Before you begin

  • You'll need to have reserved the use of the room from the School of Social Work Front Desk, room 220A.
  • Decide whether or not you'll need to display computer video & sound, & microphone audio to 305A only (separate mode) or 305 A & B at the same time (combined mode).

How to use the A/V system in Room 305

Jump to Setup
Jump to Using The Provided Desktop Computer
Jump to Room Audio
Jump to Microphones
Jump to Cameras
Jump to Using Your Own Device
Jump to Advanced Camera Control
Jump to Advanced Screen Control
Jump to the CatchBox Mic
Jump to Troubleshooting & Tips

SETUP

Locate the touch panel (with the words "crestron" at the bottom) on the podium desk as seen here:

Touch the center of that panel

The touch panel will wake up & the bottom of the screen will tell you if the room is in Combined or Separate mode as seen here:

or

  • Combined mode means
    • that Computer Video & Computer Audio from the 305 A podium will be sent to both sides of the room & all the speakers.
    • All Wireless Microphone audio will be sent to all speakers
    • Video Control & Audio levels will all be controlled by the 305 A Podium
      • the 305 B touch panel's controls will be turned off while in combined mode.
  • Separate mode means
    • that Computer Video, Computer Audio, & Wireless Microphone sound from the 305 A podium will be sent to the 305 A screens & speakers ONLY. 
    • that Computer Video, Computer Audio, & Wireless Microphone sound from the 305 B podium will be sent to the 305 B screens & speakers ONLY.

To Combine or Separate the room controls

  • just touch the bar at the bottom of the screen to give that command. 
    • If you make a mistake & are in the wrong mode, don't worry, just touch that button again to get to the proper state.

To Lower the Projection Screens

  • press the "down" button in the projector's column

To turn on the Projections screens,

  • press the "ON" button in the projector's column

To Blank Out the projection screen, but not turn it off

  • press the "video mute" button in the projector's column

To turn on the hanging Flat screen TVs/Displays

  • Press the "ON" button in the "displays" column

THE PROVIDED DESKTOP COMPUTER

If you use the Provided Desktop Computer you will be able to:

  • Display Powerpoint windows desktop screens as normal
  • AND
  • Route the wireless microphone signals directly into Zoom/Panopto for vastly superior audio
    • NOTE: this is the ONLY way to get audio from the room into zoom/panopto.  there are no ambient mics in the space
  • Route the Built-in Cameras in 305 A to Zoom/Panopto as your web camera
  • If you're an Advanced user you can also
    • Independently route 3 separate windows screens/desktops to the
      • The Projection Screen
        • To show the in-room audience a full-screen powerpoint slides, for example
      • Monitor on the podium
        • to show zoom controls, chat, Powerpoint control, your notes, etc.
      • the TV/Hanging Displays

The computers in the podiums should always be powered on. But, if they have gone to sleep:

  • Wiggle the Mouse
  • OR
  • Touch a key on the keyboard to wake up the computer

If the display is still dark - Turn on the power to the display:

If you've confirmed the monitor is on & the computer is still dark.  Please let
sswtech@uw.edu
know or go to room 12 on the G level, so that we can start the computer for you.

Log in with your UWNETID

The computer's are automatically connected to the wireless network so once you're logged in - you can check email go to google drive/One drive ETC.
But if you'd like to physically load files on to the computer, look for the USB ports on the back left corner of the monitor as seen here:

ROOM AUDIO

to control the level of the provided desktop computer's (or your device that's connected to the HDMI cable) volume in the room:

  • Move the slider under the label "HDMI Vol" to your desired volume
     
    • pro-tip! a youtube's video in this room has 3 volume sliders that can be set at different levels.  Putting
      • the youtube video window player's volume at 100%
      • the windows volume at 100%
      • & then using the touchpanel's "HDMI Vol" to control the volume is an easy way to control the volume reliably.

MICROPHONES

Each side of the room has 2 mics assigned to them

  1. A Lavaliere (Lav) or Clip-on mic
  2. A Hand Held Mic

When in Separate mode,

  • the touch panel controls the volume of the mics that are labeled with the room number
    • i.e. the 305 A podium controls only the mics labeled "i work in room 305 A"

When in Combined mode

  • the touch panel controls the volume of ALL the mics all at the same time.

The mics can be found on their respective chargers at the podiums in the rooms:

The LED light on the charger shows the mics respected battery charge levels

  • A full set of LEDs means that the mics can work continuously for 16 hours

When you remove the mics from their charger, they will turn on.

