Twitch builds communities by providing a platform for millions of people to come together live every day to chat, interact, and make their own entertainment. To help their employees brainstorm and work in fluid combinations of teams, the meeting rooms at the new regional headquarters in New York, referred to as HQ 2.0, include high-performance AV presentation systems. Each system also supports overflow capabilities.
System control is powerful, yet intuitive and easy for employees to use without requiring assistance. Also, the support team can monitor and operate any system from a remote location if necessary. Working side by side with Twitch AV Support, AV integration firm Diversified deployed a standardized solution using products from Extron.
“We chose to work with Extron because they embody our mission and values here at Twitch to empower communities to create together,” Kevin Little, AV support engineer at Twitch. “We know through collaborative efforts with them that Extron is a community, truly working hard to create solutions that work for us.”
Rooms include the company’s standardized selection of sources and displays. Each space provides DTP matrix switching or point-to-point presentation systems that work within Twitch’s infrastructure and organizational requirements. The size and use of the space determined the number of sources and displays as well as the type of system installed. Systems include wired and wireless connectivity, easy collaboration using an Extron HC 404 system, session recording, superb sound reinforcement, and videoconferencing capabilities.
As an example, the All-Hands event space on the 19th floor includes a 3x3 video wall at the front and a confidence monitor mounted on the front-facing side of the first column. An Extron DTP CrossPoint 108 4K IPCP MA 70 10x8 presentation matrix switcher with built in 4K scaling facilitates AV signal switching and distribution. For convenient overflow using professional AV over IP, Extron NAV E 101 encoders and NAV SD 101 decoders support the displays installed near the north and south entries over Twitch’s network.
Portable HDMI devices can be connected to the system using any of the DTP T HWP 4K 331 D one-gang wallplate transmitters installed on the front and rear walls. To support Twitch’s custom SDI I/O wallplates and integrated SDI sources, Diversified installed Extron SW4 12G HD SDI four-input switchers and DSC 3G HD A scalers to provide local switching and signal conversion to HDMI for input to the matrix switcher. DSC HD 3G A units convert output signals back to SDI for devices connected at an SDI wallplate. A locking cabinet with rack-mounted system components, such as the matrix switcher and the NAVigator system manager for the NAV Pro AVoIP devices, is at the back of the room.
The chosen DTP CrossPoint matrix switcher provides an integrated DSP audio processor with AEC, as well as a control processor. However, the large quantity of audio sources required the use of an Extron DMP 128 C AT DSP processor. An XPA 2001 70V audio amplifier works in concert with SF 26PT SoundField 6.5-inch two-way pendent speakers to create a distributed audio system. The speaker’s unique single-cable suspension design allowed them to be flush-mounted to the ceiling beams without an extraneous support system.
A custom interface on the Extron TouchLink Pro touchpanels makes it easy for any user to start, join, and end a meeting or event. Commands range from simply selecting a source to activating the videoconferencing system and controlling sound levels. In the event space, a TLP Pro 1025M 10-inch touchpanel is wall-mounted near the main display. To provide similar functionality in the boardroom and conference rooms, a TLP Pro 725T 7-inch tabletop touchpanel is located at the conference table.
From concept to commissioning and training, the HQ 2.0 project took a little over a year to complete.
“Extron understood and listened to our needs and our unique situation of being an affiliate of Amazon. They became part of our team, helping with room system designs and interoperability so that the devices are understandable to Twitch AV support and easy to use for our Twitch employees. Additionally, Extron partners on our values of Playing Co-Op, Working Backwards, and Moving Boldly by helping with solution standardization at a higher level. They think outside the box, so solutions fit Twitch. From their local support teams on up, Extron is an invaluable partner. Twitch AV can count on the Extron community to continue to support our strategies well into the future,” added Little.
This article originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of SCN. Click here to read more stories from November 2021.
