NEC 46″ LCD. For Laptop/Doc Cam connection press the appropriate button until the correct source appears.
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.
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
The 2017/18 ‘pool room’ teaching PC is now Windows10 and includes Office Professional 2016 including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
Also included are the Panopto recorder, Skype, and a selection of web browsers/important teaching links. Shared/network drives are dependant on your Aston login. The IT Services website has the full list of installed software, and is currently moving to AstonApps Cloudpaging portal.
If your login or the network fails .\teach username & teach password 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 an hour 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 computer 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.
There are usually 4 spare USBs on the main 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. Computer audio requires the projector to be ON, and all control panel, computer and application volumes should be up (not muted).
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 Some laptops and tablets require a special adapter from the laptop to the VGA connection.
Microphones
Perform a variety of tasks in the rooms, depending on the type of room and microphone.
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.
NB. some new rooms have a mic [Mute] button on the touch panel, otherwise the volume is fixed.
Samson UB1

These mics are primarily used for Aston Replay recordings (but is also available to other applications, such as Skype). 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 begin recording.
Visualiser

A document camera that can display and zoom in on papers, books, and other 3D objects. There is usually a separate source selection button to display on the room screen/s.
A desktop application called ImageMate[IM] allows Elmo images to be recorded in Panopto.
The newer Wolfvision visualisers can be selected as separate video recording device in Panopto.
Elmo P10s / P30

Slide switch to turn ON/(OFF) and adjust lamp for best image.
Zoom control(blue) and Camera/SDcard/LAPTOP selection button at the front (unless there is a separate Laptop selection button on the control panel).

Open the Image Mate software – find the icon on the desktop
Click the maximise button – this will show the camera full screen on the computer meaning the Panopto recorder can capture it.
When you’ve finished using the visualiser, you can exit the full screen view by clicking on the button in the top right of the screen.