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Ministry of Justice of Quebec and MaestroVision Join Forces to Transform Courtroom Recording Systems

Boca Raton, FL – June 5th, 2023 – The Ministry of Justice of Quebec (MJQ) and MaestroVision, a leading provider of advanced recording solutions, are excited to announce their continued partnership in the complete modernization of courtroom recording systems. Following their successful collaboration in 2021, MaestroVision was awarded a $2.35 million contract by the MJQ, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and streamline operations within the Quebec Department of Justice.

Under the visionary leadership of MaestroVision working hand in hand with MJQ, the implementation of state-of-the-art technology has revolutionized the way court proceedings are recorded and accessed. With the new advanced recording systems capturing six audio tracks in each of the 517 hearing rooms across Quebec, surpassing the limitations of the previous two-track recording systems, this breakthrough guarantees a remarkable improvement in recording quality. Furthermore, the enhanced systems facilitate the seamless extraction and replay of desired content, ensuring efficient and effective utilization of recorded materials.

Recognizing the outstanding success achieved through the initial modernization efforts, the Ministry of Justice has further demonstrated their confidence in MaestroVision by expanding their collaboration. In 2023, an additional 500 new licenses were granted to MaestroVision, enabling an even wider implementation of their cutting-edge technology. Moreover, the Ministry of Justice has entrusted MaestroVision with the critical task of importing all information from the old database into MaestroVision’s centralized database. This landmark achievement consolidates data from over 1,017 courtrooms and judges’ offices, spanning a vast territory of 644,000 square miles, into a single, accessible location.

With this significant advancement, the Ministry of Justice of Quebec embraces the most advanced recording technology available for courtrooms, positioning MaestroVision’s innovative solutions at the forefront of the industry. The integration of MaestroVision’s technology empowers legal professionals to access live courtroom proceedings from any location, facilitating seamless communication and coordination between legal teams and stakeholders.

The partnership between the Ministry of Justice of Quebec and MaestroVision sets a new benchmark in the domain of courtroom recording systems. This ambitious endeavor exemplifies their shared commitment to harnessing technology to foster efficiency, accessibility, and transparency within the legal system.

For media inquiries, please contact: Ted Pezzelli MaestroVision Email: Tpezzelli@maestrovision.com Phone: 888-424-5505

About MaestroVision: MaestroVision is a leading provider of advanced recording solutions, serving a diverse range of industries globally. Committed to innovation and customer satisfaction, MaestroVision delivers cutting-edge technology that revolutionizes recording processes and enhances operational efficiency. Their comprehensive suite of solutions equips clients with the necessary tools to seamlessly capture, store, manage, and access valuable audio and video content.

About the Ministry of Justice of Quebec: The Ministry of Justice of Quebec is dedicated to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law within the province of Quebec.

A technological challenge solved by MaestroVision, from Boca Raton, Florida

THE REQUEST:

March 2022, Quebec National Police (QNP) issues a very ambitious proposal requesting a law enforcement interview recording solution. Their request, a demand for the highest levels of security, quality and flexibility for 115 interview recording facilities spread over a territory spanning 644,000 square miles. All recordings must be viewed live from any location and centralized at their Montreal headquarters.

THE RESPONSE:

Only MaestroVision, a Boca Raton, Florida-based company offering law enforcement technologies developed by television broadcast engineers, offers a solution. Not satisfied with receiving only one proposal, the QNP issued a second request for proposal in May 2022 ensuring that all interview recording developers worldwide were aware of this project valued at $5M. Again, only one company, MaestroVision, comes forward, and in December 2022 they are confirmed as the supplier of choice by the QNP.

THE SUPPLIER:

MaestroVision providing law enforcement technologies developed by television broadcast engineers.

THE CUSTOMER:

The Quebec National Police accounting 5,500 police officers.

THE PROJECT:

Installation on 115 interview recording facilities on a territory of 644,000 square miles.

