Logitech Rally Plus adds a second speaker and mic pod; it will be available at a suggested retail price of $2,499.
Logitech has announced a premium, modular conferencecam called Logitech Rally, which is aid to deliver studio-quality video, exceptional audio clarity, and an automated video conferencing experience that can be tailored to your meeting space. Rally features Ultra-HD 4K video, modular audio components, expansive PTZ capabilities and Logitech RightSense technology that automatically frames people, optimises colour and luminance for human faces, and improve vocal clarity for better meetings. The modular design makes it ideal for everyday conference rooms as well as boardrooms, classrooms and large meeting spaces.
“Just a few years ago, a high-quality video and audio system like Logitech Rally would have easily been a five-figure investment,” said Scott Wharton, vice president and general manager of the Logitech Video Collaboration. “Now, with the Rally portfolio of products, customers get a premium, modular system that raises the bar for USB-connected AV solutions – all at a fraction of the price of other high-end systems.”
“Logitech has enjoyed great success with its affordable USB conferencecams which work well in traditional meeting rooms and huddle spaces,” said Ira M. Weinstein, managing partner, Recon Research. “But until now, Logitech lacked a premium offering for larger spaces. The Rally portfolio gives Logitech the opportunity to move up-market and extend the reach of its conferencecam line-up. Based on what I’ve seen, Rally has the potential to be as disruptive as the earlier Logitech conferencecam solutions”
Unlike traditional video conferencing systems, Rally separates the speakers from the microphones. By mounting speakers near the display, the audio is better aligned with video, and voices of far-end participants come from the front of the room, which is what people intuitively expect.
A modular approach makes Logitech Rally an ideal solution for meeting spaces of almost any size and shape. Rally Camera features 4K optics and intelligent PTZ features to capture every seat in room. The standalone microphones provide a superior audio experience and more effectively suppress noise and echo. The front-of-room speakers offer richer sound than table top speakerphones.
Thoughtful cable management enables custom deployments and integration by AV professionals. Premium materials, streamlined cabling and sleek industrial design complement architectural spaces and high-end furnishings. Logitech Rally is compatible with almost any video conferencing service, such as Microsoft Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts Meet, Zoom, BlueJeans and more.
Customers may purchase Logitech Rally through the Logitech Video Collaboration reseller network. The standalone Logitech Rally Camera will be available this summer for a suggested retail price of €1,399 / £1,299. Logitech Rally system, which includes Rally Camera, plus table and display hubs that minimise cross-room cabling, one speaker and one mic pod, will be available this Fall at a suggested retail price of $1,999, and Logitech Rally Plus, which adds a second speaker and mic pod, will be available at a suggested retail price of $2,499. Euro and sterling prices are TBC. The system can be expanded with additional Mic Pods, available at a suggested retail price of $349.
Intelligent automation for video collaboration
Logitech has announced an intelligent software suite for its video collaboration portfolio called Logitech RightSense technologies. Together these technologies automate light, colour, sound, and camera control to deliver a more natural and engaging video conferencing experience for more effective collaboration. These new technologies are integrated into Logitech’s most advanced video collaboration devices, including Logitech Rally, enabling more natural meetings with most software-based video conferencing services.
Logitech RightSense consists of three automation technologies:
●Logitech RightSight camera control leverages computer vision to automatically frame meeting participants in the room so that users don’t need to manually adjust the camera angle.
● Logitech RightLight optimizes light balance and colour to prioritize the appearance of faces and render natural-looking skin tones, even in dim or backlit conditions.
● Logitech RightSound improves vocal clarity by suppressing background noise and echo, auto-levelling voices, and focusing on active speakers so that everyone in the meeting can hear and be heard.
“It’s great to see Logitech bring applying more intelligence to video meetings. Adding automation to functions like camera control, light and colour balance, and acoustic tuning is a natural next step for video meetings,” said Roopam Jain, industry director for conferencing and collaboration, Frost & Sullivan. “Just as support for HD resolution has become table stakes for conference room cameras, I anticipate that more intelligent and automated meetings will quickly become a standard feature for room and desktop solutions.”
“Our goal is to eliminate the need to fiddle with remote controls, adjust lighting in the room, and move the mics and speakers around,” said Scott Wharton, vice president and general manager of the Logitech Video Collaboration. “Now, with Logitech RightSense technologies, you get a better automated user experience, with unprecedented audio and video performance. You can walk in and hold your meeting without thinking twice about the experience for the people on the far end.”
Logitech RightLight and Logitech RightSound technologies are already included in a number of Logitech conferencecams and webcams. Logitech RightSight will be available later this year through a software download – see logitech.com/rightsight for information about availability and OS support.
