM Tuner16x CE Labs AV400COMP 1X4 DA amplifier2x Da-Lite 94005-V Cinema Contour fixed

frame, 192" diag HD1x Da-Lite 94312-V Cinema Contour fixed

frame, 110" diag HD1x DBX zonePro 1260 12 input / 6

output mixer1x D&M Pro DN-V300 DVD player15x DirecTv H20 High definition DTV receiver2x DirecTv AT9 5 LNB dish2x Panasonic PT-DW5000U Projector3x FSR CI-5BWPA-WH Active HD-15 wall plate4x Knox RSII RGB VO/IP/FPC 16X16 with

front controls and IP control1x Knox Audio Add unbalanced stereo audio

to one RSII51x Pace TWHR-2xx Line tap, two port, 1GHz 3x Pace RK6PACK 6 receivers in 7 rack spaces2x Pace WB68 6X8 multiswitch1x Pace PBDIA 30dB CATV amplifier, wall

mount, 860MHz

1x QSC CX 204V 4 channels, 200 Watts/ch @ 70V

1x QSC CX 302V 2 channels, 250 Watts/ch @ 70V

1x RGB Spectrum QuadView XL 4 HD sources to one screen

37x Soundtube SM500 5.25" 2-way surface spkr3x UPS Battery backup supply1x WRT54GR Router2x Switch Switch3x TV One 1T-PC1280PC PC video to

Component video adapter1x TV One MX-3141HDA 4X1 component

video switcher

Bob ScottSound Products, Inc. 14849 W. 95thLenexa, KS 66215USA

800-466-3666 X102e: bscott@soundproductsinc.com

Login

Game Room Main

Downstairs Video

System User Interface

UI Design/Layout by Bob Scott Sound Products Inc.

C A S E S T U D Y