CHALLENGE 1: Recording Stations

Provide the highest quality of audio and video recording.
Record on touch screen monitors.
Only industrial grade components are accepted.
All recordings need to be encrypted.
Must have a user-friendly interface that is easy to learn and use.
The solution does not require the installation of proprietary playback software.
IP camera technology was not acceptable due to lack of quality and security.
The video inputs of the device must comply with the SMPTE 292M Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI) standard.
Generate marker thumbnails in JPG format, i.e. one thumbnail every 5 minutes, from the camera framing the interviewee, to allow users to locate specific points in the video during playback.
Allow video recordings to be annotated during interrogation, with the possibility of making corrections to annotations before transfer to a mobile medium (USB key, external hard drive, DVD or other).
The solution must be able to transfer video files, audio files, thumbnails and the annotated registry file to one DVD disc as well as a USB key simultaneously at the end of the interrogation via the recording application.

CHALLENGE 2: Portable Kits

The supplier had to provide a portable software solution that has the same specifications of an on-site recording application.
The portable kit needed to include a rugged laptop computer, cameras, microphone, tripod and carrying case.

CHALLENGE 3: Centralized Storage

The solution must transfer all video and audio files, thumbnails, and annotated log files from all 115 interview recording facilities to the centralized management system located at QNP HQ
in Montreal.
All file transfers must be encrypted for security purposes.
Restrict viewing of certain video recordings to authorized profiles only.
Issue alerts if unauthorized users or profiles “attempt to access” one of the solution’s data stores.
The centralized solution must be accessible via a web browser for all end users and controllers.

CHALLENGE 4: Security

The solution has to ensure that only authorized users have access to the solution.
The solution has to allow the creation of security profiles that are assigned to users or user groups, allowing access to the various modules, functions, and fields of the system.
The solution has to have an auditing and logging system to track each of the operations and transactions carried out in the application.
The solution has to have the ability to alert the administrators of any breach of security measures, any abnormal activity, and any anomalies.
The solution has to encrypt data when it is stored or in transit, between the workstation and the servers of the solution as well as between any components of the solution.
The solution has to allow the use of encryption keys generated by the Police Department that will keep everything under secure control.
The solution has to comply with a minimum of 256-bit AES or TLS 1.2 encryption depending on the mode of communication chosen for the data in transit.

THE CONCLUSION :

The solution was successfully delivered by MaestroVision on May 2023

3 Ways KEYSERV Video Works with Zoom to Create a Seamless Recording Experience

With many businesses transitioning to a remote work experience, it’s no surprise that Zoom’s growth has exploded in 2020. The company added 2.22 million monthly active users so far in 2020, while in 2019 it added 1.99 million altogether, according to Bernstein Research.

Zoom conferences range across a variety of industries and uses including but not limited to:

Webinars
Virtual Classes
Virtual Court
Suspect Interviews
Business Meetings
Special Interest Groups
Social Gatherings
Family Get Togethers and Events
Religious Services

And more!

Many of our customers have asked how our software differs from Zoom. Our answer: It’s not a competitor with Zoom. We don’t offer web conferencing software, we offer video recording software. Here are some ways in which you can use KEYSERV VIDEO in correlation with Zoom for the optimal recording experience.

1. Record the web conference simultaneously with other inputs

If you have an external camera, you’re unable to record it unless it’s plugged into a web-accessible application that can enter the Zoom conference. In other words, each Zoom user (including the host) can only display and record one external input at a time. With KEYSERV VIDEO, users can record several external inputs simultaneously.

This image displays KEYSERV Video recording the camera in the courtroom, the web conference, and the document camera simultaneously.

2. Add timestamped notes and metadata

Who wants to spend hours replaying a lesson or webinar trying to find the exact moment the speaker made a specific point? With KEYSERV VIDEO, there’s no need for scrolling through the recording trying to find the exact moment you’re looking for. Users can add notes and bookmarks pinpointing timeframes when specific topics were discussed. Viewers can click on these bookmarks to replay segments of a recording with ease.

3. Upload to the media library or specified location of your choice

With KEYSERV VIDEO, you can choose whether you would like to export your recording, save it to a local hard-drive, upload it to youtube or the media library of your choice. If you have protected recordings that you would like to ensure security for, our media library VEOTEK may just be the answer. It integrates with KEYSERV VIDEO so all completed recordings are automatically uploaded to the platform. Admins can create accounts with specific user permissions so only specific recordings and features are visible to them. Searching and finding recordings is simple; simply type in the name of the recording, or a keyword from a note, bookmark or metadata to find all relevant videos.

