Embedded Files
The Columbus Academy Dining Hall AV system primarily consists of two sections, the main Dining Hall and the Fireside.
The Main Dining Hall (West end of Dining Hall)
The Main Dining Hall (West end of Dining Hall)
Primary projector (Zone 1) located at the West end of the Dining Hall,
Three HDTVs (in Zones 2-4) installed along the walls of the Dining Hall, and
One HDTV installed in the Westwater Room - where the Pre-K and Kindergartners dine.
Four Speaker Zones spread across the Dining Hall.
3 wireless microphones (2 handhelds and 1 lapel) are available from Tech Office or Dining Hall staff - who can help issue the mics to you. If you are hosting events outside of school hours, please check with CA Security staff instead.
The AV system's primary input, also known as Academy Source, has a touch panel at the West end of the Dining Hall that is able to send video and audio output to the displays in the 4 Zones of the main Dining Hall and the adjacent Westwater room TV. There are numerous input options for audio and video - including HDMI, VGA + 3.5mm audio, and wireless Apple AirPlay via an AppleTV.
Across the Dining Hall, each HDTV can also be individually controlled from the button-control panel close to it. This allows each HDTV to switch between "Academy Source", or to the A/V input wall plate below each TV so that it can directly mirror the display from a computer or mobile device connected to the A/V plate via a HDMI cable.
The Fireside (East end of Dining Hall)
The Fireside (East end of Dining Hall)
Secondary projector located at the East end of the Dining Hall, near the fireplace,
Independent Speakers that emits audio from the Fireside input panel, separate from the main Dining Hall, and
2 wireless microphones (1 handheld and 1 lapel) are available from Tech Office or Dining Hall staff - who can help issue the mics to you. If you are hosting events outside of school hours, please check with CA Security staff instead.
The secondary projector at the 'Fireside' section can be connected via a wired HDMI connection available on its A/V input wall panel across from the fireplace, which is also where a rolling lectern cart is located. There is also an AppleTV connected to the Fireside projector so any device that supports Apple AirPlay can use it for wireless display projection.
NOTE: At the moment, the VGA and 3.5mm audio connection are not working, and we are investigating the issue.
Connecting to the main Dining Hall AV system
Connecting to the main Dining Hall AV system
Locate the Academy Source AV touch panel at the the West end of the Dining Hall.
Tap anywhere on the touchscreen to wake up the system.
When the panel display awakens, tap on "Begin Session".
Academy Source - Video Displays
Academy Source - Video Displays
4. When the AV panel activates, it will first bring you to the "Video Displays" section (of the bottom navigation bar) with the power, video input and volume controls for the Dining Hall five video display devices:
The primary Video Projector, located beside the Academy Source touch panel;
Zone-2 HDTV display;
Zone-3 HDTV display;
Zone-4 HDTV display;
Westwater Room HDTV display.
Decide which video output device you wish to broadcast your device display to, and tap on "Power On" and "Academy Source" for each display you are using. When you "Power On" the projector, the projector's screen will immediately get lowered down. When you "Power Off" the projector, the screen will rise back up to storage.
For each Zone's HDTV display "Plate HDMI/VGA" option refers to AV wall plate that is located close to each HDTV where you can directly connect your input source (computer, smart device or video player) with a HDMI or VGA cable. If you do not have a cable, please let the Tech Office know.
NOTE: Wireless AirPlay via the Apple TV option for each individual HDTV in Zones 2, 3 and 4 currently do not work, please use the Academy Source and select Apple TV to use screen mirroring via AirPlay instead. Currently, only the Westwater Room TV's AirPlay option works when selected via wall plate.
Academy Source - Source Routing
Academy Source - Source Routing
5. In the next section, "Source Routing" (tap on the 2nd button in the bottom navigation bar) allows you to select what the "Academy Source" should send to (1) the primary video projector as well as (2) all the HDTVs (they support independent & separate inputs):
Plate-1 is currently inactive; please do not used this input.
Plate-2: connects to the top AV input plate off the left side of the facade, it has a USB-C adapter attached to a VGA cable connected to it for wired video connection to MacBook/PC laptops, and you need to connect the 3.5mm jack for audio output from your computer.
Rack PC: connects to the bottom AV input plate off the left side of the facade with a wired HDMI cable connected to it for both video and audio output from your computer;
Apple-TV: connects to the "Main Dining Hall Apple TV" for wireless AirPlay.
You can choose to display from the same input or have different things shown on the projector from the rest of the HDTVs. Simply hold down and drag the input source icon that you want to use - "Rack PC" or "Plate-2" for wired HDMI or VGA connections respectively, or "Apple-TV" for wireless AirPlay connections - and drop it into either:
the left box for routing to the Video Projector & Sound System, and/or
the right box for routing to All HDTV Display Panels in the Dining Hall.
NOTE: If you wish to put up displays only on the HDTV but still use the Dining Hall sound system with Zone volume controls, you will need to drag your desired input source and place them into both routing boxes.
6. To connect your device to the Dining Hall's Apple TV, please make sure your CA device is connected to the "CA Auth" (and visitors should connect to the "CA Guest" network) and search in the AirPlay/Screen-Mirroring options for the "Main Dining Hall Apple TV".
Academy Source - Audio Control
Academy Source - Audio Control
7. Once you have finished configuring your video and audio input sources, you can tap on the "Audio Control" section (3rd button in the bottom navigation bar) to adjust the volume levels (or mute outputs):
the input from selected media device/source connected to "Academy Source",
the input from wireless microphone(s) - which we recommend to keep at the default,
each Speaker Zone's output, as well as
disable/enable each individual Speaker Zone.
