Why are so many organizations investing in video walls when they could use one large display, a front video projector, or a set of individual monitors? A video wall features high-resolution displays driven by an exceptionally capable processing and computing system, also known as a video wall controller. Although video walls appear similar to single displays, they are deceptively powerful and provide superior performance levels when compared to more basic technologies. If you’re interested in adding a video wall to your space, check out our video wall design tips to get started on the right foot.
[Read more…] about Video Wall Design Tips
LED Stage Lighting vs. Conventional Lighting
Light-emitting diodes, more commonly known as LEDs, have revolutionized the lighting industry in the past two decades. Without consuming a significant amount of power, they are able to emit a high output of light. Energy-efficient, long-lasting, and low-maintenance, LED lighting is at the forefront of the event lighting industry. So why, you might wonder, is conventional lighting still so popular (and in some cases preferred) for stage lighting? Today we’re exploring the differences between LED stage lighting and conventional fixtures, so that you can decide which best suits your needs.
[Read more…] about LED Stage Lighting vs. Conventional Lighting
Anamorphic Projector Lenses: What You Need to Know
Anyone can set up a cinema-like experience at home with a large screen, comfy chairs, and a popcorn machine, but if you want to truly transform the room into a mini movie theater, you will need a projector with a cinemascope image format.
Despite their many differences in style and plot, most Hollywood blockbusters share an aspect ratio in cinemascope (also called anamorphic). A widescreen image format, with an aspect ratio of 16:9, simply provides a larger version of the view provided by a flatscreen TV. Cinemascope, on the other hand, with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, mimics the experience of viewing a movie at the cinema. If you want to achieve this image format at home, you’ll need to explore the possibilities presented by anamorphic projector lenses, which allow your projector to be used on a cinemascope screen.
[Read more…] about Anamorphic Projector Lenses: What You Need to Know
The Future of Audio-Visual Technology
When you imagine the future of audio-visual technology, what do you see? Although we can’t say for certain what will happen in the years and decades to come, we can discuss some of the trends to watch. Some trends may excite you (like virtual reality and adapting architecture), while others may prove frustrating at first (like the switch to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connectors). Sit back, close your eyes, and let’s imagine the future . . .
Stage Lighting Techniques
Today we want to put a spotlight on stage lighting techniques. To light a stage for a concert, theatre performance, dance recital, or speech, you could stick to basic lighting that simply illuminates important elements of the stage. However, many productions require the use of more creative stage lighting techniques. Why not use lighting to convey the eerie, suspenseful mood of your play? Have you considered how the right lighting could refocus your audience’s attention during crucial parts of your concert? Plus, many stage lighting techniques can be used off-stage to light video shoots or provide décor for weddings and parties. Explore the possibilities to enhance your production.
[Read more…] about Stage Lighting Techniques
How to Control Your Home Theater
It’s always convenient when a product’s name matches up with its use. A slicer slices. A brush brushes. A trashcan is a can that holds trash. If you’re wondering how to control your home theater, look no further than a control system. Although you can use control systems to automate your entire house (to lift shades, to turn on music, to lock doors, to turn on the heater, etc.), today we’re focusing on how they can transform one room of your home into a personal cinema.
[Read more…] about How to Control Your Home Theater
How to Build a Home Theater
If you would rather stay at home than go to the movie theater these days, you’re not alone. Are you frustrated by soaring ticket prices and talking (or texting) moviegoers? Do you often find the chairs uncomfortable, sticky, or littered with popcorn? Or perhaps you simply prefer watching movies in your pajamas with a home-cooked meal or your favorite take-out? Whatever the case, if you want to bring the magic of the cinema home with you, you need to learn how to build a home theater. [Read more…] about How to Build a Home Theater
How to Choose a Projector
Unlike a camera, which welcomes in light, a projector casts light out to present images upon a screen. With the right combination of projector and screen, you can impress your audience with crisp, clear images and a professional presentation. Projectors can assist with a variety of tasks, including movie nights at home, important business meetings, PowerPoint presentations, and slide shows. If you don’t know how to choose a projector, use the tips below to find a device that meets your needs.
