NB. The visualiser must be ON to display the laptop(/visualiser) connection. Lectern/Revo voice enhancement mics not connected to PC/Panopto for recording.
.PDF of Covid-safe layout N104B Collab
NW104b frontview
NW104b rearview
NW104b rearview
NW104b rearview
NW104b
nw104b lectern
NW104cs15
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 (HDMI)
A flying HDMI cable (including audio) is usually* connected to the lectern faceplate.
Note All post-2014 refurbished rooms support both HDMI(digital) inputs as well as VGA, namely:
G11(Byng Kendrick LT), Great Hall, MB220, MB253, MB304, MB411, 417, 419, MB486, MB504, MB518, MB603, MB651(Sumpner LT), MB653(Wright LT), MB708b, MB755-9, NW104b, NW109, NW805, NW807, NX02, Adrian Cadbury and Susan Cadbury LTs, SW309 and VSG03, VS110, VS112.
Note Post-2019 refurbs like MB108, MB550, MB554, MB517, MB502 are HDMI ONLY, no VGA support!
Some laptops and tablets may require a special AV adapter and or cable/s. Newer rooms also have wireless presentation if you don’t have the correct cable/s.
*except some ‘non-pool’ meeting rooms.
Laptop (VGA – via. visualiser)
To use your laptop, you will need to connect the flying VGA cable* from the visualiser, turn the Visualiser ON and then select the visualiser’s laptop connection. The separate laptop audio jack cable can be connected to the laptop headphone socket, and can also be used for iPod playback when laptop is selected.
Note *The visualiser must also be ON to display the laptop(/visualiser) connection in some rooms with laptop VGA socket on the lectern. Some laptops and tablets require a special adapter from the laptop to the VGA connection. NB. The visualiser must be ON to display the laptop(/visualiser) connection.
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.
Lectern mic
To switch on/off, push the button at the base of the flexible gooseneck.
The LED will be lit when the microphone is on, and the level is preset.
There is no switch or LED on the white Beyer flat models(right)
Revolabs
Rechargeable microphone/s which automatically unmute/mute when removed from/replaced correctly in the charger.
There are a maximum of two mics/channels per room, ~20m range, and freedom to interact with the audience while recording to Replay. Always check record levels.
Please replace the microphones on the charger when they are not in use, and check the LED.
The LED on the microphone will turn RED to show they are charging, and GREEN when fully charged.
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.
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.
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 P10 (Orange button)
Slide switch to turn ON/(OFF), and adjust lamp for best image.
Zoom control(orange) and Camera/SDcard/LAPTOP selection buttons 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.
NB. some laptop miniDisplayport(or HDMI) to VGA adapters work better than others with this Elmo model!
Equipment