  • A green LED means it's live / unmuted / working

&

To temporarily MUTE or UNMUTE the mics:

  • press the button underneath the word "push"

A red LED means it's muted:

&

Press that button again to UNMUTE the mic.

NOTE:

  • When done, PLEASE PLACE the mics back on their charger so that the next group to use the room will have charged up mics.


 

USING THE BUILT IN CAMERAS IN 305 A

You can use 2 built-in cameras in room 305 A as web cameras for Zoom or Panopto to show the presentation area, or the audience.

Choose "AV bridge" as your camera source in Zoom or Panopto or other program you are using.

Then, select which camera and which camera angle preset by touching the corresponding buttons on the touch panel as shown here:

The Preset buttons will flash green briefly when successfully pushed.

NOTE:

  • Switching between Presenter & Audience cameras takes approximately 3 seconds, so if the presenter or audience button flashes green & your camera source didn't switch in Zoom/Panopto immediately, please wait 3 seconds.
  • There are
    • 4 presets for the presentation camera &
    • 4 presets for the audience camera
      • so when you change a presentation camera preset for example, that does not change the preset for the audience camera & vice versa.
  • There are no built-in cameras in 305 B. 
    • So if the rooms are in separate mode & you need to use Zoom/Panopto in Room 305 B:
      • We recommend you use the Provided Desktop Computer in 305 B &
      • Using the web camera for your video source
      • & we strongly recommend using the wireless mics as your mic source.
         
      • You're welcome to use your own device via the HDMI cable, but you don't have access to the direct audio from the wireless mics that way.

USING YOUR OWN DEVICE

Plug in your device to the HDMI cable with the purple flag.

The system will auto detect that you want to use your device & switch the displays and audio from the Provided Desktop to your device

  • To switch back - unplug the cable with the purple flag to your device AND any other type of adapter, if used.

NOTE:

  • Your device plugged into the HDMI cable will NOT be able to use:
    • The wireless mic signals being routed to your zoom/panopto session
    • The built-in Cameras being routed to your zoom/panopto session
    • Use the Advanced Screen Control to route 2 separate screens to the TVs/Displays AND separately to the projection screen.

ADVANCED CAMERA CONTROL

You do not have to only be limited to the default presets for camera angles, you can control the cameras manually to get the angles you want. 

To control the built-in cameras in 305 A manually:

press the "advanced" button in the lower right as seen here:

The touch panel menu will change to the advanced mode.

Here you can move the selected camera's (which will be hightlit in green) angle by:

  • Zooming out & In
  • Moving UP, DOWN, LEFT & RIGHT. as seen here:

Once you've got a camera angle that works for you, you can save it as a preset for use during your session.

To save a preset:

Press the "Save" button

  • That button with highlight when it's ready to save the angle to a new slot.

Then the preset slot you'd like to save the angle to as shown here:

NOTE:

  • Saving a preset to a slot will over-write any camera angle that was previously saved to that slot.
  • There are no built-in cameras in room 305 B at this time.
    • You can use the built-in cameras in combined mode, that way you get access to the cameras and all microphones.

Once you're done with your advanced camera control session, please restore it to the standard settings once done by pressing the "Basic Control" menu button at the bottom left as seen here:

ADVANCED SCREEN CONTROL

There are actually 3 HDMI outputs from our Provided Desktop & that allows you to simultaneously:

  • Independently route 3 separate windows screens/desktops to the
    • The Projection Screen
      • To show the in-room audience a full-screen powerpoint slides, for example
    • Monitor on the podium
      • to show zoom controls, chat, Powerpoint control, your notes, etc.
    • the TV/Hanging Displays
      • To show the zoom gallery view/brady bunch, for example

    To Enable Advanced Screen Control:

    press the "advanced" button in the lower right as seen here:

    & then from the top Right of the touch panel, Under the heading of "Display Mode"

    choose "Multiple", as seen here:

    Then, right-click in an empty spot of the windows desktop & choose "display properties"

    You'll see 3 virtual windows labeled, 1, 2 & 3.

    Press the "identify" button to show a number in the corner of the actual screens.  This allows you to see how windows arranges the desktops in virtual space & how that matches up to the room. 

    Then place the windows on the different displays as you see fit.

    NOTE:

    This is advanced operation & it can be tricky to place windows by having to look over your shoulder & sometime losing track of where your cursor is on which desktop.  It's good to practice this advanced operation in a low-pressure situation ahead of time.

