Commercial Sound and Video Systems
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⇒ Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, and business is booming! It’s that time of year where golf clubs are reopening and people are returning to dine, hangout, and party at waterfront restaurants and local beach bars. Before we welcome your business to the new season, let’s be sure to untangle all of your audiovisual issues. Wiring Can Affect Your A/V Systems So what if wiring is a little messy? What does that have to do with the way your sound or video systems are seen or heard? Anytime wires are tangled, the quality of you’re A/V may be at risk. Think of it like this, if you walked around with your headphones in knots, after some time it would start to wear and tear- diminishing the value of the way you hear music. Check for the Signs While we don’t suggest you solving wiring issues of your own, we do advise you to be aware of these signs that can correlate to A/V wiring issues: Image distortion on TVs TV Dimness Radio Static Volume Control Issues with your XM Radio or Intercom/Paging System A/V unresponsiveness How to Solve A/V Wiring Problems- CSAV Systems When it comes to finding a solution to your messy, jumbled A/V wiring, the solution is simpler than you think…call CSAV Systems! Our team of professionals can provide your business with a free system analysis and work with you to solve any audiovisual issues you are experiencing! What are you waiting for? Give us a call! We can help your business LOOK and SOUND better.
How well would you do if you drove your brand new, stock Corvette out of the showroom and onto a NASCAR track? IF they let you run the car in the race—although it would be immediately disqualified for a number of reasons—you would not do well and, most likely, this consumer vehicle would not survive the race. The engine would rev at the starting line and you may handle the terrain, but there is no doubt the professionals would run circles around you. If you tried to keep up, you very well might blow your engine or crash & burn. This is often the case when people choose to use home stereo “consumer” products to fulfill their professional “commercial” sound needs. Consider the story of a church who had a tight budget and rather than invest $12,000 in a new sound system with a professional A/V contractor, they went with a home A/V company that bid $9,000. When the system was turned on in an empty facility, it appeared to work well and worked well for a few weeks. However, when the stress of a full-house came upon the facility, the system failed and the Pastor of the church chose never to turn it on again. Fingers were pointed, accusations were made and the bottom line is the system never met the true needs of the congregation. Five years later, almost to the day, the Pastor called the professional contractor who had originally bid the job properly and hired them at $13,579.00 to replace the entire system, which since has functioned flawlessly. The total expenditure came out to $24,557.00 (double the cost of what it could have been) and 5 years of no sound for this small church. WHY PROFESSIONAL A/V IS ALWAYS BETTER In today’s economy we see more and more home, stereo contractors, trying to grab every piece of business to keep their doors open and they are reaching into a realm they know little about. Commercial sound & video is an entirely different animal and hiring a home stereo provider to install a professional system, no matter how many home systems they have installed, is like hiring an Eskimo to bartend because he knows something about ice. On occasion, we lose a potential client to a home stereo vendor. Often times, we get a call back a year or two later for help to clean up the mess. The system previously installed may have sounded or looked good at first, but as the needs and stresses of the commercial application arise, the system value (or lack thereof) is realized and often catastrophic failure at a critical moment ensues. BE CAREFUL IN CHOOSING YOUR PRO SOUND & VIDEO CONTRACTOR. This is a long term decision and often an important and possibly sizable investment in your business. Find a professional who has experience in and a clear focus on the commercial A/V industry and you are far more likely to get what you need and deserve in a pro sound & video system. The success of your business in many cases may count on the performance of the systems you chose to have installed. *To learn more about the services and technology CSAV Systems offers, give us a call at (732) 577-0077 or visit our website here.