There you have it! 3 ways in which KEYSERV VIDEO integrates with Zoom for the optimal video recording experience. .

5 Reasons to Flip Your Classroom & How to Do It Correctly

What’s the best use of classroom time?
This is a crucial question for any educator to consider.

Throughout my high school and college educational experience, classroom time was spent learning new lessons via lectures, guided practices, tests, individual and group exercises. I would then leave the classroom and work on my essays, presentations and homework from home. If I had a question, I could visit my professor’s office or email them my questions. However, as a high school student, if a question wasn’t asked in the classroom before an assignment was assigned, I missed my chance for clarification. (I wasn’t provided a method for student-teacher communication outside of the classroom.)

I hadn’t discovered the concept of flipped learning until this year. It’s not surprising considering that in 2012, less than half (48%) of teachers flipped at least one lesson. In 2014, that number was up to 78%.

During my high school years, utilizing a flipped-classroom approach would have been an effective pedagogy for a kinesthetic learner like myself. With educational software and tools consistently evolving and improving, now is the time for educators to evaluate their options for implementing a classroom strategy that works for themselves and of most importantly, their students.

So, what exactly is a flipped classroom? A flipped classroom reverses the roles of learning and execution time (time spent doing activities to demonstrate the student’s knowledge of the lesson). It’s an interactive approach to education.

Why Flip Your Classroom?

If you’re considering giving a flipped-classroom approach a try, here are some benefits you may experience as a result:

1. More class time for hands-on instruction, activities, and discussion.

The less time in the classroom spent lecturing and demonstrating materials, the more time teachers have to engage with students on how to apply the material they’ve already learned.

2. More time in the workweek for lesson planning and strategizing.

According to the Center for American Progress, teachers in the US spend far more time engaged in active instruction than teachers in other high-performing countries. Based on self-reported data, teachers in the United States spend 27 hours teaching out of 45 hours of work per week. With fewer hours in the workweek to focus on upcoming lesson plans, grading, and new ways to engage students in the material. In other words, teachers are working overtime to achieve their class initiatives which results in burnout.

3. Students have the ability to learn lessons on their own time and replay parts of recordings if needed.

I remember feeling too embarrassed to ask for clarification or review when I didn’t understand a portion of my teacher’s lesson and every other student nodded with acknowledgment. With recorded instruction, students can take their time with the material and replay specific instances of a lesson that they need to review. Teachers don’t have to feel rushed with their class time to instruct students and students don’t have to feel rushed or embarrassed when they need more time with the material.

4. Students are more prepared and engaged when coming to class.

According to LearnDash, 9 out of 10 teachers noticed a positive change in student engagement since flipping their classroom (up 80% from 2012).

5. Students can get caught up on a lesson at home.

Gone are the days of asking a classmate to share their notes when students miss a day of class. Students are empowered to watch lessons on their own time to get caught up with the material.

How to flip your classroom

If you’re convinced a flipped classroom will be an effective method for you, here are a few step-by-step guides to making the transition smoothly and effectively:

Steps to Flipping Your Class by New York University
Planning a Flipped Lesson: A Step-by-Step Guide by UNT Teaching Commons

Now that you’ve decided to flip your classroom and have a plan in place, let’s talk about the technology that will best support your efforts.

MaestroVision has an affordable classroom recording system where educators can conduct their classes remotely in the classroom or online utilizing their choice of high definition cameras, monitors, and projectors. The application allows instructors to incorporate a variety of media (books, videos, worksheets, etc.) in their lesson. Students can engage in a flipped classroom, replay, or watch live lectures from any device. Even if they’re not physically present in the classroom, students will receive the same interactive and engaging experience.

Typically virtual education software is expensive because systems have to be adopted by entire educational institutions with centralized costly storage fees. The best part of MaestroVision is its affordability – each individual educator can invest in his/her own technology for a small monthly fee of $150.

Here comes the best part – for a limited time, MaestroVision is offering a free classroom recording application containing all features and functionalities with the only limit being 1 hour of recording capacity at a time.

