Behind the Rack

Ep.13 - The DJ Booth Has Changed Forever — 5 Shifts Reshaping Live Events in 2026

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542225/fan_mail/new] The DJ booth has quietly become one of the most technically complex positions in live event production — and most people haven't noticed.    In Episode 13 of Behind the Rack, hosts Franco and James join us for a candid roundtable on the 5 biggest shifts transforming the modern DJ booth: the evolution from stand-alone performer to full production hub, the rise of monitor stacks and line arrays behind festival booths, how mobile DJs are now controlling lighting and video from a single controller, the slow death of the MC skill, and what AI might realistically bring to the DJ world in the next 18–24 months.    We also get into the real talk on sound quality vs. aesthetics at weddings, the democratization of DJing (and whether it's raised or lowered the bar), vinyl's surprising comeback, and how music curation — not just playback — is what separates great DJs from average ones.    If you're a DJ, a live event production pro, an AV integrator, or just someone who's ever been to a wedding and noticed something felt off with the sound — this one is for you.    Topics covered:  • The 5 shifts reshaping the modern DJ booth  • Festival booth logistics: rolling setups and pre-production meetings  • Why mobile DJs now need to know lighting, video AND sound  • The MCing skill gap and why it matters  • Column speakers and aesthetics: when looks beat SPL  • Audio fatigue, speech intelligibility, and the father-of-the-bride problem  • Shure SLXD wireless scanning — done right  • DJ software reliability: the case for whatever doesn't crash  • Networking cables in the DJ booth (yes, really in 2025)  • Barrier to entry: $200 controllers and the democratization debate  • AI in DJing: BPM matching, stem isolation, facial recognition — what's coming?    🎙️ Behind the Rack is produced by SFM, a Midwich company — Canada's trusted AV distribution partner for Broadcast, Pro/Live, and Systems Integration.  📍 New episodes every two weeks.  🌐 sfm.ca

Ep.12 - Understanding Unified Communications Today—and Where DTEN Fits In

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542225/fan_mail/new] Unified Communications didn’t suddenly appear during the pandemic—it was already in motion. What changed was the pace, and more importantly, the expectations. In this episode of Behind the Rack, we sit down with David from DTEN to explore how the UC space has evolved from hardware-based systems and dedicated codecs to the software-driven, cloud-connected platforms we rely on today. The conversation traces that journey—from early interoperability challenges to the rise of Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and the shift toward simpler, more accessible meeting room experiences. DTEN’s story fits directly into that evolution. Starting with interactive whiteboards, the company moved early into all-in-one collaboration systems, helping redefine what a meeting room can look like when everything—from camera to compute—is built into a single platform. But this discussion goes beyond product design. It looks at how user behavior has changed, why hybrid work exposed gaps in traditional AV deployments, and how expectations around simplicity and reliability are now driving decision-making. We also explore what’s coming next. From digital whiteboarding and persistent collaboration to the growing role of AI—both in the cloud and at the edge—the future of meeting spaces is becoming more intelligent, more responsive, and more aligned with how people actually work. For integrators, consultants, and anyone involved in designing collaboration environments, this episode offers a grounded look at where Unified Communications stands today—and where it’s heading next.

Ep.11 - Immersive Audio and the Next Format Shift in Music Production ft. George Williams

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542225/fan_mail/new] Immersive audio isn’t just another format—it may be the most significant shift in music production since the move from mono to stereo. In this episode, George from Apogee Electronics joins us to explore how immersive audio is reshaping the way music is created, mixed, and experienced. From the early days of digital recording to today’s rapid adoption of Dolby Atmos, we unpack the technical, creative, and commercial forces driving this evolution. The conversation dives into the realities behind immersive workflows, the role of major platforms like Apple in accelerating adoption, and why this format is finally succeeding where surround sound struggled. For integrators, engineers, and anyone working in pro AV, this episode offers a grounded look at what immersive audio actually means—and where it’s going next.

Ep.10 - The Future of UC & Collaboration (AI, Teams vs Zoom, Meeting Rooms) – ft. Josh Blalock

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542225/fan_mail/new] What is Unified Communications — and why is it now critical to how we work? In this episode of Behind the Rack, we’re joined by Josh Blalock (Shure, Microsoft MVP) to break down the evolution of UC and collaboration technology — from the pandemic-driven boom to today’s shift toward AI-powered meeting experiences. We explore how platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are shaping the modern workplace, why meeting rooms are being redesigned, and how audio and video quality now directly impact AI-driven workflows. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in AV, IT, or business leadership looking to understand where collaboration technology is heading next. In this episode: *  What Unified Communications (UC) means  *  Microsoft Teams vs Zoom trends  *  How AI is transforming meetings  *  Why meeting room design matters more than ever  *  The shift toward simple, scalable AV solutions  *  The importance of audio quality in AI workflows  *  What organizations are getting wrong about collaboration  About the guest: Josh Blalock is Director of Collaboration Ecosystem & Engagement at Shure and a Microsoft MVP with over 20 years of experience in enterprise communications, Microsoft Teams, and collaboration technologies.

Ep.9 - Immersive Tech Explained: XR, VR, AR and the Future of AV

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542225/fan_mail/new] Immersive technology is rapidly evolving — and it’s starting to intersect with the world of professional AV in new and interesting ways. In this episode of Behind the Rack, we’re joined by Daniel Grozdavov from Imagine360 to explore the world of Extended Reality (XR) and how technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are reshaping how organizations communicate, train, and create experiences. Together, we discuss what immersive technology really means beyond the buzzwords, how these environments are built, and where XR may intersect with the ProAV ecosystem. Topics include:  • Understanding XR, VR, and AR  • How immersive experiences are designed  • Applications in storytelling, education, and experiential environments  • The role AV infrastructure plays in immersive deployments  • The future of immersive technology Whether you work in ProAV, broadcast, content creation, or experiential design, this episode explores how immersive technology is beginning to influence the next generation of AV experiences.