Infocomm 2024

An affair to remember

As LIVE heads to Las Vegas for Infocomm 2024, we outline what to expect and what not to miss from this year’s show, including top tips from Avixa’s own Rochelle Richardson

Words Katie Kasperson

The largest pro AV event in all of North America, Infocomm is an annually occurring conference that links manufacturers, integrators, equipment dealers and end users, highlighting the latest and greatest tech to hit AV markets.

This year, from 8 to 14 June (with exhibits beginning on the 12th), Infocomm hits the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center (don’t worry, it’s air-conditioned!), sprawling over 350,000 sq ft of stalls, stages and the like.

Produced by Avixa (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association), the fixture is sure to be one not to miss, with an evening at Sphere, live TV broadcast and slew of seminars on the agenda.

The conference itself is split up into seven focus areas: audio, content production and streaming, conferencing and collaboration, digital signage, enterprise IT, learning technologies and, finally, events and entertainment.

Sub-themes range from hybrid working environments, including telephony and video conferencing systems, projection screens and LED displays, rigging and staging, signal routing and acoustics, as well as popular topics like cloud tech and digital media distribution.

Extra events

This year’s Infocomm includes an exciting new addition: on 11 June, the show will host An Evening at Sphere, allowing attendees to experience the venue’s immersive technology through filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth.

Since opening in September 2023, this orb-shaped auditorium – designed specifically for live audio-visual entertainment – has been a hot topic of conversation in the industry, signalling a much more prominent shift towards four-dimensional events.

“Sphere is the perfect setting to welcome pro AV professionals from around the world to Infocomm – the event will leave them energised for the trade show and inspired by the magic created by pro AV,” says Infocomm producer Rochelle Richardson, CEM and senior VP of exposition and event services at Avixa.

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with Postcard from Earth prefaced by a reception in the Atrium.

Infocomm will offer Integrated Experience Tours, also beginning on 11 June, with destinations including the HyperX Arena, Illuminarium Experiences, Area15 and the University of Nevada.

These will go hand-in-hand with Show Floor Tours, organising the Convention Center’s layout by a given theme such as sustainability.

At Infocomm 2024, the experiences don’t stop there. For those interested in esports, Esports Live 2.0 is a perfect match, letting attendees in on the world of collegiate competition.

All happening at booth C9771, the special event will see teams battle for glory on the Gaming Stage, decked out with top-of-the-line tech from Sony, Spectrum, Planar, Q-Sys and more.

Nearby, the Production Stage will demo live multicam production – complete with monitors, routers and conversion equipment – enabling just two or three operators to put together a professional-grade broadcast.

Other spaces include the Shoutcast Area and Coach’s Stage, offering a more laid-back approach to esports with play-by-play coverage and business-orientated talks, respectively. In short: “Esports Live 2.0 will be a lively place,” Richardson states.

“Also new this year,” begins Richardson, “the show will have a big focus on AI. Joe Pham, chairman and CEO of QSC, will deliver the keynote ‘Everything Has Changed’, which will concentrate on how the pro AV industry can capture the opportunities presented by AI.

The show will debut the Infocomm AI Experience on the floor (C10125), featuring a line-up of engaging speakers and exhibitors, a generative AI photo booth and AVA AI – Infocomm’s new AI-powered guide,” she concludes.

Sustainability will be another big focus at this year’s Infocomm. “Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about sustainability and energy efficiency in AV technology, with manufacturers showcasing eco-friendly products and solutions, energy-efficient displays, use of recyclable materials and more,” describes Richardson.

On Friday 14 June, visitors can learn all about SAVe (Sustainability in AV) Certification, an initiative launched in 2022 to address industry environmentalism and encourage social responsibility. “This full-day programme covers important information on current sustainability issues, a workshop session to identify ways your business can address any sustainability goals, and a planning session to turn your ideas into action.”

Elsewhere, enjoy Avixa TV, which will be broadcasting live from the show floor, as well as Avixa Xchange for inspiring conversations about the AV industry’s past, present and future.

Attendees can discover groundbreaking innovations and advancements spanning AR, VR, immersive audio and IoT – all inside Infocomm’s Trailblazers Zone – and avoid picking up ambient noise in the Audio Demo Rooms.

Talk the talk

As first-timers at Infocomm, we at LIVE can’t wait to dive into the conference’s many panels, seminars and speeches. Here’s a small sample of the ones we’ll be seated for.

DS + EV: Charging for Change!

Wednesday 12 June | 8.30am | W231

With electric vehicles (and their charging stations) on the rise, fresh advertising opportunities are cropping up alongside them.

A panel of digital signage and business development experts discuss how EV charging stations can serve as catalysts for increased revenue via contextually relevant content.

Streaming with Remote Guests

Wednesday 12 June | 1:30pm | W222

Addressing a critical topic in today’s remote-working world, this session outlines how to get the best visual compositions, audio and video signals from remote contributors.

With many applications in news, sport and social media, Midtown Video CEO Jesse Miller and Stream Virtual Productions Ltd executive producer Nate Hall offer their best practices.

