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The Nexus Technology: Guide for In Person Events

Documentation on how to use the technology in the The Nexus for hybrid events.

Beginning Set-Up

  1. Remove Handheld Creston from rack in closet by hitting the Eject Panel button in the bottom left
    Close up screenshot of Creston with red arrow pointing to Eject Panel button in bottom middle.
     
  2. Insert Handheld Creston into the charging station on the left side of the lectern and enter Presentation Only Mode. This will automatically turn on both projectors at the front of the room and also turn both cameras on.
    Image of the leftside of lectern with Creston inserted in dock.
    Screenshot of main screen of Creston with Presentation Mode highlighted with red arrow pointing to it in the bottom middle.
     
  3. Next choose the Laptop/PC Presentation button in the upper right
    Image of Creston with Laptop / PC Presentation button in upper right highlighted with red arrow pointing to it.
     

  4. It’s suggested to restart your laptop before connecting the HDMI cable.

    Plugin laptop directly into the system via the HDMI cable at the lectern. This will allow you to directly share content (screen, audio, etc.) from your laptop.
    Image of right side of lectern with monitor and a red arrow pointing to HDMI cable.

  5. Choose PC 1 Lectern to share content from your laptop then choose which projectors you’d like to send to

    1. Both East Projectors will project your laptop screen directly behind the lectern

    2. North Projector will project to the wall that has the A/V Closet. 

      IMPORTANT: Be sure all doors are closed before pressing North Projector as it’ll begin to lower that projector

Image of Laptop/PC Presentation screen on Creston with (1) PC 1 Lecturn button highlighted in middle left and (2) All the projector buttons highlighted at middle bottom.

Microphones

Image of AV Rack with bottom microphone drawer pulled out with red arrow pointing to it.

There are eight total mics that can be used (four at a time). They are located in the charging tray at the bottom of the rack in the closet. All that needs to be done to use the mics is to turn them on and assure they’re all on separate channels.

If you’d like, you can place one handheld and one lavalier mic in a charging station at the lectern, this is located immediately to the left of the Creston tray.

Using Microphones Channels

Four mics at a time can be used. There are four handheld microphones and four lavalier microphones. These can be used in any combination, however, each individual microphone needs to be on its own audio channel (1, 2, 3, or 4). Two mics cannot be on the same channel at the same time.

NOTE: Specifically, a lavalier and handheld mic CANNOT both be on the same channel.

Illustration showing a good set-up with Lav Mic on Ch. 1 and Handheld Mic on Ch. 3 and a bad set up with Lav Mic on Ch. 1 and Handheld Mic on Ch.1

Adjusting Mic Levels

It’s a good idea to check mic levels before an event, this can be done via the Creston controller.

  1. Click Microphones on the left side of the Creston screen
    Image of Creston with red arrow pointing towards Microphones button on left hand side.
     
  2. From there you can easily adjust the volume up or down depending on the channel (1-4). You would always choose ‘Wireless Mics’ (upper left) when adjusting mic volumes.
    Screenshot of Wireless Microphones section of Creston with all button options for Wireless 1-4

Using Ceiling Mics (Audience Questions)

Image showing ceiling of The Nexus with red arrow pointing to the two ceiling mics.

There are two ceiling mics that are muted by default. You can tell if a mic is on or not by looking at the light on the mic. Red (off), Green (on). 

These are great to use when there is a Q&A portion of an event or presentation, and eliminates the need to pass a mic around.

To turn on the ceiling mics:

  1. Click Microphones on the left side of the Creston screen
    Image of Creston Laptop/PC Presentation screen with red arrow pointing toward the Microphones button on the left hand side.
  2. At top of the page click Ceiling Mics Muted to turn on / off.
    Upclose screenshot of creston screen with red arrow pointing to Ceiling Mics Muted button in upper middle.

Lectern Microphone

Important Note on the Lectern Mic:

The microphone built into the lectern is meant only for adding extra presence to a speaker and should never be used as the primary microphone. 

Presenters should have either a handheld or lav microphone to be properly heard both in the room and on the Zoom Meeting.