Tag: AV

Exciting new technologies like interactive computer use, live video enhancement of speakers, and teleconferencing can be utilized but the associated cost of these new technologies can be steep. The type of AV support you will need for your meeting or event may be simple or more complex. Be sure to review all your options and plan ahead:

Get a list of all speakers’ needs well in advance of your meeting date and schedule a rehearsal.

Allow for rehearsal and set-up time in your meeting rooms.

Give speakers a chance to rehearse with equipment they will be using.

Test equipment immediately prior to the beginning of the event. Check acoustics Clap your hands sharply… talk loudly… listen carefully Check to see if there are any echo’s or dead spots. Do drapes or acoustic panels need to be added.? Plug-in and test the audio. Is the public address system working? Is there any feedback at working level? Are the speakers correctly placed? Are there enough microphones, cords, stands?

Have spare bulks and extension cords on hand. If you are taping, is the tape recorder microphone working? Check to see if you have to erect a stand or move a table

Is the audiovisual the right distance from the screen, rigid and level? Know the location of circuit breakers and fuses Have spare fuses and standby circuits ready Test the intercom system. Is the emergency work light ready?

Having a technician available to attend to your needs throughout the meeting may be your best insurance policy.

If the facility where you are holding your meeting has AV equipment available check to make sure it is in good working order.

Remember that poor-quality AV equipment can ruin a meeting.

To maximize your audio visual budget, try the following:

If using an outside vendor, choose a reputable company and reserve equipment early. If you have never worked with the supplier before, ask for references and check them.

Negotiate all costs. Package deals are good for you and the rental companies. If they know your needs and have your timelines, it will be more cost effective.

Make sure all agreements are in writing. If one company is not able to meet your needs, look at other companies until your needs are met.

Provide clear instructions in writing. Include agendas and room layouts so your vendors know exactly what you expect.

If you need help, find experienced production managers and technicians to oversee the AV portions of your event. Introduce yourself to the technicians who will be working your event, and find out how to contact them should the need arise.

Barter goods and services with your rental companies. They may want to advertise in your publications, exhibit at your trade show, or acquire leads from your attendees.

Guaranteed performance is often a policy of AV companies. They will compensate clients for rental costs in the event of equipment failure. Even better, many will provide on-site back-up.

Check the audio-visual equipment that is available at the meeting facility you are using. Many facilities have their own in-house audio department. Ask if any audio-visual equipment is included in your room charge? Be sure to check out the quality and age of the equipment provided.

Most facilities only provide a podium and microphone, so you will need to rent additional equipment from a qualified local audio-visual rental company. The facility where you are holding your meeting can provide recommendations.

Written by Yvon Douran, www.keynoteresource.com

Technology advances at lightening speed. You blink and there is something new on the horizon. Sometimes, it’s challenging to keep up, but when it comes to home audio & theatre, nothing is more exciting than the prospect of accessible and affordable technology to help create a cutting-edge, comfortable and streamlined experience.

2013 has many exciting developments in store on the home theatre front and as experts in home theatre setup, design and support, we wanted to share some of those trends with our readers.

1. Seamless wireless integration

Airplay is an Apple functionality that allows you to stream music or video through your entire house, wirelessly. This technology can be integrated into speaker docks, AV receivers and stereo systems so that your iTunes playlists can be enjoyed in any room with the click of a button. And while most AirPlay products were somewhat pricey in 2011-2012, there is some expectation that prices will come down in 2013.

But if wireless isn’t in your budget, you can give the impression of a streamlined, wireless system by strategically concealing all back-end power sources with a clean and tidy cable management approach. Cable management is the practice of using small and specialized cable ties and devices to hide cables from view and keep your home looking beautiful. Cable management can be extensive, used in larger server installations in businesses, or while building large homes. Cable management options can also be inexpensive and easy to undertake. Vendors such as Ikea or Best Buy offer many cable management devices for home use.

2. Bye-bye discs

It used to be that streaming video was the way of the future – the future is now.

