May 2016 Archives

What We’ve Done: St Anne’s Ryde

May 26, 2016 by Nick

Open Box Technology has been working with St Anne’s Ryde since 2013, supplying and installing new equipment for their audio visual system. Their AV system had been in use for about 10 years and was in need of updating. We supplied new EV ZXA1 foldback speakers, a few additional microphones as well as an Allen & Heath GLD80 console and stage box system.

GregDesk

The Allen & Heath digital console has allowed the reduction in outboard equipment required. Some of this equipment has been donated to other churches, and some reused in other areas of the St Anne’s facility. Further, the digital console has given more power to the operators, while allowing recall of the default settings. This ensures a basic standard of quality regardless of the operator.

What We’ve Done: St Barnabas Broadway

May 19, 2016 by Nick

Open Box Technology manages the Audio Visual and IT systems at St Barnabas Broadway. We are responsible for upgrades, servicing and maintenance, as well as general advice and assistance.

St Barnabas has a state of the art Public Address system. A D&B Audiotechnik speaker system and BSS London system processor take care of the reproduction responsibilities. A Roland M480 console, digital multicore and personal monitoring system takes care of the audio front end. The presentations are run through Pro Presenter 5 off a new Hewlett Packard PC.

Barneys Broadway Desk

The Essential Website

May 6, 2016May 5, 2016 by Nick

You may have heard the adage, ‘Programmers are tools that convert pizza and coffee into code’. This oft repeated phrase captures the imagination with its humour and apparent truth. It also captures the sentiment of many management types and those outside the developer community. So you could be forgiven for believing that, when the developers of St Barnabas Broadway (some of whom are Open Box Technology employees) were invited for dinner and drinks to discuss the Barneys website, we joined in like lemmings.

However, this sentiment is incorrect. Programmers and developers are not subservient tools that will do the bidding of the puppeteers, we require a good reason to spend time writing code. This is why companies like Google have grandiose mission statements such as “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” and motto’s of “don’t be evil”. Without something to believe in, a big vision for something new and better, we do the pizza and coffee part of our adage without any code to show for it.

“Your kind of service is rare these days”

Nick, you were amazing on Saturday night at the Carols on the Colonnade!

Thank you for the generosity of your time and enthusiasm. As you know, I was very anxious as to the quality and experience of the guests. You allayed my concerns with your positive attitude and ‘all good’ approach.

Thank you, your kind of service is rare these days.

I so value what you contributed to our purchase of a Sound System and will look forward to working with you in the future.

Wendy McDermott, Tara Anglican School

“The kind of consultants you want in your corner”

Open Box Technology has done two things for Barneys. Firstly, they have stopped us from repeatedly making dumb, reactive - and, ultimately, costly - decisions, by helping us to develop a single vision for the integrated use of enabling technologies across ministries, without redundancy or false economies. Secondly, they have equipped Barneys volunteers to use our technology to the best of its capacity and rescued us when needed.

Open Box has a great passion for Christian organisations to be as effective as possible. They are practical about our financial realities. Open Box Technology is efficient, honest and hard-working: the kind of consultants you want in your corner.

Rev Mike Paget, Rector, St Barnabas Anglican Church Broadway

“Clear communication, integrity and honesty”

I have had the privilege of knowing Nick Utber (Open Box Technology, Owner) during the past couple of years. During this time, we have worked together on a number of projects in a range of situations. Nick has shown himself to be a very competent audio engineer across a variety of projects ranging from large outdoor events to small indoor gatherings. He is a good planner, wanting to ensure that all necessary equipment and personnel are in place in order to achieve a desired outcome.

In addition, I have observed Nick present several training courses. He is able to communicate clearly, understand the competence level of those in the group and answers questions to the satisfaction of the target group. On a personal level, I know Nick to be a person of integrity and honesty. I warmly commend Nick to anyone requiring expertise in the areas mentioned above.

Steve Williams, Crosstalk Technical Services

It’s a relationship

We really value our relationship OBT because it is just that—a relationship. They listen to our challenges and desires and help manufacture solutions that don't break the bank and can be implemented in a relatively short space of time.

Chris Booth - Assistant Minister, Guildford Anglican Church