SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 2013: Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Thresher Communications has been designing and installing cutting-edge corporate A/V systems since 1995. It’s commitment to building cost-effective, simple, and powerful audio/video systems has made Thresher the go to A/V contractor for rising star Web 2.0 companies. Pick almost any big Internet name: it’s likely on Threshers’ client list. Longtime champions of Symetrix SymNet DSP technology, the company has seized on Dante networking and the advanced acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) technology of SymNet Edge to further simplify and enhance the systems it installs.
“We’re all about the ubiquity of A/V,” said Dave Haynes, vice president of engineering. “Our goal is to build systems that are immersive and fun for the end user yet simple and reliable for the IT staffs that maintain them.
Haynes sites SymNet Composer open architecture software and the Edge DSP frame with AEC option cards as key components. “Edge hardware and software are completely flexible, allowing us to customize each system to meet the precise needs of the client,” he said. “The Composer software is fast and easy to use. Our guys can make client directed changes on site without having to bog things down with change orders.”
The fact that SymNet Edge uses the Dante network audio protocol dramatically streamlines Threshers’ designs. “Shure has also embraced the Dante protocol, and so these days most of our installations involve Shure wireless microphones with SymNet Edge processors,” Haynes added. “The Shure ULX system and the forthcoming MXP system deliver output from a ceiling-mounted wireless receiver via Dante. Of course, Shure also sells hardware that converts that Dante stream into other audio formats, but we bypass that by going straight into SymNet Edge with Shure’s Dante output. The simplification is tremendous. We roll out a few of those systems a month.”
Advanced AEC processing is also a critical component of Thresher Communications installations. “Most of the Web 2.0 companies go for a ‘European look’ in their offices and meeting rooms,” said Haynes. “We’re often dealing with spaces that are nothing but brick, concrete, and glass surrounding a large hardwood table. The RT60 times can approach two seconds! That’s challenging for any AEC algorithm, but Symetrix’ processing deals with it effectively. Almost without exception, we place separate AEC processing on each microphone for the best results.”
With the march of technology led by Symetrix and other pioneering companies, the systems that Thresher Communications designs and installs are becoming smaller, more reliable, more intuitive and more powerful. “It used to be that A/V contractors tried to oversell clients on hardware as much as possible,” said Haynes. “Audio/video was thought to be expensive and complicated. Apart from questionable ethics, overselling sacrifices long-term client relationships for short-term gains. We built Thresher Communications with a smarter approach, and now clients in general have become more savvy.” Of course, Thresher Communications maintains its edge… with the help of the SymNet Edge!
ABOUT SYMETRIX Symetrix is dedicated to making life sound better. As a world leader in the development and manufacturing of digital audio signal processing (DSP) systems and accessories, Symetrix provides best in class audio management solutions to businesses, schools, non-profits and government organizations.
For more information on Symetrix products visit www.symetrix.co