    Once you're done with your advanced screen session, please restore it to the standard settings once done by pressing the "standard" display mode in the "advanced" menu

    & then pressing the "Basic Control" button to return the system to "Basic Control" mode as shown here:

    THE CATCHBOX MIC

    To use the CatchBox Mic, please reserve it at least 48 hours ahead of your event time by contacting:

    sswtech@uw.edu

    With your request.

    SSWTECH will then set up the CatchBox mic for your & orient you to how it works before your event starts.

    The CatchBox Mic allows you to:

    • Have use of up to 3 microphones in the 305 A separate mode
    • or
    • Up to 5 microphones in 305 A & B combined mode.
      • All being sent directly to the room speakers and Zoom/Panopto if you choose

    The CatchBox mic is squishy and can be tossed around the room & it helps to encourage participation.

    RULES for using the Catchbox:

    • Gentle Under-handed tosses only
    • NO Drop-kicks, VolleyBall serves, or spikes
    • Make sure your recipient knows you're going to toss the CatchBox to them
    • Please be aware that
      • EVERYONE these days has an open, running laptop
      • AND
      • large wide-mouth vessels filled to the brim with drinking water
        • Which means it is VERY easy for the catchbox to be fumbled, hit a vessel of water, that then dumps it's entire contents straight into the running, open laptop, thus ruining a very expensive computer.

    NOTE:

    • The CatchBox is quieter & doesn't sound quite as good as the other mics in the room. 
      • It is turned up & adjusted to be as loud & good as it can sound. 
      • You may need to hold the mic a little closer than you expect, to be heard clearly.

    TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:

    The system can sometimes get out of sync with itself. So to help re-sync it & put it in it's default state:

    • If the rooms are combined:
      • press the "Press here to separate rooms" button
      • wait a few seconds.
      • Then press the "Press here to combine rooms" button again.
    • If the rooms are Separate:
      • press the "Press here to combine rooms" button
      • wait a few seconds.
      • Then press the "Press here to separate rooms" button again.

    This tells the system to reset itself & display the HDMI input.

    +++

    It's helpful to press the "Window Key + P" key combo BRIEFLY to bring up it's menu.

    • if you hold down that key combo for too long, windows then rapidly cycles through the options and when you release one of the keys it will choose whichever settings it "landed on" when it wascycling very rapidly, including the option of "PC screen only" or "2nd screen only" which can cause great confusion.

    +++

    The input box on the podiums auto-switches between connected inputs.  For example:

    • if a laptop is plugged in
      • the box switches to the laptop. 
    • If it's unplugged
      • it switches back to the provided desktop.
    • HOWEVER:
      • if there is an Apple HDMI to USB-C adapter plugged in, the system thinks a laptop is STILL plugged in & won't switch back to the provided desktop
        • The system will be showing a total black screen with no logo.
        • so you'll need unplug any adapter to make the system switch back to the provided desktop.

    +++

    Users can easily stop sending signal to any other screen.  So if the system is showing the "Aurora VLX" screen AND there's no adapter plugged into the laptop HDMI cable,

    • Press the Windows + P keys at the same time to bring up the projector options
    • & choose "duplicate" or "extend", depending on your goals.

    +++

    Not all MAC USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI adapters function well.
    if you connect your adapter and the signal to the projectors, TVs/Monitors, or both is unstable or doesn't exist.  Please try another adapter.  sswtech@uw.edu in room 12 on the ground floor MAY have an adapter that will work for you.  but it's helpful to have your own official apple USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, for best results.

    +++

    as of 2023-07-13:

    • In room 305 A, using the Provided Desktop - Using the Windows key + P key combo to quickly choose what signal goes where - it is NOT advised to choose "PC screen only".  If you do that, the image gets sent to one of the displays anyway and then turns off signal to the monitor on the desktop & then that monitor goes into power save mode. 
    • To get back to normal, please use the "Windows + P" key combo again & choose "Duplicate" or "Extend".

    +++

    As of 2023-07-13

    • If you're using the HDMI cable
    • Power on ONLY the Projectors first
    • Connect your device to the system
    • Send your desired signal to them
    • THEN
    • turn on the hanging montiors/TVs to show your mirrored/duplicated or extended desktop
    • We hope to have this quirk fixed shortly.

    +++

    If you're not seeing the LG TVs or Epson PJ as a sound output option in any application:

    Press the windows key + the P key *briefly*

    to bring up the windows duplicate/extend quick menu on the side of your monitor & make sure either:

    "Duplicate" or "Extend" is chosen

    Rather than "Second Screen Only".

    For some reason "Second Screen Only" takes away the sound pathways as well as the video pathway from the computer to the A/V system.  As of 2024-04-03 - it is not possible to remove that unneeded option from that menu

    +++