While DVD and Blu-ray players still exist (and will for some time), more and more, consumers are demanding streaming functionality. Content streaming services continue to expand. Rogers on Demand offers more, Netflix invested heavily in its content in 2012, iTunes has an ever-expanding library, and all offer you entertainment when you want it. We can set up your Apple TV and integrate it with your Netflix or iTunes library so that you can stream any movie to any enabled screen in your home.

3. Multi room home audio

Imagine your favorite music, vibrant and clear, played softly or loudly in any room you choose, throughout your home. A strategically planned multi-room, multi-speaker home audio system is the ultimate in flexibility. And it is entirely possible in 2013.

All of your music is stored in one location (like your iPad, for instance) and we set up your audio system so that your favorite tunes can be transferred from your living room to your kitchen and even to your bathroom with the click of a single button. Enjoy bass thumping beats in the basement while you exercise, then switch to classical playing softly in the background while you work in your home office, and later, some sing along oldies while you prepare and cook dinner in the kitchen. Whole home audio amplifies joy in your life! The music to your ears is just a phone call away!

Can you imagine the Academy Awards without the lights, music and sound effects, or a major product launch without the cutting edge videos and presentations? These are the fruits of audio visual technology and are vital for the success of a wide range of business, social, and sporting events. As the skills needed for successful AV are highly specialised, most people hire firms offering audio visual services to bring alive their presentations and make their events truly memorable.

The fact is that such events depend not only on the personality of the presenter and the power of his message, but also on the quality of the supporting technology. If you want to maximise your gains from audio visual techniques, and get the right audio visual services for your needs, you must first understand clearly what’s involved.

First, what exactly is AV? Audio visual is an extremely broad term covering everything from a DJ with light show all the way up to complex computer-controlled conference and presentation systems with video conferencing. Essentially the term refers to technology used to present information or create a mood through the use sound and moving or still pictures. Audio visual services refers to professional AV provided by specialised companies.

Audio visual technology is used primarily in business, particularly in conferences, seminars and sales presentations where information has to be presented in a compelling way. Other than business uses, AV is a key component of educational, entertainment, and sporting events, as well as social occasions such as parties, weddings, and fundraisers.

So why do I need audio visual services? AV services are crucial for the success of certain business events. Effective audio visual displays are at the heart of any meeting, conference or sales presentation – in short any event in which you want to present your message vividly and powerfully.

When it comes to getting AV for your business you can choose from as much or little as your wish. You could just hire a projector for the day or get an AV services company to handle an entire corporate event. You could try to organise your own audio visual needs. But hiring a professional firm to take care of your AV needs offers many advantages.

For one thing, the range of technologies used is broad and includes lighting, projection, video and broadcasting, sound management and recording. AV services companies employ the latest equipment and can provide technicians skilled in their use.

To work effectively in AV require a unique range of skills and talents. Technicians need the artistic skills to conceptualise and formulate the right program for each company. And they need the technical skills to setup the equipment to provide the perfect sound and vision to support your particular event. These are specialised skills that only come with training and experience. The fact is that effective AV requires a unique blend of artistry and technology which really demands the professional touch you get from using AV services.

How can i find the best AV services company for my needs? Essentially you should look for an established firm with a strong track record. You can then be sure of getting a quality service at a reasonable price. You need to find a company that can offer everything you may need in terms of equipment. You may, for example, wish to record your whole conference or seminar for future reference, for training or for sale. So you need to be sure the audio visual technicians company offer this service.

One thing to consider is that when it comes to arranging AV services for your event, it makes sense to bring in professionals from the outset. Expert audio visual companies can provide valuable input at the planning stage to help you conceptualise and organise your entire project. The best firms can offer total corporate event management which frees you and your staff to focus on your own jobs. By getting it right from the start, you can be sure of an effective and trouble free event.

AV services are at the heart of a host of business events, entertainment and sporting events, and functions such as parties and weddings. In short, any occasion which requires sound, lighting or still or moving pictures is a candidate for audio visual services. You can just partake in audio visual hire, though for such once in a lifetime events, it makes sense to bring in the professionals in audio visual services.

