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Audiovisual Services

Lecture theatre AV

UVic’s lecture theatres come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 80 seats to over 300 seats. Lecture theatres are ideal for hosting larger classes and larger scale public events.

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

View all lecture theatres

AV equipment

All lecture theatres contain:

  • 3 widescreen video data projectors (VDPs)
  • a preview monitor at the back of the room
  • stereo speakers
  • built-in Windows computer
  • HDMI cable to connect your device
  • 2 document cameras
  • a webcam
  • wireless lav mic
  • touchscreen AV controls

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

To use the AV system:

  1. Unlock the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. Open the AV cabinet and press the unlock button inside it.
  3. Tap the touchscreen panel to turn it on.
  4. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to wake the classroom computer up.
  5. Sign in to the computer with your NetLink ID and passphrase.
  6. Use the touchscreen controls to turn on the middle projector or the left and right projectors.
  7. Select Computer (or blank image) as an input source for each projector.
    • You can change the input source for any projector at any time.
  8. Choose which projector you want the preview monitor at the back of the room to mirror and tap the preview button under it.
    • This is also the source that will be recorded or shared in Echo360, Zoom or Teams.

Because of the size of lecture theatres, we recommend you use the wireless mic to teach in these spaces.

 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 laptop

To use the AV system:

  1. Unlock the AV cabinet with your key.
  2. Open the AV cabinet and press the unlock button inside it.
  3. Tap the touchscreen panel to turn it on.
  4. Connect the HDMI cable (or the VGA and 3.5mm stereo cable or USB-C cable, if they're available) 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").
  5. 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.
  6. Use the touchscreen controls to turn on the middle projector or the left and right projectors and select an input source (or blank image) for each of them. (What are the input sources?)
    • If you used the HDMI cable, select laptop or HDMI for your device.
    • If you used the VGA and stereo cables, select VGA or AUX.
    • You can change the input source for any projector at any time.
  7. Choose which projector you want the preview monitor at the back of the room to mirror and tap the preview button under it.
    • This is also the source that will be recorded or shared in Echo360, Zoom or Teams.

Because of the size of lecture theatres, we recommend you use the wireless lav mic to teach in these spaces.

 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.

Wireless mic

Lecture theatres all have a wireless lav (lavalier or lapel) mic. The mic and transmitter belt pack are stored inside the AV cabinet. Since lecture theatres are so large, most instructors use the mic even if they're not recording their class.

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.

AV controls

Sample lecture theatre touchscreen controls.
The touchscreen panels have on-screen buttons to select the input source for each of the 3 projectors in the room and the previous display. It has separate volume controls for the mic and system playback.

Input sources

You can choose an input source for each projector independently. The exact available sources vary between rooms. 

  • Off: powers the projector off
  • PC or computer: the built-in Windows classroom computer
  • Laptop or HDMI: a HDMI cable for you to connect your device
  • Doc cam or camera: document camera on the desk top
  • AUX may be either:
    • a VGA cable (for video) and 3.5mm stereo cable (for audio)
    • a USB-C cable for your device
  • AirMedia: connect wirelessly using AirMedia
  • Blank image: display a black screen but leave the projector warmed up and ready

You can turn the left and right projectors at the same time or you can turn on just the middle projector. You can't use all three.

Preview

When you select the preview button under a projector menu, it does two things:

  • makes the preview monitor at the back of the room mirror this content source
  • routes this content source to the classroom computer so you can record it with Echo360 or share it with Zoom

You can use the preview monitor to see your slides, notes or computer desktop without looking away from the audience.

Volume

There are separate volume controls for the microphone and playback device. The playback device is whichever computer or HDMI source is currently selected.

Lecture recording

All general use 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
  • always 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're planning to show a movie or video, we strongly recommend trying to find a way to stream it online or play it from a download on your computer. If the material is only available as a DVD, most classroom computers have DVD drives you can use.

If your classroom does not have a built-in DVD drive, you can contact us to request a portable USB optical drive.

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 go

 At the end of your class, please:

  • stop recording in Echo360, or end your meeting in Zoom or Teams
  • sign out of the classroom computer
  • turn off the lav mic transmitter
  • press the lock button inside the AV cabinet
  • 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