8. Once you are done using the system, you can select "EXIT: System Shutdown" (right-most button in the bottom navigation bar) and tap the button "End Session" when prompted.
You can proceed to disconnect the AV cable from your computer, or the Apple-TV in your screen mirroring options.
Please help coil the cables back up properly and placed them on the wall hanger.
Connecting to the Fireside Projector and Speakers
Connecting to the Fireside Projector and Speakers
The secondary projector at the East side of the Dining Hall, also known as the "Fireside", is controlled by its own AV control panel (on the left, along with a Screen control panel on the right) on the wall near the projector and the mobile lectern i.e. rolling laptop stand. The 2 "Fireside" microphones audio output are always available, simply switch on the mic via its own power switch.
There is a long HDMI cable with a USB-C adapter wound up by the basket mounted on the wall - usually near the mobile lectern and you can plug in the HDMI connection either with the USB-C adapter or directly from HDMI as needed for your computing device. The AV control panel for both the projector and its screen is on the north wall by the lectern, and the button controls are laid out as follows:
Set up your video and audio connection to this projector with these steps:
Announce that you are lowering the projector screen so no one should walk out from the Dining Hall food self-service area.
Press the downward arrow button in the Screen control panel to lower the projector screen.
Press the "Power On" button on the AV control panel to let the projector warm up.
Depending on how you wish to connect your computing device to the projector, you can either:
Plug in the HDMI cable with the provided USB-C adapter (if you need other video adapters, please notify the Tech Office ahead of time), then press the "Wall Plate" button.
Look for the "Dining Hall Fireside Apple TV" Apple TV that is listed in your AirPlay or Screen-Mirroring search list, and connect to it. Then press the "Apple TV" button.
You can adjust the projector's speaker volume on the AV control panel with the "Mute" or volume a, or on your own computing device.
When you are done, please disconnect your AV connection and press the "Power Off" button on the AV control panel to switch off the projector, then press the upward arrow button in the Screen control to retract the screen.
Please help us wind up the HDMI cable back onto the hanger near the lectern if you used it, before you wheel the lectern back to the corner of the Dining Hall's Fireside section.
Fireside blinds controls & lighting dimmer
Fireside blinds controls & lighting dimmer
You can also adjust the window and door blinds of the Fireside as needed in case there is strong sunshine affecting the projector's display. The controls are found on the wall just to the right of the fireplace, by the northern doorway.
The lighting dimmer for the Fireside is on the wall near the top of the accessibility entrance ramp.
Connecting to HDTVs via input wall plates
Connecting to HDTVs via input wall plates
The HDTV Display Panels in Dining Hall Zones 2, 3 and 4, as well as at the Westwater Room, can directly connected with a HDMI cable from the AV wall plate nearby. You just need to press the "Plate HDMI" button on the AV control panel near the HDTV. Please notify the Tech Office ahead of time if you need to loan a HDMI cable. Volume controls for each TV is also available on the AV control panel.
NOTE: Direct "Apple-TV" wireless connection option is only available for the Westwater Room HDTV; Zone 2/3/4 HDTVs currently only support direct wired connections, so you will need to use the "Academy Source" method at the Dining Hall's AV system touch panel if you wish to use the Apple-TV wireless connection to any of them.
Wireless Microphones in the Dining Hall
Wireless Microphones in the Dining Hall
The 2 wireless handheld microphones for the main Dining Hall are usually found on the charger in the Dining Hall manager's office. The lapel microphone for the main Dining Hall and the 2 Fireside microphones are stored in the AV rack's drawers (located at the northeast corner of the Dining Hall, behind the door to the left of the salad bar area):
Please contact the Tech Office if you wish to use the mic(s) at the Dining Hall during school hours. If you have an event that is held after school working hours or on weekends, please contact CA Security for assistance with accessing the AV rack.
The output volume control for the main Dining Hall microphones is available on the Extron touch panel as noted in step #7 above. The handheld microphones have a power switch on their handles, and the lapel mics have a power switch at the top of of their transmitter, please switch them off when not in use to conserve battery power.
The output volume control for the Fireside microphones is linked to the main system's volume, so you can adjust it using the volume buttons on the AV wall plate by the Fireside projector.
Cafe Lighting system in the main Dining Hall
Cafe Lighting system in the main Dining Hall
In the central section of the Columbus Academy Dining Hall, we have 5 cafe spotlights that can be used to highlight and accentuate an event's center stage. These spotlights shine down in the central section of the main Dining Hall, and can be controlled with a portable Lighting Controller. Please discuss with our CA Facilities team to request access for the lighting system ahead of time.
The Columbus Academy offers a power-efficient DMX Controller for the Dining Hall’s spotlight bar. It uses a 9V battery, and also includes an AC power adapter which we can connect to a power outlet using an extension cord if needed. The Spotlight’s AV connector is on the wall, east of the Dining Hall’s main entrance stairway. The lighting controller is usually stored in the top drawer of the AV Rack at the back of the Dining Hall, to the left of the Salad Bar area.
The control panel has the ability to lock in the spotlight settings without having to stay running - conserving battery life by allowing you to set the desired stage light levels and just switch the panel off. If any lighting adjustments are needed later, simply reconnect and switch the panel back on.
Here are the numbered spotlights' coverage across the central "event/stage area" of the Dining Hall - spotlights # 1 & 2 focus on the front of the stage area, primarily for the active presenters/speakers. Spotlights # 3, 4 and 5 cover across the back of the stage area for other presenters or event participants:
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