Audio visual installation at an event venue could be difficult, especially if you have a limited budget. However, it is not a wise idea to compromise with quality, as this is what the success of your event depends greatly on. There are ways in which you can lower your cost without compromising on quality.

Tips to Lowering Your Audio Visual Installation Costs
Following are a few tips to help you impress your clients.

Consult experts: AV systems on hire are the best choice if you are planning on containing costs. Consult experts about your situation. Rentals that cater to small budgets will definitely have something that fits within your budget.
Be choosy: A large budget gives you the luxury of hiring professionals to take care of all details of the audio visual installation and operation. When on a tight budget, identify what you can do without.
PA system options: If you have a band playing at your event, you need to know details of the equipment in their possession already and what else you need to get to complete the setup. The band could have brought its own PA system, but you may still have to provide for the audio visual installation at the event site.
Knowing the event to install the lighting: The event management company needs to be clear about whether your event requires specialised lighting. A proper stage lighting rig could be expensive in contrast to automatic lighting like dizzies which are cheaper and easier to use. They just need you to press the switch once they are set up.
Projectors for cheap display of audio visuals: Projectors rigged to a DVD player are perhaps the cheapest way to display quality audio visual images.
Use a PA system: Find out if the venue you are using for your event has a PA system. If they do, use it for the background music as well as live bands and any other sound requirement at the event.
Choose a playlist over a DJ: An unfortunate choice to make. While a DJ is any day a better option, given he/she can tweak the music to the mood of the audience, play list is the option for you when you are on a tight budget.

What You Should Know About Audio Visual Installation
While your budget may be pulling you in all directions, what you should be looking at is value for money rather than a pure minimisation of costs. For this, it is essential that you understand the four fundamental factors that you need to get right for any audio visual installation.

The first of these is clarity, which is critical for audio visual presentations. You can cut costs on audio visual installation by not hiring technicians, but it is well worth spending a little more on good AV systems in this category. The second factor is simplicity. Make sure that the AV equipment is easy to operate. The third is reliability. Look up reviews of the system that you are considering to avoid losing connection during the event. The fourth factor is realism. You need to ensure that the overall effect created by the audio visual installation is that of people participating together and feeling no barriers even if they are separated by distance.

Planning any event is not easy and you can find an event management company even on a small budget. Smart thinking and a good understanding of your needs will help you the most in this matter. The ultimate aim is to hire AV systems and get technical support without emptying your coffers or sacrificing the success of your event.

Audio visual or AV installations are on the rise with both the business and domestic market realising the benefits of bespoke AV systems. Standard systems can be installed but a bespoke system is completely tailored to the specific requirements of the customer.
The first stage in any project is to establish a brief with the client, including what functionality is expected from the system and any budgetary constraints that may exist. From there the audio visual installation consultant will draw up a system specification and layout diagrams if necessary, along with a detailed quotation setting out all of the costs involved. It is very important to instruct a company that will liaise with architects/building contractors as well as electricians and any other on site contractors. Communication and co-operation with building trades during installations is essential in order to achieve the best possible installation. The range of equipment and systems available is vast in todays market.

Audio visual systems are installed in a wide variety of situations. A few examples are: museums, schools, conferencing and meeting rooms, exhibitions, events, bars, clubs, film festivals and even mobile AV installations in vans. Each situation listed has a different specification and requirement. Bars and clubs will require a system quite different to that of a museum installation for example. For businesses, the latest technology that comes with bespoke audio visual systems greatly improves working conditions, professionalism and productivity.

Domestic environments are also places where there is a need for design and installation of bespoke AV systems, from a simple plasma screen on the wall through to whole-house audio and video. Home cinema systems are becoming very popular and with todays technology can be discretely installed to complement the surrounding decor, with exciting features such as concealed projectors and screens, touchscreen remote controls and in-wall speakers.

When searching for a audio visual services contractor it is important to check that a full Health & Safety policy is available to view and that the policy is adhered to by the installation engineers. Method statements and Risk Assessments should be produced for every job which requires work off-site. Engineers should be PASMA qualified for work at height using scaffold towers and that any electrical work carried out is done so in accordance with BS7671 and NICEIC certificated.