A High-Tech, Low-Stress Broadcast Hub Built Into the Booth

 

At InfoComm 2025 in mid-June in Orlando, Florida, Midwich redefined what it means to “go live” on the show floor. Nestled into the Midwich booth was the AVonAir studio—a sleek, fully functional broadcast environment outfitted for high-quality, real-time content creation. Warm, welcoming, and highly visible thanks to its glass wall facing the show floor, the space became a standout destination for live interviews and vendor spotlights throughout the event.

The AVonAir initiative has evolved significantly since its humble beginnings as a BYO laptop podcast station with a four-channel mixer and a couple of mics. This year, the studio was nothing short of a professional-grade content hub—featuring top-tier AV equipment, smart workflows, and a network-first infrastructure that blurred the line between broadcast and AV integration.

The AVonAir Control Center

 

The Talent and the Tech

Joe Dunbar, Project Engineer at Midwich, and Jeff Barnes, Business Development Manager for the Broadcast / Media & Entertainment Team, were the driving forces behind the AVonAir experience. Along with appearances from Chris Neto and Ying Khang, they interviewed vendors live from the booth, showcasing Midwich vendor products in action. Dustin Gay from the Technical Services team provided technical assistance.

Jeff Barnes managed the entire technical backend—from camera switching and lighting to encoding and content delivery—all from a purpose-built control station just outside the studio. This separation created a cleaner recording space and a more efficient workflow compared to previous years.

Watch the Video! AVonAir Behind the Scenes:

 

Jeff Barnes, left, and Joe Dunbar in the AVonAir control center.

 

A Network-Centric Approach

“The network switch is the hub now,” said Barnes during a walkthrough of the studio. “It’s no longer a massive video switcher or dedicated DMX lighting controllers. Everything hangs off PoE and IP.”

At the heart of this infrastructure were Netgear ethernet switches responsible for powering and routing nearly every device—from lights to cameras to the monitor wall. OBS software and an Elgato Stream Deck were used for streamlined internal communications and production functions.

Netgear 4250 series POE++ switch

 

Lighting That Turns Heads

One of the most talked-about features in the booth? The lighting. Midwich used Ikan lights powered entirely via Power over Ethernet (PoE++), simplifying setup and control. These lights supported adjustable color temperature and brightness via a single cable, and could be integrated into larger control ecosystems with DMX or plugin support.

“The lighting has come a long way,” said Barnes. “It’s cleaner, brighter, and more consistent—people were genuinely surprised it was all powered over Ethernet.”

Peering into the AVonAir booth during an interview with Cameron Boyce of BirdDog.

 

Audio That Delivers

The audio setup centered around the gold-standard Shure SM7B microphones, specifically the DB models with built-in preamps. As Dunbar put it, “When I found out the DB variants existed, I was thrilled. That extra gain makes a world of difference.”

These mics provided broadcast-quality sound with minimal fuss—ideal for a busy trade show floor environment.

Shure SM7B Vocal Microphones in the AVonAir booth

 

Next-Gen Camera Solutions

Midwich leaned heavily into BirdDog technology for video capture and control. The studio featured BirdDog’s new X1 PTZ cameras, boasting Sony sensors and an updated tally light design that made it easier for presenters to engage directly with the correct camera. A PTZ camera controller keyboard allowed for smooth, intuitive control, including full-frame views and camera presets.

“I love the ability to zoom in on individual cameras for focus and color correction,” said Dunbar, about the BirdDog KBD PTZ Controller. “It’s the kind of thoughtful design that makes a big difference in the moment.”

The BirdDog KBD PTZ camera controller keyboard

Also featured was the BirdDog MAKI, affectionately nicknamed “the beer can,” which served as the primary live shot cam. Barnes also highlighted the BirdDog Studio app for iOS—a powerful NDI-based control room in your backpack with built-in audio mixing, titling, and transitions.

BirdDog's X1 PTZ Cameras in the AVonAir booth

 

End-to-End Signal Routing

Behind the scenes, Kiloview provided various encoding and decoding of NDI video signals, routing video throughout the booth, including the Kiloview Cube X1. A compact crosspoint router enabled dynamic signal distribution, while LG monitors offered preview and multi-view functionality.

Dustin Gay of the Midwich Technical Services team adds expanded production operations for 2025. The Kiloview Cube X1 is on the left.

The Kiloview Cube X1 Distribution system, designed for unified switching, distribution, and management of all NDI signals.

 

Seamless Streaming and File Transfer with LiveU

Midwich also partnered with LiveU to handle both live streaming and post-production file access. Using two LiveU units, an LU300 and an LU800 portable encoder, one stream provided real-time booth content to remote viewers via QR code access. The other unit enabled rapid file uploads to a central server for quick turnaround editing—eliminating the need for USB handoffs and manual transfers.

“This has been a game-changer,” said Barnes. “We’re able to get polished content out to our partners almost immediately after an interview wraps.”

The LiveU LU800 Portable Encoder Package, on the right, provided quick upload of content.

 

Looking Ahead

With its clean aesthetic, professional-grade tech, and forward-thinking design, the AVonAir studio at InfoComm 2025 set a new bar for booth-based content creation. It was a real-time case study in how IP-based AV workflows can simplify production while maintaining broadcast-quality results.  It stands as an example of Midwich’s focus on the merging markets of AV and Broadcast.

“It’s the best setup we’ve ever had,” said Barnes. “And we’re already thinking about how to take it even further next year.”

The control center and the backside of the AVonAir studio at InfoComm 2025.

 

To learn more about how Midwich US is supporting the Broadcast, Media & Entertainment space, reach out to us anytime at [email protected].