Founded in 1946, Ikegami TsushinkiCo., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of high-quality broadcast equipment, particularly known for its cameras. In fact, Ikegami is credited with introducing the first hand-held camera that was launched in the U.S. market in 1962 when CBS used it to document NASA’s launch of Aurora 7, the manned spaceflight. In 2022, the company, which is actively working on next-generation broadcast standards with IP workflows, is celebrating its 75th anniversary-a milestone that is marked by a total renovation of its offices in Tokyo, including a new, sought-after seminar room equipped with Genelec’s Smart IP speakers.
II SMART IP AND THE SINGLE CAT CABLE: A HUGE ADVANTAGE
Today the broadcasting world is being confronted with radical changes with the advent of internet broadcasting with IP transmission. Ikegami is actively following its development in this wake along with the usual broadcasting techniques. Their new seminar room equipped with Genelec Smart IP speakers underscores their commitment to developing IP workflows.
Until now, Ms. Akiko Kurazumi, head of the General Affairs Group within Ikegami did not have large rooms to accommodate corporate events . “We used to rent public spaces nearby for training sessions or other corporate events,” she recalls:
“When the pandemic came along we were forced to move everything online, but the idea started because we wanted to have our own space for the future. The timing was perfect, as it coincided with the office renovation, so we had a new seminar room built.”
During the planning process, Ikegami consulted with colleague Tetsushi Hirai of the well-established firm TXA Planning, a deep connoisseur of the latest AV equipment. Hirai proposed the theme “Staying focused on the seminar.”
“The seminar room is designed both for in-house training, possibly relying on an outside trainer, and for hosting corporate events,” Hirai explained.
“According to my experience as a student in classrooms with bad acoustics, where the professor’s voice would leak out, I always wanted the sound in the new seminar room to be rock solid. When the sound comes from the wrong side, it is not at all pleasant and is a disruptive factor. I lost a credit on that course because I could not concentrate! As a result, for me it is critical to design acoustic systems where the intelligible audio is in a particular place so that the audience and participants can focus on the content and have an all-around experience. This is also true for Ikegami’s seminar room.”
II FROM THESE SPEAKERS THE CLARITY IS AMAZING
In fact, the whole thing was designed entirely from the participant’s point of view-the rectangular lecture hall was configured with six separate audio zones and designed so that the speaker’s voice can be heard clearly from anywhere in the room, without any interference between zones. Hirai says the Genelec Smart IP speakers proved perfectly up to the task.
“The room has a series of physical pillars, so we installed a total of six 4430s in an L/C/R configuration for the front half of the room and the same for the back half to transmit audio to each of the six zones,” Hirai notes. “The speakers are placed at an angle, radially toward the center of each zone. The large display panels are also a key part of the experience, so the system has been configured so that the sound appears to come from the display, where necessary, and placed close to the speaker for a more realistic experience. We defined the 4430 center located above the displays as the virtual audio source and calculated the alignment time of each amplifier position using 3D modeling software. Amazingly, once the alignment time was established, the audio was so clear that it was not even necessary to calibrate the speakers-because the sound was crystal clear.”
An example of a Genelec speaker for Ikegami
Hirai chose Genelec Smart IP speakers because they offer flawless audio.
“When I listen with these speakers, the clarity is amazing,” he notes, “Their linear characteristics, which I measured myself, meant that there was no need for subsequent calibration. As a result, system design is much easier.”
Another advantage for designers and system integrators is that the Smart IP platform handles both power and audio signals in the seminar room AV system via a single CAT cable.
“When installing multiple powered amplifiers, you usually have to connect both audio and power cables, which is a hassle. With Smart IP everything converges on a standard CAT cable, which is a great advantage,” Hirai points out
Because the Smart IP platform relies on PoE, it was therefore critical to choose a high-quality switch that supported PoE. Next, Hirai selected a powerful Ethernet switch capable of harnessing the full potential of Smart IP. This in combination a mixer that functions as a converter and also offers mixing capability for a simple control booth. Of course, being one of the first camera manufacturers there is also sophisticated broadcast video equipment that consists of an advanced 4K camera that sends video directly to the on-site editorial room. From there, audio and video can be transmitted in real time to Ikegami’s five outlets and three branches in Japan and other international destinations in the United States, Germany, and Singapore via IP using the SMPTE ST 2110 media transfer protocol.
The other reason for using an IP solution is that the technology is a perfect fit for a quality, forward-looking company like Ikegami.
“Ikegami is leading the way with the adoption of standard technologies such as ST 2110, which enables the transport of audio, video of data control, and is also developing MoIP (Media over IP) that includes remote control capabilities,” Hirai explains
“The Smart IP platform, which uses a single network cable for audio, power and control, fits this scenario and is a future-proof solution capable of adapting to next-generation innovations.”
The Ikegami team is excited about the new next-generation seminar room. The leader of Ikegami’s broadcast sales team, Ms. Ami Okubo has worked with colleague Hirai to develop AV solutions for his clients in the past and has always been pleased with the results.
“We had the pleasure of having him with us during the design of the sound system for our seminar room. Giving a talk turns out to be very easy, and we look forward to hosting a broadcast-related event in this classroom.”
Ms. Kurazumi agrees:
“When I first heard the installation, I was speechless at how pleasant it was to listen to. We used the seminar room just the other day and I noticed that the sound was homogeneous within the room. We focused on the content, even though it was complex management issues. Besides that, we felt less tired after an hour of meeting. The seminar room has just been opened, but we are already planning to use the space for other purposes. It will be a tremendous springboard for us at every level.”
