Projects and Engineering
Colegio de la Abogacia de Barcelona (ICAB)
22/09/2023
Auditoriums and Classrooms
Ditec Communications has led the project of the Illustrious College of Law of Barcelona (ICAB) towards digital transformation through the implementation of microphone systems and classroom hybridization. An innovative technical project that improved the versatility and quality of classes in a hybrid, in-person and remote environment.
Digital Transformation at the ICAB: Classroom microphone and hybridization solutions
From the Illustrious College of Law of Barcelona, they communicated their need for support and assistance to develop a new project in their master’s classrooms. This requirement arose as a result of the transition of the training of its masters towards a hybrid format, which involved the presence of students both in the classroom and remotely. After stating their requirements, the need to implement a system that would allow the hybridization of their classrooms was identified since they were based on analog microphone and amplification systems which did not allow them to develop the project in optimal conditions, providing good quality content and experience.
At Ditec Comunicaciones we believe in the importance of digitalization, therefore, we carried out a prior demonstration in one of the six training rooms installing a SHURE Microflex Advance ceiling system, along with its DSP processor. This allowed the ICAB to experiment in real time how the new hybrid digitalization system for classroom microphones and sound system worked.
In addition, the six rooms have the function of versatility, since they are separated by mobile enclosures that allow them to combine and segment different spaces. In other words, it includes the possibility of converting the six classrooms into two or creating a large auditorium with a capacity of around 200 people with a unified address.
All of this led us to design a dual digital microphone system that adapts to the specific needs of each space at any time. This includes using the six rooms separately, joining two rooms, joining all rooms into a single large auditorium, and all combinations that space allows.
TECHNICAL PROJECT
The project consists of two large systems depending on the use you want to give the space:
For the functionality of hybrid classes in videoconference with remote assistants connected in real time, each classroom is equipped with a SHURE Microflex Advance digital ceiling microphone system, QSC hanging speakers and QSC digital processing.
For the functionality of classes only in person, a SHURE Microflex Wireless digital microphone system has been implemented in each room that includes a tabletop microphone and a handheld wireless microphone, providing excellent voice amplification within the room through the speakers suspended from the ceiling.
QSC CONTROL SYSTEM
All this equipment is controlled in a simple way by the ICAB technical staff through a control system with a 7-inch touch screen in which the 20 macros most used by the client have been preconfigured, allowing changes to be made in everything the necessary equipment to adapt to the dimensions of the rooms efficiently and with a single click on the panel.
This digital ceiling microphone and wireless microphone system, internal amplification, DSP audio management with acoustic echo cancellation and control of all elements give us the option for easy future growth. The system is structured on a DANTE network, which not only provides superior performance in audio management, but also simplifies and speeds up the addition of new equipment and the reprogramming of the system, without the need to discard existing equipment, as was the case with analog systems.
Once the project design, installation of all the equipment, wiring, etc. was completed, Ditec’s technical and engineering department carried out the programming and adjustments in each of the rooms with respect to its SHURE Microflex microphone system where In addition, the QSC control system was programmed with the 20 adjustment memories as requested by the client in order to maximize the versatility of the use of the different spaces.
