Extron AV Technology Enhances the Esports Experience at MTSU’s LEVEL Up Arena

Anaheim, California (May 14, 2025)- The Middle Tennessee State University LEVELUp esports arena draws people from all across campus to the Student Union Building to experience esports action. The arena boasts 24 gaming PC stations, a coaching station, a shoutcasting booth, a bevy of point-of-view (POV) cameras, large displays, web streaming capability, and a powerful sound system. Tying it together is a flexible, scalable AV switching and distribution solution based on NAV Pro AV over IP, augmented by Extron streaming media processing, audio DSP processing, and audio amplification. It’s all controlled using an intuitive Extron Pro Series control system that includes 10" TouchLink Pro touchpanels working in concert with an IPCP Pro xi control processor. MTSU’s IT-AV technical staff, led by James Copeland, Director-Classroom Technology, has long relied on Extron AV systems in hundreds of classrooms, conference rooms, and event spaces across their campus. It’s not surprising that MTSU tapped Extron for the AV amenities that power the esports action in the LEVELUp Arena.

“When we were contemplating building a dedicated esports venue, we reached out to Extron, because they have a lot of experience in that area. They showed us examples at other schools and proposed a NAV Pro AV over IP design that was really flexible,” says James Copeland, Director of Classroom Technology at MTSU. And, noting the success of the esports arena, Justin Reed, MTSU's Director of Student Union Event Coordination says, "When our college leadership came through for the first time, they were impressed; their eyes got wide, and jaws dropped. Student reaction is overwhelmingly positive.”

NAV Pro AV over IP infrastructure provides visually lossless distribution of 4K video over 1 Gbps Ethernet. It’s easily scalable to accommodate as many AV sources and destinations as needed. NAV E 121 compact encoders connect all AV content sources, including gaming PCs, coaching PCs, and POV cameras, to the AV over IP network. NAV SD 101 scaling decoders connect displays and other output devices to the AV over IP network. Two decoders feed a SMP 352 dual recording streaming media processor that streams gaming action to the Internet for league competitions, while recording the streamed content for later viewing. TouchLink Pro touchpanels and IPCP Pro xi control processors allow users to control AV system functions though an intuitive interface with buttons and sliders that select AV sources and destinations, adjust sound volume, aim cameras, and perform other AV system actions.

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