Key Digital Creates User-Friendly Space for National Park Service

	Atmosphere Audio Video sought out Key Digital for hardware and software ecosystem.

Every year The National Park Service plays host to up to 305 million visitors, with 5 million touring the Grand Canyon alone. At Grand Canyon National Park in the Albright Training Center, the primary learning and development training facility for employees of both the Grand Canyon National Park and the National Park Service, the McKee Amphitheater and the Shrine of the Ages multipurpose auditorium both required new and modernized AV upgrades and a new control system that would not interfere with the integrity of the space. In fact, neither of these historical structures could be physically altered in any manner. Atmosphere Audio Video, a Denver region-based integrator committed to providing a one-stop shop for all audio video consultation, design, sales, and installation needs since 1997, sought out the video and control system manufacturer Key Digital to deliver a reliable and reputable hardware and software ecosystem based on the company's robust hardware and software lineup.

To circumvent the limitations on building alterations, the rack was built in-house at Atmosphere Audio Video in Denver. In-house staging allowed optimized consolidation of rack space and allowances for the special structural considerations. The rack equipment underwent rigorous testing to ensure perfection from the dual Key Digital 8x8 HDMI matrix switchers providing digital video routing and also acting as control expansion devices for the Compass Control Pro system, the company says. Compass Control Pro, Key Digital's fully integrated control system built from the ground up to use iOS devices to replace traditional control interfaces, allowed the structure to remain as-is with no alterations necessary. Presented with the option for either modular programming or building a custom GUI, the Albright Training Center opted for a user-friendly custom-built GUI designed to fit within the National Parks Service's branding.

In the 500-person capacity McKee Amphitheater, Compass Control Pro controls the audio system via an iOS interface that can be made stationary or moved at any point during use allowing the engineer the flexibility to work from anywhere including the guest seating areas to perfect the levels. The more intimate Shrine of the Ages multipurpose auditorium also offers control mobility for ease of use. Both spaces boast a user-friendly GUI designed to satisfy the regular room engineers and assorted operators when the locations are privately rented.

Since the upgrades including Key Digital's HDMI matrix switchers and the implementation of Compass Control Pro, the facility reports an improved user experience. The system delivers an approachability for the various operators, and the mobile iOS devices provide constant access to the necessary control and information from anywhere within the respective spaces.