Normally used as a Meeting room(30), with tiled rear catering area.
Electric screen and Front row light switches are on the trunking by lectern. Loop mic in ceiling.
.PDF of Covid-safe layout MB G8 Collab
The following instructions are automatically generated, based on the list of equipment in the room
As such, we've kept them simple to account for any variations between rooms. For help on specifics, contact AV Support.
If you're in one of the learning spaces, contact AV Support by pressing the AVSupp button on the phone or x4221.
ECD Helpdesk button for ventilation and IT Helpdesk for login queries
Control Panel
Button or touch controls for the audio/visual and projection equipment in the room.
Control systems are designed to be left powered up, please leave them powered up so they can be used to turn the equipment on/off.
Save power
Please switch off projectors when when not in use or the repeater screens might not work. Find out more about Aston University’s energy awareness on the website.
Did you know that the lamps are not only expensive, but contain hazardous Mercury?
AMX/Crestron buttons
Press the ON, OFF (or ON/OFF) button to switch the projector ON or OFF. The button will flash to indicate it is warming up/cooling down. The projector will beep(on=once, off=twice) and prevent you from selecting other buttons until it is ready.
PC 1 and PC 2 (or Laptop, or Doc Cam) buttons select the Main PC and Visualiser/Laptop connection if they don’t have separate control buttons.
Crestron mpc-m10 buttons
MB246a/b AMX buttons
651buttons aka Sumpner LT
Computer
Tips
- We recommend that the projector is switched on after you login to the PC.
- Drag/copy presentation documents from your USB stick onto the desktop.
- Any change/s and added files are auto-deleted on Restart.
- Choose VLC Media Player for DVD playback with sound.
Aston Teaching PC
All standard ‘pool room image’ teaching PCs are Windows10 with Office365 Professional Plus including PowerPoint, Excel, Word & Teams.
After login the PC automatically launches AstonApps Cloudpaging portal for all the latest pool room managed software. Panopto recorder, web browsers & important teaching software and links like Blackboard have ALL moved to AstonApps. Shared/network drives are dependent on your Aston login.
If your login or the network fails username .\teach & password T34chT34ch will allow you to present locally (e.g. USB drive), but without any network or internet access. Most rooms with Lenovo PCs installed will allow change to ‘Extended desktop’ for Powerpoint notes view [Windows+P].
The PC will shut down after 30 minutes of inactivity
This will remove any changes you have made, any work you have open will be lost, and any files on the desktop will be deleted. Unfinished Panopto uploads will also be suspended until Panopto is re-connected in that room.
Bear this in mind if, for example, you are running an event and want to get the PC set up early or you are breaking for lunch.
The PC is set up to record to Aston Replay and upload to Blackboard. There is option in Panopto Settings: Basic: ‘Highlight mouse cursor…‘ to make the pointer more prominent for recordings, and please check the mic levels are OK before starting to RECORD.
There are usually 2-4 extra USB ports on the lectern PC monitor.
We recommend that the projector is switched ON after you login to the PC. If you don’t need the computer to be displayed on the screen, you can use it without the projector on in most rooms. However, computer audio requires the projector to be ON, and all three control panel, computer and application volumes should be up (and unmuted).
Laptop (VGA)
A flying VGA cable (with integrated audio jack connection) is usually connected to the lectern faceplate.
The laptop audio jack can also be used for iPod playback when laptop is selected.
Note Post-2019 refurbs like MB554 will be HDMI ONLY (ie. no VGA)
Some laptops and tablets may require a special AV adapter and or cable/s.
Microphones
Perform a variety of tasks in the rooms, depending on the type of room and microphone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMWNDJAlrG0
They can be used to feed audio to the induction loop, make sure people at the back of the room can hear the speaker clearly (voice enhancement), or be recorded in Aston Replay. Always check the RECORD levels.
NB. some new rooms have a mic [Mute] button on the touch panel, otherwise the voice enhancement volume is fixed.
Samson UB1
These mics are primarily used for Aston Replay recordings (but is alternatively available to other applications, such as videoconferencing). The UB1 is an omni-directional boundary microphone, that uses a flat surface to enhance the sound pickup.
Aston Replay will default to recording from this mic over any other in the room. Make sure that the green light is on the mic, and always check the recording level in Panopto before you start recording.
Soundfield
Rechargeable Lapel and Handheld Infrared (IR) microphones with charger. There is a small volume control on the Lapel belt pack, but none on handheld. There are a maximum of two channels per room, only one lapel and only one handheld to prevent interference.
Note May also be noisy/not transmit if black transmit window is obscured, two of same mics, low battery or in direct sunlight.
Fully charged spares are kept by AV Support if you experience noise or interference.
Please turn off microphones and replace correctly on the charger when not in use.
The LEDs on the charger base will turn RED to show they are charging, and GREEN when fully charged.
Voice Enhancement
Generic Voice Enhancement
Uses a clip on or handheld microphone to ensure equal distribution of the presenter’s voice across the whole space, and freedom to interact with the audience while recording to Replay.
The presenter should not be aware of any amplification at the front of the room, unlike a traditional PA system.
Note Microphone audio is separate from Computer audio, and usually fixed level.
Induction Loop
Generic Induction Loop
An Induction loop or Infrared (IR) based hearing system.
Hearing aid users should set their hearing aid to “T” to use the loop. more…
Composite Video
Video
VHS, analog Video and S-Video are no longer used or supported. Please use main PC or laptop optical drive/s or a VGA converter.
Adrian Cadbury, Susan Cadbury and ABS 2.10(L5) have separate BluRay/DVD players.
If you’re showing a TV Programme or film, 
Box of Broadcasts is now called
Learning on Screen now available via the Library Database A-Z list where you will be redirected to OpenAthens Aston login.
The link to the L section of the A-Z list is http://libguides.aston.ac.uk/az.php?a=l
The direct link to Learning on Screen is https://go.openathens.net/redirector/aston.ac.uk?url=https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand
The contact in Library is Nicola Dennis (Business & Law Information Specialist)
0121 204 4497
Equipment