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Audiovisual Services

Classroom AV

UVic’s classrooms are found across campus and vary in size. They typically have seating for 40-60 people, up to a maximum of 120.

If you want to learn more about a specific classroom, Media Services offers free demonstrations in any classroom on campus.

View all classrooms

AV equipment

The classroom AV system is controlled with either mechanical buttons (found in the AV cabinet or mounted on the desktop) or a touchscreen panel. It includes:

  • widescreen video data projector (VDP) (some rooms have multiple VDPs or displays)
  • stereo speakers
  • wireless mic
  • built-in Windows classroom computer
  • HDMI cable to connect your device
  • VGA and 3.5mm audio cables (only in some rooms)
  • document camera

Accessibility

Our classroom AV configuration includes:

  • fixed height instructor station counter
  • cabinet door without handles or lift assist hinges. The door may fall open if you're unable to hold its weight
  • equipment controlled with a touchscreen fixed in place on the counter top
  • pull-down projector screen

We recognize that these features present accessibility issues and are working to mitigate them.

If you need in-person assistance, please contact the Computer Help Desk.

AV keys

Don't forget your keys!

You'll need an AV key to use classroom AV system and computer. To avoid delays, sign out a key from your department office before your first class and always bring it with you when you're teaching.

Use the classroom PC

Follow these steps to use the classroom Windows computer to share your screen or a presentation.

  1. Unlock and open the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. If your room has touchscreen controls, press the unlock button (inside the cabinet). This will enable the touchscreen panels and power on the other equipment.
  3. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to wake the computer up.
  4. Sign in to the computer with your NetLink ID and passphrase.
  5. Use the mechanical buttons or the touchscreen controls to select PC or Computer as your video source. You can change the input source at any time.
    • Classrooms with two projectors can choose different input sources for each display.
  6. Make sure the sound level is turned partway up and the sound isn't muted.
    • In rooms with mechanical buttons, the lights next to the volume buttons flash when the sound is muted.

If you want to record or amplify your voice, you must set up the wireless mic.

Troubleshooting

If you're not using video recording, livestreaming, or meeting software select other user near the lower-left corner of the sign-in screen.

If you are, restart the computer.

Press the mute key () on the keyboard or unmute the computer in Windows' settings.

Make sure that your media player app isn't muted and the volume slider isn't set to 0.

Use your own laptop

Follow these steps to use your own Windows or Mac computer to share your screen or a presentation.

  1. Unlock and open the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. If your room has touchscreen controls, press the unlock button (inside the cabinet). This will enable the touchscreen panels and power on the other equipment.
  3. Connect the HDMI cable (or the VGA and 3.5mm stereo cables) to your laptop.
    • HDMI supplies both sound and video. If you use HDMI, you don't need to use the stereo cable.
    • Some MacBooks and small laptops only have USB-C, Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt ports for video. If you have one of these, bring your own HDMI adapter ("dongle").
  4. Press Windows ​ + P (Windows) or Command ​ + F1 (Mac) on your keyboard to choose whether to duplicate/mirror or extend your desktop. 
    • Not sure? Most instructors want to duplicate (Windows) or mirror (Mac) their display. In this mode, the projector will show exactly the same thing as your laptop screen.
  5. Use the mechanical buttons or the touchscreen controls to select your video source. You can change the input source at any time.
    • If you're using an HDMI cable, select Laptop or HDMI.
    • If your device is connected with a VGA or USB-C cable, select AUX.
    • If you're in a classroom with two projectors, you can choose different input sources for each display.
  6. Make sure the sound level is turned partway up and the sound isn't muted.
    • In rooms with mechanical buttons, the lights next to the volume buttons flash when muted.

If you want to record or amplify your voice, set up the wireless mic.

If you want record or broadcast your lecture, we recommend you use the classroom computer, even if you're presenting from your own device. It's also a useful backup if your laptop runs out of batteries.

Troubleshooting

Make sure your laptop's second display is set to mirror or duplicate. It should not be set to extend.

Windows:

  1. Press Windows ​ + P to open the Project menu.
  2. select Duplicate.

Mac:

  1. Press Command ​ + F1.

Set your laptop display's resolution to 1920 × 1080.

Windows:

  1. Using the Windows search bar, find and select Settings.
  2. Select Display and scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
  3. Set Display resolution to 1920 × 1080.

Mac:

  1. Go to the Apple menu () and select System Settings.
  2. Go to Displays in the sidebar.
  3. Select the Crestron display.
  4. Under Optimize for, select Crestron.
  5. Choose 1920 × 1080.

Make sure your laptop isn't muted. Press the mute key () on your keyboard or unmute it in your operating system's settings.

Make sure that your media player app isn't muted and the volume slider isn't set to 0.

Make sure that your computer is using the AV system as its audio device:

Windows:

  1. Click or tap the speaker icon on the taskbar () or press the Windows ​ + A to open quick settings.
  2. Click or tap the Select a sound output icon to the right of the volume slider.
  3. Under Output device, select Crestron or HDMI. If you're using VGA and stereo connectors, select headphones or external headphones.

