Markets /markets Customer Profiles /markets/customerProfiles/default.asp SMU Ford Field /markets/customerProfiles/SMUFordField/default.asp SMU Ford Field Dallas, Texas Entertainment /markets/customerProfiles/SMUFordField/imgs/image_FieldOverlook.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/SMUFordField/imgs/image_Endzone.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/SMUFordField/imgs/image_FieldFront.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/SMUFordField/imgs/image_AMXPanel.jpg Each autumn, on any given Saturday, something magical happens when 32,000 students, faculty and alumni pour into Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas to cheer their beloved Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs on to victory. Like many schools, football is considered sacred at the nearly century-old icon, and the administration will do just about anything to enhance the game-day experience. And that includes the addition of an AMX®-controlled audio system to bring the sounds of the big game inside the posh, 630-seat Stadium Club. “I felt like AMX team took the time to listen to us and find out what our expectations were, and then they offered suggestions. Everyone was extremely pleased with the finished product.” Designed to give SMU's premium-level donors a place to watch the game in an intimate, climate-controlled setting, the Stadium Club pampers its patrons with gourmet catering, armchair seating and a panoramic view of the field through an array of glass windows. The unique sound system features an 8.4” Modero® ViewPoint Touch Panel (MVP-8400) that gives Chris Walker, Associate Athletic Director of Development, the ability to mingle with attendees and wirelessly make sound and source adjustments during games. An AMX NI-3000 NetLinx® Integrated Controller was selected to manage audio inputs and volume output. Capturing Lightning in a Bottle David Miller, Associate Athletic Director of Facilities, Operations and Programs, explains what SMU was trying to accomplish, "While our attendees want to enjoy all of the amenities of the Club, they also want to experience the sounds and excitement of the game, just like they were in the stands. We felt that an audio system that could capture that energy and bring it inside would be ideal so we went to Mike Utzman, our audio consultant for help." As a specialist in designing sound systems for large arenas and stadiums, Utzman, president of ESP of Texas, knew right away that AMX would be the best choice for the job. He explains, "We needed an interface that would be extremely user friendly, require no technical know-how to operate and allow the user to stay mobile. The Modero addressed all of those issues, and I knew the NI-3000 could easily handle our control needs. Going with AMX was a no brainer." Getting the Mix Just Right In order to transport the sonic imagery of the game inside the Club, Utzman had to gather audio from several different sources and route it to the audio switcher being controlled by the NI-3000. This included inputs from the radio broadcast, the Public Address (PA) system and various microphones directed at the referees, the crowd, the band and the field. The NI-3000 was also used to control the volume and input sources of each of the amplifiers driving the Club's eight audio zones. The Modero gave Walker the ability to simply touch any one of several onscreen preset icons like "Pre-Game" or "Halftime" and immediately route a custom mix of audio inputs at a specified volume to each of the Club's zones. "We love the ability to choose the sources we broadcast. For instance, we want the radio feed to play during pre- and post-game but not halftime, and we want the referee and field mics louder during each half. With this system, we have total control," said Walker. "We also enjoy being able to make individual adjustments to each zone's volume level. If someone says it's a little loud near the 20-yard line, I can walk down with the Modero and make the adjustment immediately in real time. It saves us time and keeps our attendees happy." Pleased With the Finished Product As Utzman had his hands full installing the system and getting the stadium inputs tweaked just right, he contracted the AMX Professional Services Group (PSG) to handle custom programming of the Modero. "I felt like AMX team took the time to listen to us and find out what our expectations were, and then they offered suggestions. Everyone was extremely pleased with the finished product," said Utzman. Now that the Athletic Department is happy with their Stadium Club audio system, they're looking at other ways to make operations easier using AMX equipment. Miller explains, "Our system does more than we ever imagined possible and is so easy to use that we’d love to put it to work in other areas as well. There are amazing possibilities for this technology."