DigitalMedia™ for the Digital Home
With the promise of a high speed fibre network rollout in Australia, and the increase of online audio and video content, Sydney integrator Len Wallis Audio delivered a truly digital home using Crestron DigitalMedia™ (DM) fibre optic distribution.
“Future proof was the main focus of the infrastructure and equipment configuration” says Peter Greentree, Len Wallis Audio custom system sales and design. “The client requested that where possible equipment remain in a single location and be distributed. After the Crestron fibre optic backbone was in place, we consulted with the client to work out the sources to be distributed. We came to a conclusion that a Crestron 8x8 Digital media system would do the job (but) it was at this point that a decision was made to proceed with a 16x16 DM for future expansion.”
This project uses the Crestron DM fibre network to distribute video, control and ethernet around the house, providing distribution of HDMI signals from a variety of sources to multiple displays. Most importantly, DM allows multiple users to view and control sources at the same time with no dropouts or HDCP issues. The system is based around a Crestron DM-MD16X16 matrix which delivers full high definition content to each room through Crestron multi-mode fibre cable where a Crestron Room Controller (up to 300 mtrs cable length) mounted behind the display on the wall decodes the signal to provide HDMI, ethernet and control signals. The twelve zones of stereo audio are done using two Crestron CNX-BIPAD-8 audio processors and a Creston CNAMPXI-12X60
12-channel amplifier. Distributed audio sources include two Crestron CENI-iSERVER music servers, two Crestron CEN-IDOC-V iPod docks located in the rooms which all sync to iTunes on 8TB drives in the rack. Two Arcam DAB tuners provide digital radio.
All up there are 16 areas of entertainment made up of four 5.1 zones and twelve stereo zones all powered by Crestron amplifiers. One such location is the pool area which features an elaborate James Audio 8.1 speaker system and Crestron WPFR-48 waterproof remote control for the ultimate outdoor audio experience!
All display locations feature Crestron TPMCI-3X remote controls while a couple of Crestron TPS12LW 12” in-wall touchscreens provide whole-house control and view the security cameras. The integration is extensive controlling 8 zones of floor-heating and 65 motorised devices made up of blinds, curtains, awnings and motorised skylight windows.
Peter adds, “This was the first Crestron DigitalMedia™ fibre project in Australia. We anticipated a degree of learning and fault finding throughout the process and highlighted this to the client at the time. In fact it was completely the opposite. The installation, termination, commissioning and programming of the system was actually easier and less time consuming than a traditional copper project. (On completion) all displays and projector were ISF calibrated... where the certified calibrator commented that the ‘picture quality from the distribution system was amazing’ ”.
“We often read the words ‘future-proof’ or ‘smart-home’. For the very first time we feel that this may actually be an appropriate description of this project... It doesn’t suffer from any annoying HDMI / HDCP issues we all experienced when the industry was coming to grips with protected content. It also has the bandwidth and hardware expansion to deal with whatever is on the horizon for many years to come”, Peter Greentree.
Since the local release in September 2009, there are now over 100 completed Crestron DigitalMedia™(DM) projects in universities, boardrooms, luxury homes and entertainment venues throughout Australia, and growing rapidly. DM is the only solution for the digital age, distributing all analogue and uncompressed HD digital signals, and managing embedded data such as HDCP, EDID and CEC.
Crestron Equipment List:
1 Crestron DMMD16X16 Digital Media Matrix
7 Crestron DMCHDDSP Digital Media HDMI IP Card
3 Crestron DMCVID4 4-Channel composite video input card
1 Crestron DMCO1111 Digital Media Fibre O/P Card For DM16X16
8 Crestron DMRMC100F Digital Media Room Controller
6 Crestron TPMCI-3X Handheld Controller + WAP
1 Crestron TPMC-3X-DSW Wall Mount Docking Station for 3X Handheld Controller
2 Crestron TPS12LW 12” Wall Mount Touchpanel
2 Crestron BB12L Back Box
2 Crestron C2NDB12W 12-Button Keypad
1 Crestron TPS4LW 3.6” in-wall touch screen
2 Crestron BB4L Back Box for TPS4L
1 Crestron XPanel software running on PC Touchpanel
2 Crestron IDOCV iPod Dock with video output
1 Crestron WPRI48 Waterproof Handheld Remote + gateway
1 Crestron CP2E Control System
1 Crestron AV2 control processor
1 Crestron CNAMPXI12X60 12 x 60W amplifier
3 Crestron CNPWSI75 Cresnet Power Supply
3 Crestron CNTBLOCK CresnetTerminal Block
2 Crestron CNXBIPAD8A 16-source/8-room stereo audio distribution processor
2 Crestron CENI-iSERVER Audio Server