Sustainability and Efficiency: The Future is FibeR

Wednesday 12 June | 4:00pm | W225

Tailored towards IT professionals, integrators and all others in the AV industry, this session explores how fibre cables are more environmentally friendly and efficient than their copper counterparts, as well as how to minimise disruption during installation.

What is Immersive Audio?

Wednesday 12 June | 4:00pm | W219 and W220

The entertainment industries have been trending towards immersion, with spatial audio slowly replacing standard sound on Apple Music.

This panel looks closer at the idiosyncrasies involved and suggests different approaches to achieving truly immersive audio.

Virtual Inclusion in the Metaverse

Thursday 13 June | 8:30am | W225

Still in its early days, the metaverse is relatively uncharted territory – and the associated ethics are up for debate.

How will diversity, equality and inclusion take shape in this virtual environment? HOK’s Adriana Rojas and Kay Sargent offer their insights into this unprecedented, yet important issue.

The Classroom Technology Process Loop: How to Beat, Not Just Meet, Rising Expectations

Thursday 13 June | 8:30am | W213, W214 and W215

Delivered by Pepperdine University’s senior IT manager, Jared Mukai, this talk addresses contemporary classroom tech and how to effectively manage entire campuses, making life a little easier for higher education IT teams.

Accessible Audio in AV Room Designs

Thursday 13 June | 1:00pm | W223 and W224

A frank and necessary conversation about accessibility, this session covers various assistive listening systems (ALS) and their strengths and weaknesses, identifying how AV professionals can deliver clear audio – as well as closed captioning – to audiences.

Batch of booths

BirdDog

C5008

Experience the ‘Birddog difference’ at Infocomm 2024! Having recently introduced three new cameras – the X1, X1 Ultra and Maki Ultra – the Birddog booth will have plenty in terms of demos and displays.

A global manufacturer of PTZs, converters, hardware and software, the company prides itself on its superior robotics, unrivalled compatibility and exceptional customer service.

Blackmagic Design

W2500

Blackmagic Design is bringing a slate of new solutions to the show floor. From a UHD broadcast monitor to the latest improvements for its DaVinci Resolve editor, Blackmagic’s products can do it all – and have the credentials to prove it.

Come for the new converters, stay for the Ethernet switch and experience everything in between.

Canon

C8763

A legendary name in photo and video, Canon is a worldwide leader in digital imaging.

From cameras and camcorders to lenses, reference displays and more, the company will be demonstrating its latest solutions for imaging professionals – such as a broadcast lens, power zoom kit and selection of PTZs – at Infocomm this year.

Christie

W1024

From stunning shows to the show floor, experience is everything.

Christie’s solutions – spanning projection, video wall, show control and processing – are designed to work together.

Whether creating spectacular events, taking control of mission-critical command centres or showcasing big ideas in a corporate boardroom, its solutions help create experiences that engage, inform and inspire.

Clear-Com

C5515

Clear-Com introduced portable wired intercom systems for live performances.

Ever since then, its rapid technological advancements and innovations have delivered significant improvements to the way people collaborate.

Across the fields of broadcast, live performance, live events, sports, military, aerospace and government, its comms products have consistently met the demand for high-quality audio, reliability, scalability and low latency.

Meyer Sound

C9701/N209

Meyer Sound provides integrated solutions for sound reinforcement, spatial sound, acoustic systems, studio monitoring and high-end residential.

The first to introduce dedicated loudspeaker processors, source-independent measurement, large-scale self-powered loudspeakers and cardioid subwoofers, the brand maintains rigorous quality control in its design and manufacturing of sustainable solutions across sectors.

PTZOptics/Huddlecamhd

C10107

HuddlecamHD – sister company to PTZOptics – engineers affordable wired and wireless USB-connected pan-tilt-zoom video conferencing cameras for educational, corporate and remote work applications.

Engineered for today’s distributed workforce, HuddlecamHD leapfrogs out-of-date technology with cloud-based video communication solutions that quickly modernise both in-office meeting spaces and at-home offices by creating collaborative video conferencing environments.

Shure

C8334/N232

Whether it’s a keynote speech, lecture or video conference, audio quality is critical to successful communication.

Shure leverages a wealth of knowledge in the fields of acoustics, audio and wireless tech to provide high-quality, repeatable solutions that adapt easily to a wide range of applications – with a product line that spans microphones, headphones and earphones, plus loudspeakers and mixers.

Buckle up

While trade shows can be intimidating – the sheer number of opportunities for engagement can appear endless – Infocomm is here to help new visitors.

“We encourage and invite all first-time attendees to join us for the Avixa Rising Professionals Council at the Avixa Member Lounge (N243) on Wednesday 12 June at 8am, ahead of the trade show opening, where we will provide tips to maximise their time at Infocomm and plan must-attend sessions, show floor tours and networking opportunities,” shares Richardson.

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, this year’s Infocomm promises a host of  topical experiences.

To register or learn more, visit infocommshow.org