Using the Computer Lab A/V Racks
The main components of the computer lab racks are: a Denon receiver, an Oppo Blu-ray player, an Apple TV, and a Mac Studio or Mac Pro teaching workstation.
Turning on the Receiver
This is the Denon receiver. The receiver is used to select your source which then pushes out the audio and video signals to a projector, wall display monitors and speakers for display in the classroom. Turn it on by pressing the small circular button on the left side, labeled “Main Power.”
To determine what displays through the projector and/or wall monitors (i.e., your source), select from one of the quick select buttons, labeled in yellow:
a. Mac Studio (or Mac Pro)
b. Blu-ray/DVD
c. HDMI (a laptop connection)
d. Apple TV
You may also select your source by turning the “Source” dial on the left.
Additional Inputs:
There is an Auxiliary audio port on the front of all the racks which allows you to connect a mini stereo plug from your iPhone or iPad or laptop.
Logging into the Mac Teaching Workstation
The login screen of Film/Video computers will prompt you to enter a Name and a Password. Please enter your Film/Video credentials. If you are not sure of what your username or password is, please submit a ticket by emailing 2popsupport@calarts.edu.
For more information about your Film/Video computer account, please refer to this article.
Controlling the Volume
The volume dial on the right adjusts your audio level. Start with the main volume level being somewhere between 20 and 40 so as not to blow out the speakers before you play audio through them. When the dial is at zero, nothing can be heard.
Turning Off the Receiver
1. To turn off the receiver, press the small button on the left and leave it.
2. You will notice a label that says “Please do not touch these four buttons!” These are control zones: the Main Zone should be on, and Zone Two to be off – the screen above will tell you whether the Main Zone or Zone Two is on or off.
These Zone Control buttons should not be touched, but if you’re not able to get a signal out of the receiver, check to make sure that Zone Two is off.
Connecting a Laptop
1. Using the quick select source buttons, select “Aux. HDMI”.”
2. Find the HDMI cable located either in the rack drawer or hanging on the side of the unit.
3. Plug one side of the HDMI cable into the “HDMI In” port. Plug the other side of the cable either straight into your laptop, or do so via the appropriate adapter (located in one of the shelves at the bottom of the unit).
Most laptops today do not have an HDMI port, so you will likely need to use the white USB-C adapter provided in the rack drawer.
4. Many long HDMI cables are directional, meaning that it matters which side of the cable plugs in where: One side of the cable will say “Source” and the other side will say “Display/ TV”. The “Source” end connects your computer, and the “Display/TV” end connects to the receiver (which then connects to the Projector).
Additional Outlets and Accessories
1. You can use these power outlets to plug in and charge your laptop.
2. And the drawers below can be used to set your laptop on.
Inside the drawer you can also find remotes for the system:
- Blu-ray remote
- TV remote
- Receiver remote
Apple TV
As an alternative to using an HDMI cable, you can connect an Apple laptop to the AV rack in the computer labs using the Apple TV.
- Using the quick select source buttons on the Denon Receiver, select “Apple TV”.
- On your personal device, click on the sliders on the top bar to the left of the calendar date.
- On the quick menu that pops up, click on Screen Mirroring.
- You will see options for various Apple TV’s that you can connect to based on proximity. Click on the Apple TV with the same name as the room you are in.
- If Apple TV is selected as the source on the AV Rack, a four-digit code should momentarily pop up on the display.
- Type this four-digit code onto your laptop when prompted and you should be connected.