Mac:

  1. Go to the Control Center menu (Control Center icon).
  2. Position the mouse cursor above the Sound from card, then select the right-facing pointer () that appears.
  3. For audio playback device, select Crestron or HDMI. If you're using VGA and stereo connectors, select headphones or external headphones.

The exact labels used in your operating system may vary depending on the OS version and system configuration.

AV controls

Mechanical controls

Most classrooms are controlled with mechanical buttons. Their layout can vary.

3 mechanical panels for projector power and input source, volume, and lock/unlock
Typically, one panel on the desk top controls power and input sources, another one controls sound volume, and a 3rd panel inside the AV cabinet locks and unlocks the system.

Input source buttons may be on the top of the AV cabinet or on the inside. The illuminated lights on the side of the panel indicate the source that is currently selected. (What do the input labels mean?)

Volume control buttons are usually on the top of the AV cabinet. The illuminated lights indicate the current volume level. If all the lights are off, the sound is at minimum volume. If all the lights are on, the sound is at maximum volume. The lights will blink when the system is muted.

Lock/unlock buttons are usually inside the AV cabinet. They're usually present in rooms that use a touchscreen panel. The unlock button unlocks the touchscreen controls. The lock button locks the controls and shuts down the AV system. The illuminated lights indicate whether the controls are currently locked or unlocked.

Touchscreen controls

Some classrooms have Crestron touchscreen panels instead of mechanical buttons. You can control the AV system with the touchscreen. The projectors, input sources and labels can vary.

Sample classroom touchscreen controls.
The touchscreen panels have on-screen buttons to select the input source for each projector in the room and separate volume controls for the mic and system playback.

Input sources

Available input sources vary by room.

  • Off: powers the projector off.
  • PC or computer: the built-in Windows computer.
  • Laptop or HDMI: the HDMI cable for you to connect your device.
  • Doc cam or camera: document camera on the desk top.
  • AUX: usually a VGA cable (for video) and 3.5mm stereo cable (for audio). Some rooms have a USB-C cable instead. USB-C delivers both audio and video.
  • AirMedia: connect wirelessly using AirMedia.

Classrooms with two projectors can set different input sources for each display.

Wireless mic

There is a wireless lav (lavalier or lapel) mic in the classrooms. You can use it to reinforce your voice in the classroom.

To use a lav mic:

  1. Clip the transmitter belt pack to your belt or waistband, or put it in a pocket.
  2. Clip the lav mic to your shirt or jacket. Try to position it as close as you can to your mouth.
  3. Turn the transmitter belt pack on.
    • The power button or switch might be on the top, back or front of the belt pack.
    • If the pack has a power button, hold it down for three seconds to turn it on.
  4. Adjust the volume using the AV systems buttons or touchscreen controls.
    • We carefully set the volume on the transmitter pack for best performance. If you think there's a problem, contact us and we'll be happy to help.

If you're recording or sharing your lecture on the classroom computer using Echo360 or Zoom, select the mic (or audio input device) called speakerphone, content or Crestron.

You can also follow our video tutorial for using a lav miv.

Troubleshooting

Replace the batteries in the transmitter or contact us and we can do it. There are spare batteries in the AV cabinet.

Make sure the AV system isn't muted:

  • If the classroom uses mechanical buttons, the lights next to the volume controls will flash if the system is muted. Press the mute button to unmute it.
  • If your classroom uses a touchscreen panel, the label on the mute button near the bottom right of the screen will change to "Muted" and change colour from green to red. Tap it to unmute it.

Check the transmitter to make sure it isn't muted. Most models have a mute switch on top of the pack.

Lecture recording

All classrooms are set up for basic lecture recording. TeachAnywhere has resources for how to record a lecture:

When you're recording a lecture, you should:

  • use the classroom computer for recording or livestreaming lectures, even if you're presenting from your own device
  • use the lav mic for sound, not the integrated webcam mic

If you need technical support, contact AV Services.

LTSI offers resources, consultations and assistance with using recording, livestreaming and video meeting technology for instruction.

Play a DVD

If you can stream your video online or save it to your computer, we recommend doing that instead. If the material is only available as a DVD, most classrooms have DVD drives you can use.

If your classroom doesn't have a built-in DVD drive, portable USB optical drives are available through AV Services.

To play a DVD:

  1. Open the drive tray, place the disc in it and push the drive tray gently to insert it.
  2. On the Windows desktop, open My computer.
  3. Right-click on the DVD drive icon and select play with VLC from the context menu.

Before you leave

At the end of your class, please:

  • stop recording in Echo360
  • sign out of the classroom computer
  • turn off the lav mic transmitter
  • lock the AV cabinet with your key

Doing these things will protect your privacy and help other instructors use the classroom without technical problems.

Get help now

Call 250-721-8292 for urgent in-class help.

Contact IT support to report a non-urgent issue.

Get help

Report an issue

If you find damaged or broken equipment, please let us know. 

Report broken equipment