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Archive for the ‘Tricks of the Trade’ Category
Tech Industry Tariff Troubles
The tech industry—as well as many others—is feeling the impact of the most recent proposed expansion of tariffs on imports from China. Computers, batteries, smartphones, projectors, speakers, and televisions are just a few of the products that could be affected by these changes. That means that production and delivery could be majorly delayed. As industry professionals with years of experience, we’re used to policies creating ripple effects in production. We’re prepared to adjust production timelines and reduce major impact to the overall success of a project because of these delays. But companies that take on A/V projects themselves might have…
Reflections from InfoComm 2019
By John Pierce Each year, nearly 50,000 attendees come from around the world to see the latest and greatest A/V products from 1,000 exhibitors at InfoComm. This year in Orlando, as I perused the exhibits and spoke with the exhibitors, I solidified my longtime fear that our industry has become commoditized. There were times where I spoke to several vendors who all had basically the same product at different price points, and I thought about how confusing that would be for someone without our experience buying directly from a manufacturer. The point is, there’s always going to be someone out…
The MEEC Shall Inherit
We’re excited to announce that we’ve been awarded a MEEC contract and are a MEEC vendor for 2019. The Maryland Education Enterprise Consortium (MEEC) is a membership-based organization made up of public and private K-20 educational institutions, federal institutions, and public libraries in the state of Maryland. MEEC provides these members with contracts to more efficiently purchase IT hardware, software, and technology-related services at a better value. This is a great opportunity for us to expand our project portfolio and client list, as well as support the public and private education organizations in Maryland. If you’re a MEEC member, let…
To itemize, or not to itemize: that is the question.
We get asked all the time if we can itemize our proposals to include a list of each product’s individual price. We’ve collectively been in business for more than 26 years now, and have never found a situation where an itemized list of equipment and pricing has provided useful information. When comparing our proposal against a competitors’, an itemized list is only helpful if every single item in each proposal is the exact same make and model. And even then, the overall price would still be the determining factor, not how each vendor breaks up that price per line item….
Expert Series 4: Lighting 101
So far, our expert series has explained that when it comes to audio, control is king, and for video, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. For our next installment in the series, we’re talking lighting. Lighting is all about making things stand out, and we’re focusing on two main types of lighting today: atmospheric lighting and theatrical lighting. Atmospheric Lighting Atmospheric lighting is mostly about using creativity to develop environments that engage emotions. Experts use bright colors, transitions, and movement to create these environments. In the houses of worship industry, for example, atmospheric lighting is used…
Expert Series 3: Video Systems
If you’re following our series, you know that when it comes to audio, control is king. You also know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, meaning that the most important aspect of your system is that all of the components work well together to achieve your goals. Well, the same applies to video and projection. You have a lot of different pieces that need to come together to create a successful end product, so creative planning is key. And do you know who is an expert at creative planning? Audio-Video Group. How the Projector Impacts…
Expert Series 2: Audio Control Freak
It might sound odd, but there’s more to audio than just making noise. In other words, it isn’t just about the output of sound from any old connected input. Perhaps you’ve run into this scenario before—you need to update your space with a new audio system, but the potential A/V company is only trying to sell you on a specific brand or type of speaker system. While there are many brands that provide decent audio in a controlled environment, great (and truly creative) audio design is about looking at the full picture. That means considering the room, acoustics, types of microphones,…
Part 1: What Makes an A/V Expert?
There are a lot of A/V companies out there, but not a lot of great A/V companies. And we know that figuring out the difference and finding the right company for your project isn’t always easy. So, we’re here to help make that choice a little easier. We’ve developed a series of articles explaining some of the intricacies of our industry and what separates the good guys from the okay guys. Throughout the series, you’ll hear from our manufacturers and clients, and learn a little more about the various components of our industry, Main Components of Industry Audio – We…
Codec: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
When videoconferencing was first introduced, it was a game changer for businesses. It became a cost-effective way to hold company-wide meetings by reducing the need for travel expenses. And it allowed global offices or telecommuters to connect on a more personal level, without the need for airline tickets or hotels. Since its introduction, teleconferencing systems have improved, and the features are almost limitless. But, if you’ve tried to update your teleconferencing set-up recently, you might have been confused by some of the finer details. ‘Codec’ is one of the terms we get a lot of questions about, so we’re here…
Tricks of the Trade: Conferences
According to Merriam-Webster, the word ‘conference’ means “a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern.” But if you ask us, that seems a little vague. The word ‘conference’ can mean many different things. So, let’s break down some of the conferences that we can help you with! Conference Rooms Let’s start with one you probably already know about. Most offices, no matter the industry, probably have some sort of conference room. This is where your team holds meetings, presentations, or conference calls. Conference rooms can range in size, from a small room with just a…