Markets /markets Customer Profiles /markets/customerProfiles/default.asp Oklahoma City Home /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/default.asp Oklahoma City Home Oklahoma City, Oklahoma WholeHome /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/imgs/image_OKCityHome_FamilyRoom.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/imgs/image_OKCityHome_Kitchen.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/imgs/image_OKCityHome_MasterBedroom.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/imgs/image_OKCityHome_MediaRoom.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/OklahomaCityHome/imgs/image_OKCityHome_Office.jpg Never underestimate a person's passion for music, whether it's the well-trained sensibilities of a self-proclaimed audiophile or the eclectic "Top 40" tastes of your casual listener. In either case, you're sure to discover common threads when it comes to elevating audio through technology. It must ultimately resound with clarity, sharpness and depth. Consider this 8,000 square-foot residence located in Oklahoma City, for example, where the husband and wife owners began their whole-home integration pursuits by requesting first-and-foremost an audio distribution system complete with surround sound capabilities in the master bedroom. Plus a high-fidelity system accessible in the family room, home theater, and seamless AMX® control through a powerful NetLinx® system and Modero® touch panels. "The homeowners wanted something (a system) that would allow them to come in, push a button (on the touch panel), and have things work without referring to a user's manual," Ades said. "They are both very busy, so when they have the time to use their system, they need it to respond flawlessly, right then." Contemporary Sounds of Oklahoma City was selected specifically for this installation due to a familiar relationship with the owners. Having successfully installed audio/video equipment in a previous residence belonging to the couple, Contemporary Sounds had already attained strong client-dealer trust. "We've installed many distributed audio systems over the years, so we made it a point to propose ideas that would benefit their lifestyle," said Richard Ades, president of Contemporary Sounds. "They love the system." The couple's lifestyle in a word: busy. There's not much time to spend searching song titles and selecting tracks. So Contemporary Sounds configured the audio distribution system to handle the details for them. Background music is programmed to play automatically in every zone starting in the morning and continuing all day long, from Monday through Friday. The alarm goes off and the audio begins, allowing the family to pay attention to more important matters while the system takes care of itself. This default setting can be modified, however, and even disabled using any one of the Modero panels that communicate directly with the NetLinx Controller, the brains behind the home's entire integration. "The homeowners wanted something (a system) that would allow them to come in, push a button (on the touch panel), and have things work without referring to a user's manual," Ades said. "They are both very busy, so when they have the time to use their system, they need it to respond flawlessly, right then." That's why Contemporary Sounds chose to implement AMX control technology as the backbone to the audio distribution system and for the automation of other electronics networked in different rooms, including plasma screens and televisions, CD/DVD changers and hidden speaker volume controls. Centrally located in the kitchen resides a 17-inch Modero Widescreen Touch Panel. Its expansive on-screen real estate provides several convenient, space-saving features. It connects directly to the family's PC and the Internet, acting as a virtual computer station with a pop-up on-screen keyboard. There's no reason to have to plug in any external hardware - keyboard or mouse. For additional entertainment value, the 17 inch touch panel also accepts an incoming video signal, allowing it to switch from a user interface to a television monitor on command. "We try to talk our clients into scheduling as many things as possible, particularly music because the owners end up using the system a lot more," Ades said. "For example, if they wake up in the morning or arrive home in the evening, the scheduled music will be in use continuously so they experience greater value on their investment. Should they choose not to listen to the background music at any time, it's just a matter of simply pushing a button on the touch panel to power it off." Strategically placed 7.5 inch Modero ViewPoint® (MVP) Touch Panels in the family room, home theater, master bedroom and upstairs media room offer wireless control in an aesthetically-pleasing touch panel package. It's the user interface design, however, that draws all the attention from family members and houseguests. Instead of programming the MVP's user interface with traditional on-screen buttons and icons, each of the panels display a scanned family photograph. The husband, wife and any of their four children simply select their image to instantly activate a new touch panel of customized features, including a list of favorite CD tracks and DVD titles. This unique solution delivers a creative, compelling way to navigate the user interface. "This is something I like to do on projects that I am involved with," Ades explained. "When you think about the homeowners' friends coming over to visit and getting a look at how the system works, I don't think there are many things more powerful than seeing the family on the touch panel's user interface. It's a very meaningful way to experience whole home integration." The home's audio distribution and control system integration was completed in two back-to-back phases, which included retrofitting the wiring in every room. Although this was a newer home, recently purchase by the owners, the interior sheetrock was already up and installed. Contemporary Sounds carefully worked around the sheetrock while completing the phase-one audio system and family room, home theater technology, and the phase-two master bedroom surround sound implementation and Modero touch panels placement in the bedrooms, family room, home theater, media room and kitchen." Having to retrofit this home meant it was not an entirely straight-forward process," Ades said. "But when the client knows what to expect, we can accomplish just about anything."