Author

Claude Turcotte

President of MaestroVision

He started his career as a broadcast engineer specialist working for a broadcast product manufacturer. In 1998, Claude saw an opportunity to develop an application that revolutionizes the way high quality video signals are recorded, shared and managed in the broadcast industry and thus MaestroVision was born.

Case Study: Lantana PD’s Interrogation Room Upgrade

MaestroVision’s Interview Room Recording System has all of the bells and whistles we need to generate the evidence necessary to move forward in a case.

How Lantana PD Gained Time, Efficiency & Quality with Their New MaestroVision Interview Recording System

The Customer

“MaestroVision’s Interview Room Recording System has all of the bells and whistles we need to generate the evidence necessary to move forward in a case.”

Customer: Lantana Police Department
Address: 901 N 8th St, Lantana, FL 33462
Number of officers using MaestroVision’s Recording System: 10
Name: Jim Eddy
Position: Detective Sergeant

The Challenge

Lantana PD was tired of running into the same problems every time they conducted an interview recording, including:

Difficulties with Operation and Reliability – The department wired their own interview recording system equipped with a camera, a DVR and a microphone. The system was complicated to use and set up – requiring many switches and buttons to be turned off before all devices could record. When other officers came in to use it, they didn’t know how to start recordings. There was no backup system so recordings were lost if not configured correctly.

Poor Quality Recordings – Lantana’s old system had poor sound and several blind spots in the room. If a suspect got up out of the chair, the camera would miss what he/she was doing.

Time Consuming Procedures – The old system did not store videos of the recordings, so it had to be placed into evidence. If an officer needed a copy of his/her video, they would have to request Jim to log it out of the evidence room (since he and the Chief were the only officers with access to it), burn a copy of it, and return it to the evidence room. If Jim was out of the office, the other officers had to wait until he was back to retrieve their recordings.

The Solution

They Decided to Make the Switch to a Robust Solution:

1 interview room system complete with a dome camera, a PTZ camera and controller, a USB camera, the VEOTEK Video Library, KEYSERV Recording System, a DVD burner, an equalizer, an audio mixer, an audio to SDI embedder, desktop speakers, an encoder card, a desktop, a touchscreen monitor, furniture.

Lantana Police Department’s Interrogation Room System

“I would spend 30 to 45 minutes pulling a video and making a copy before. Now, with MaestroVision’s system, I can do it in about 5 minutes.” – Jim Eddy

The Results

With MaestroVision’s Interview Recording System, Lantana PD is Enjoying the Following Benefits:

Ease of Use – With the friendly user interface, officers no longer have problems setting up, operating and managing their recordings in the interview room.

Ability to Record and Identify Critical Information – With the camera’s zoom feature, detectives can capture relevant information on suspect’s devices that they wouldn’t be able to make out otherwise. With the pan and tilt feature, the camera can track subjects as they move around the interview room.

Flexible and Multifunctional – The touchscreen (an optional add-on to the system) offers another way to conduct interviews and map out information relevant to the case. Officers can record and draw suspect’s locations and routes with Google maps and can conduct their own (recorded) interviews via skype.

Reliable and Trustworthy – MaestroVision provides outstanding customer service that is responsive, quick and convenient at any time of the day.

Efficient and Secure – Officers can store all recordings in one convenient location and locate specific interviews through keyword search. They can burn recording copies within minutes. Jim and the Chief can set up security protocols so other officers can be given authorization to certain recordings while others stay private.

“MaestroVision always responds to us promptly. Their customer service is outstanding.” – Jim Eddy

Contact Us

Want to reap the benefits of MaestroVision’s interview recording system at your station?

Provide your information below and we’ll contact you!

You can also email us at info@maestrovision.com

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MaestroVision’s Technology Supports Government during COVID-19.

While our lives have drastically changed during this health crisis, MaestroVision, considered an essential service to many industries, has been proactively seeking to bring new features much needed in these new communication times.

Before: Our recording was only available directly from the main source, the courtroom, the classroom, the city council room, etc.

Now: Our recording is available from multiple sources, including remote locations.

