AUDIO DESIGN ASSOCIATES ANNOUNCES AN ASSOCIATION WITH CONTROLWORKS CONSULTING, LLC - A LEADING CEDIA-MARKET CRESTRON PROGRAMMING FIRM
ControlWorks Modules Enable Crestron Control Systems To Communicate Bi-directionally To Control and Get Feedback From ADA Gear / Eliminates The Many Frustrating Challenges That Crestron Dealers Have Finding Well-built, De-bugged and Supported Modules For
Denver, CO – September 11, 2006 - It is with great enthusiasm that Audio Design Associates (ADA) -- the recognized brand of excellence in high-end custom installed electronics -- announces an association with Jim Felderman’s Crestron programming firm, ControlWorks Consulting, LLC. Since 1977, ADA has maintained a leadership position in the CEDIA channel with respect to high-end home theater and multi-room audio technologies. Since 1998, ControlWorks has been an integral force within the CEDIA channel as a firm dedicated solely on designing and implementing (programming) Crestron control systems, many of which are ideal complements for integration with ADA’s multi-room products. Earlier this year, ADA engaged with ControlWorks by providing them with full ADA systems and accessories to create the Crestron modules and vet them out to custom installers. The ControlWorks modules enable Crestron control systems to communicate bi-directionally to control and get feedback from ADA gear. "Over the years, it has become increasingly more difficult for ADA dealers integrating with Crestron control systems to get the level of support they require from Crestron," states Richard Stoerger, V.P. & C.O.O. of ADA. "During conversations with dealers, Jim’s firm ControlWorks kept coming up time and time again, so it was only logical for our two companies to come together with this association, which ultimately supports both of our dealer bases." Felderman explains, "We are aware of the challenges that Crestron dealers have finding well built, de-bugged and supported modules for their ADA installations. The ADA modules that we have begun to produce have been direct beneficiaries of having access to the engineering talent at ADA. We are excited to be working with ADA; they have been an enthusiastic partner in the project. Historically our most popular and best performing modules have been those where we have forged a direct relationship with the manufacturer." The ControlWorks Premise Felderman started ControlWorks to alleviate dealers from having to cope with the complexity of large Crestron installations. His premise was simple; the installing dealer would concentrate on what they do well and ControlWorks would focus on designing and deploying the Crestron side of the project. The Crestron platform was getting far too complex for a dealer to have an employee pre-wiring the jobsite one day and then Crestron programming the next. Creativity and proficiency was the name of the game and that could not be accomplished unless someone was dedicated to doing programming full-time. According to Felderman, ControlWorks is a founding member of Crestron’s CAIP program (Crestron Authorized Independent Programmer). His company now has seven full-time programmers that focus strictly on Crestron control system programming. "At this time, we do not support, nor do we have plans to support any other platform," says Felderman. ControlWorks specializes in commercial and residential contract programming. In the course of executing the contract-programming portion of their work they found that there was a need to supply modules for certain applications that Crestron was not covering. (In Crestron "speak," a module is a prewritten block of code that can be easily dropped into a program to prevent the programmer from having to manually re-write code each time they start a new program.) Jim Felderman notes, "The main thing that differentiates ControlWorks' approach from Crestron's, are the methods that they (Crestron) use when authoring their modules. For starters everyone who writes programs in ControlWorks writes and support modules. This means that the dealer is purchasing a module from a person who has been in the field writing and supporting systems for end users. I believe we are in a better position to understand what the dealer and end user needs from a functional standpoint based on our years of work in the field." With this understanding of the needs and challenges of the residential programmer, ControlWorks constructs their modules for straightforward integration into the dealer’s program. Felderman continues, "The other unique angle here is Crestron’s size: When you call ControlWorks for support you have a good chance of getting support from the programmer who authored our module. Conversely, when you call Crestron you do not have direct access to the author of their module." With respect to what dealers can expect Felderman notes, "We are the only other place besides Crestron where a programmer can find a library of modules for use in their program. At http://www.thecontrolworks.com you can browse our on-line library of existing modules to get an idea of how we package and present our product. For each ControlWorks product the dealer will pay a one-time license fee that grants that company a license to use the module in as many installations within their company. They may not distribute the module with other organizations or individuals. They do get the source code to the module so they may make modifications to the functionality of the module. Each module comes packaged with a test program, a test touch-panel file and the PDF help file that describe everything from the addressing, serial connection parameters and how the module i/o functions. Before purchasing any module the programmer can view the PDF help file as well as screenshots of the test touch-panel layout and the module object as it would appear in the SIMPL Windows environment. Once they purchase a module they will be notified any time the module is updated with a new version. Also they can login to our online store and see what purchases they have made and re-download any module that they have purchased in the past." As of Monday July 31st, 2006, ControlWorks modules will be available for the following ADA products: Multi-Room: ADA Suite16, Suite 8x8, & Suite 8100 Module Tune Suite & Duo Tuners: ADA XM/Sirius Satellite Module & AM/FM/WX Module Future Modules will include: Home Theater: ADA Cinema Rhapsody Mach III, Cinema Reference Mach III, & Suite 7.1 Module For further information on ControlWorks module pricing please contact Jim Felderman at jim@controlworks.com or by phone at (440) 729-4640. About Audio Design Associates Headquartered in White Plains, New York, Audio Design Associates (ADA) is recognized as the brand of excellence and has been the undisputed leader in the fields of high-end home theater and multi-room technology since 1977. Albert Langella, ADA’s Chief Design Engineer, CEO and President, received CEDIA’s most hallowed award, The Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1994, in honor of his achievements with the company and technological contributions to the marketplace. ADA Contact Information: Audio Design Associates / 602-610 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605 / Phone: (914) 946-9595 / Phone: Toll Free Inside the US: 1-800-43-AUDIO Internet: http://www.ada-usa.com About ControlWorks ControlWorks Consulting LLC, founded by Jim Felderman, is based in Cleveland, Ohio with a satellite office in Boston, MA. The firm’s mission is to focus on the design and implementation of Crestron control systems. ControlWorks is a founding member of Crestron’s CAIP program (Crestron Authorized Independent Programmer). Jim has been working with Crestron for fourteen years. ControlWorks Contact Info: ControlWorks Consulting, LLC / 8001 Mayfield Road, Chesterland, Ohio, 44026 / Phone: (440) 729-4640 / email: jim@controlworks.com / Internet: http://www.thecontrolworks.com
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