How Digital Signage Works
Digital signage, which describes a variety of devices that display dynamic multimedia content in public venues, provides an efficient and effective means of communication. Unlike old-school, printed posters, you can change the visuals of digital signage at the drop of a hat, making it ideal for venues that shift from day to day. It can save you money on printed posters and signs. Plus, it can employ eye-catching visuals to attract the attention of passersby, making it a powerful medium in the worlds of advertising, entertainment, and information services. Scroll down to learn how digital signage works.
[Read more…] about How Digital Signage Works
Where to Put Acoustic Panels
As you may remember learning in science class as a child, sound waves continue to bounce around a room (reverberating) until they lose all of their energy. Smooth, hard surfaces reflect sound waves well; duller, rougher, and softer surfaces absorb more sound. This explains why you tend to hear more echoes in rooms with hard surfaces as opposed to those with soft carpeting, drapes, ceiling tiles, etc. If you want to minimize, diffuse, or eliminate sound reflections, consider installing acoustic panels. These sound-absorbing products can greatly improve your room’s acoustics. To learn about their benefits and where to put acoustic panels, please scroll down.
THE BENEFITS OF ACOUSTIC PANELS
Acoustic panels are available in a variety of styles and materials, and they vary in their type of sound treatment and their level of effectiveness. To select the right acoustic panels for your room and ensure that you make a smart investment, work with experienced and knowledgeable audio-visual professionals. If you use acoustic panels correctly, you can enjoy all of the following benefits:
- Prevention of ringing, repeating, and hollow sounds
- Prevention of echoes and other reverberation issues
- Assistance with noise control
- Elimination of excess sound (sound proofing)
Some people avoid acoustic panels, fearing they will destroy the aesthetics of a space or appear clunky and unappealing to the eye. Luckily, these days you can find acoustic panels in a range of styles to suit your decor and design preferences. For example, Southwest Audio-Visual blended a variety of audio-visual technology, including acoustical panels, into the Silver Dollar Room’s rustic decor to create a harmonious blend of rural simplicity and modern technology.
LOCATIONS
Acoustic panels most benefit rooms with multiple hard surfaces and spaces where sound is of critical importance. For example, you might find them in convention centers, gymnasiums, places of worship, boardrooms, cafeterias, and meeting halls. They are also very important in concert venues and recording studios, where musicians want to amplify direct sound (coming from their voices or instruments) and mitigate extraneous noises.
PLACEMENT
Luckily, deciding where to place acoustic panels is not crucial to their success. So if you base your decision largely on aesthetic preferences, you should still benefit from the panels’ presence. However, you can increase acoustic panels’ effectiveness by installing them in strategic places. For example, keep the following tips in mind:
By placing a panel in or near a corner of the room, you can increase its absorption per square foot. Therefore, you won’t need as many panels to achieve the same result.
Locate primary sound sources in the room (such as speakers) and place acoustic panels at their “first reflection points.” The first reflection point creates the most discernible echo in the room, and it can confuse the listener by adding sound clutter. This occurs because the sound reflected off this point arrives at the listener’s ear just after the sound that reaches the ear directly.
There are two main types of acoustic panels: absorbers and diffusers. Absorbers, as you might expect, absorb sound energy, reducing reverberation and muffling noises. Diffusers, on the other hand, scatter sound energy, controlling it and improving the room’s overall sound quality.
Don’t “deaden” the room by absorbing all the sound with panels. This can be disconcerting and uncomfortable as well. Instead, use some diffusers to bounce the sound to different areas
GETTING STARTED
If you would like to improve the auditory experience of a room by adding acoustic panels, please contact Southwest Audio-Visual. We provide a variety of A-V products and services, including acoustic treatments like sound panels, absorbers, diffusers, and barriers. Plus, we have worked in a variety of venues, including convention centers, gymnasiums, cafeterias, boardrooms, and meeting halls, and we can help you decide where to put acoustic panels. To get started, please contact us online or give us a call at 877-887-4900 (Springfield) or 636-225-4327 (St. Louis). We would be happy to help you with all of your A-V needs.