Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Current Status Report
Mr. Christopher Hansen has reported the following last week:
Here is a Status Report Summary for the Oasis Community Clubhouse Media Systems Design project as of 12/14/2006. I will break this summary into sections for the main subsystems.
Acoustics:
The acoustic treatment recommendations currently require more on-site measurements to complete our analysis due to the shape of the Ballroom, which is almost as wide as it is long (for acoustic purposes). A room at least twice as long as it is deep is the minimum preferred for “good” acoustics. Since we can’t change the shape of the Ballroom, we need to assess some other factors.
In order to improve the audibility of basic speech, we need to get the time for a sound to decay to -60dB below (or 1,000,000:1) from its initial value (also called “RT60”) to something between 1.0 and 1.2 seconds maximum. This is so that one syllable of speech doesn’t “run” into reverberations from the preceding syllable. We need to electronically measure the “RT60” value, which I believe from preliminary rough audible tests to be at least two full seconds, so that we can see exactly where we stand. This information, along with some computer-assisted software for “room modeling” will help determine a more scientific path for treatments to absorb some or most of the existing reflected sound.
This also affects the audio system design in as much as more speakers and other equipment (amplifiers, equalizers, and digital audio delays) may be required than originally discussed with the subcommittee.
Audio:
The audio system design for the Ballroom is basically completed pending the results of the acoustics testing described above. We are going to recommend two systems for the Ballroom—one being a multi-zoned Public Address (“P.A.”) system and the other a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital/DTS Surround System for use with DVDs or other multimedia presentations. For acoustic reasons, we may need to use additional zones within each section of the Ballroom.
Video:
The video system design for the Ballroom is completed. There have only been a couple of minor equipment changes from our preliminary discussions due to equipment being discontinued by the respective manufacturers. Functionally equivalent equipment is readily available, so this area will not be a problem.
I am still working on concepts for a large “flat panel” display vs. a projector for the main conference room, since pricing on flat panels has finally fallen to a point where it may actually be cheaper to install a flat panel instead of using a projector here.
We are also evaluating new projector models for a “portable” projection system on a cart for use in other areas of the clubhouse like the patio.
Lighting:
We will need to proceed with an inspection of the Ballroom ceiling areas where we have been discussing installation of lighting “trusses” to determine whether or not the existing construction can handle the weight of the trusses and the associated lighting fixtures. Our preliminary estimates were that this would most likely not be an issue, but subsequent work during the project has led me to believe that the weights involved will be substantially higher than our initial estimates.
A question of whether or not Oasis is willing to purchase used lighting equipment (obviously after inspection/testing or with some kind of warranty) for use in the system has been raised. The price savings can be substantial, and we are attempting to work with a local (Temecula/Escondido) used stage lighting equipment vendor to come up with a plan for consideration by the subcommittee.
The other lighting area of interest is the existing “house” lighting system. We will be looking into standard commercially available systems from Lutron (and other manufacturers) to allow for control of the room lighting via the control system. We are specifically looking into whether a “low voltage” control system using standard Lutron dimmers can be retrofitted into the existing “single-gang” wall boxes to eliminate the need for rewiring the 120 Volt systems.
Control:
The control system design was basically completed for the Ballroom, but a quick check for preliminary equipment pricing led to our discovery that the manufacturer as of November 2006 has discontinued some of the equipment. The same question about purchase of a combination of new and used units with warrantees needs to be discussed by the subcommittee. If only new equipment is to be used, then a nearly total redesign of the control system will be required.
Simplified control system designs for the pool and patio areas are ongoing, but have been put aside temporarily awaiting a “used equipment” decision.
Summary:
We’ll need more time to resolve these questions which have arisen during the design process, since our initial 45-day period comes to an end today. While the questions and issues are primarily technical in nature, they do effect other subsystems and the relevant designs.
I believe that all of the additional design questions can be resolved within an additional 30 days. This additional period will also allow us to examine newly released equipment at the 2007 CES show in Las Vegas during the second week of January 2007. Of course, no additional charges for the additional design period will be requested. I am proposing January 15, 2007 as a revised deadline for the delivery of final project materials.
The Media Proposal Subcommittee has recommended to the Forward Planning, an acceptance of Mr. Hansen’s request for an extension, in the quest for the best plan possible. Mr. Hansen and company will be here on Thursday, December, 20 and Friday, December 21 to inspect, review and continue with the finalization of his plans.
If you have any questions or comment please “add your comment” below or meet us in the Ballroom from 1 PM to 3 p.m. this Friday, to meet and ask questions in person.
Thanks,
Howard Robbins
Chairman, Oasis Media Proposal Subcommittee