COURTROOMS

Regarding last week’s TVA Nouvelles article on VIRTUAL TRIALS in times of crisis, judicial authorities are preparing to open dozens of virtual courtrooms to hold hearings in virtual environments, from remote locations rather than in courthouses, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MaestroVision, currently providing advanced recording, streaming and media library solutions in a safe and secure environment, is adapting its platform to provide new services to fit with these new working environments.

Within the next few weeks, the deployment of secure digital platforms, including MaestroVision, will create up to forty (40) virtual rooms to hear urgent cases that are accumulating.

COUNCIL MEETING ROOMS

On the same path, many cities are still required to perform important council meetings to take vital public health-related decisions during the pandemic. Since it’s not possible for them to meet in the same council room, MaestroVision, has been proactive in providing a technology that allows mayors and councillors to perform their meetings, each of them located in the comfort of their home. MaestroVision’s technology is capable of broadcasting those sessions live, simulating the same scenario that of an actual council meeting room, so residents are capable of assisting the meeting and asking questions directly from their remote location.

WE CAN HELP YOU!

MaestroVision remains open during the COVID-19 crisis.

In connection with recent events with respect to COVID-19 and the decision of the Government of Quebec to close businesses and industries, MaestroVision, being considered an essential service provider for a large number of customers, notably municipalities, cable distributors, police departments, etc., will not close its doors and maintain operations & services as usual.

Therefore, and while respecting the health and safety measures provided by government and public health entities, we will continue to operate at 100%.

We wish to inform you of these new measures so you can rest assured that we will continue to provide excellent technical & customer service.

MaestroVision is taking action to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Dear customers,

The crisis caused by the pandemic has taken on an unprecedented scale. With confinement measures, the closure of several public places and social distancing recommendations, our lifestyle is greatly affected. More than ever, we must all ensure our safety and that of our loved ones.

At MaestroVision, we take this pandemic seriously. Our infrastructure allows our employees to work from home. Our technical team, which already serves our customers via remote access applications, will not be affected by the current measures.

In any case, we will redouble our efforts to ensure the good continuity of our service.

You can still reach us by phone and email, as usual. If you need a technician on site, we will take the measures proposed by the Ministry of Public Health to protect our customers and employees, limiting contact, ensuring proper distance, while making sure your systems are functioning properly.

The coronavirus crisis (COVID-19) in Quebec

On March 13, 2020, a state of health emergency was declared throughout Quebec. This exceptional measure grants the Government of Quebec the powers necessary to put in place all the measures aimed at ensuring the protection and health of the population.

Particular attention should be paid to the elderly, especially those aged 70 and over, since they are at higher risk of death.

If you are worried about COVID ‑ 19 or if you have symptoms like cough or fever, you can contact 418 644-4545 for the Quebec region, 514 644-4545 for the Montreal region, 450 644 -4545 for the Montérégie region, 819 644-4545 for the Outaouais region or 1 877 644-4545 (toll-free) elsewhere in Quebec.

In addition, if you have a cough or fever:

Do not go to a medical clinic without having received an appointment beforehand.

If your condition allows, contact 1 877 644-4545. If you have been a return traveler for less than 14 days, please specify. You will be told how to get there and what precautions to take (wearing a mask, using personal transport or an ambulance, etc.).

Go to the emergency room only if you have breathing difficulties (difficulty breathing when at rest or unable to breathe while lying down).

Here are the health guidelines to ensure the safety of our customers and employees:

Wash your hands often with warm running water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based disinfectant if you do not have access to soap and water.
Observe the rules of hygiene when you cough or sneeze:
Cover your mouth and nose with your arm to reduce the spread of germs.
If you use a tissue, throw it out as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards.
If you are sick, avoid contact with more vulnerable people, including the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. For example, avoid visiting people in hospitals, people in long-term care shelters, or private residences.
Avoid direct contact for greetings, such as handshakes, and favor the use of alternative practices.

Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of viruses spreading.

Masks are not an effective protective tool for the general population. Their use is rather indicated for patients in whom an infection is suspected as well as for the health professionals who treat them. You can view the message from Dr. Horacio Arruda, National Director of Public Health in Quebec, on this subject.

If you are worried or worried about the coronavirus, you can call 1-877-644-4545 toll free.