In commercial or other professional facilities, a variety of rooms may have to be able to perform for many complex events. First and primary, a presentation area must be a place where you can hear the spoken word without fatigue or stress. Hearing fatigue (a real issue) is when listeners are spending more time trying to hear rather than understanding what was said. In fact, seeing a person talk in one location but their voice sounds are coming from another can contribute to the distraction. Volume is important, but articulation is even more critical when any sound system is in operation. The second function of a meeting space could be visual presentations, but this article will focus on Audio, which is often more important and paramount to the presentation. Proper sound is foundational and is the focus here, but the video will be addressed in future writings. How bright is your room? We are talking acoustics here not lighting. When you make a sound in the space does it reverberate or take a second or two to stop? If so, this could be a bright room. The best environment for sound in meetings areas is a dead room. No echoes or reverberation. If you have a dead-room you are in a good starting position. Now all you need is the right sound system with the proper components and you can get the sound you need where you need it. If the room is “highly reverberant” or “bright” you need to overcome that hurdle before you install any sound components. The highest quality sound system can be installed in a highly reverberant field and the reflections and/or echoes can kill the performance of any electronics. If this is a challenge for your facility, start thinking about sound deadening (or absorptive) additions to space. Soft materials like carpet, drapery, acoustic tile, etc. can greatly improve the sound in a bright room. This issue should be addressed as a priority, especially if your current sound system is not performing to your expectations. Electronics like digital signal processing can help, but they may not be able to overcome the more difficult acoustic hurdles. A true sound professional can tell you whether a room needs Acoustical treatment or today’s sound system technology can overcome your issues. Once a sound professional has walked your space, he/she should be able to recognize which course of action is necessary to start with. A combination of room acoustics and sound system components must be balanced in order to best reach your listeners. Take the time to consider both whenever you choose a space for an audience to gather. Sound is more critical than most people imagine and conscious as well as subconscious factors are at play. If you want to reach your audience with the best possible results, the right sound (and video) will be a valuable and irreplaceable tool.
Sound & Video Technologies Offered in Monmouth County, NJ Sound & Video (A/V) systems are important for many venues, including hospitals, houses of worship, offices, hotels, stadiums, etc. Unlike life safety systems, which must meet codes and regulations when there is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to installing an A/V system. Every facility has unique architectural and acoustic properties, which are best considered early in the planning stages. Here are four tips for successfully implementing the right sound and/or video technologies. Be sure there is a clear understanding of the systems that are being installed and exactly what the equipment can and can’t do. Gaining a good understanding of the technology and how it functions is an important part of the process. Consider all cable pathways required, especially between the input sources and the video display device. Some existing facilities may have limited options regarding the ability to conceal the A/V cabling that runs between a conference table and the flat-screen HDTV or projector. These options include core-drilling floors, trenching floors, or installing under-carpet or surface mounted cable raceways. Consider all electrical power needs. Whether moving to a new facility, undergoing new construction, or renovating an old building, it is crucial to do an assessment on all electrical needs. The right A/V provider will help determine whether or not there are enough electrical power circuits in the room if they are in the proper locations, and if there is sufficient power to support the systems. Plan the project with realistic expectations and budget. To avoid roadblocks during the project, it is important to involve potential A/V integrators early in the planning stages, to ensure that everyone’s ideas and expectations are viable. Whether a facility manager is tech-savvy or not, it’s crucial to lay the proper groundwork from the start on details about the budget, equipment, electrical requirements, and other key components which need to be considered. Most important is to find a qualified commercial A/V Contractor with the experience to guide you through the entire process and support the long-term needs of the project. Even though A/V systems have become commonplace, there can be major roadblocks to successfully implementing a new system if the facility manager does not carefully address the items mentioned above. These guidelines can help expectations become a reality, allowing A/V system users to count on the stability of their system. Get in Touch with CSAV Systems CSAV Systems in Colts Neck, NJ offers a unique business philosophy and commitment to long-term support (proven by their commitment to client satisfaction and their exclusive Three (3) Year Warranty policy) can best assist you in obtaining the right solutions for your sound and video system needs. To learn more about our services, give us a call at 732.577.0077
Wireless technology continues can enhance business productivity. CSAV Systems can help you determine which type of technology is best for your business.
Check out this article from Shore TV NJ! Operation Provide Comfort raised over $40,000 for Hurricane Sandy Victims in Union Beach this past August. This benefit concert featured Colts Neck resident and “The Voice” TV star, Jacquie Lee. http://shoretvnj.com/for-goodness-sake/shoretv-nj-goodness-sake-operation-provide-comfort/
CSAV Systems offers solutions and improvements for houses of worship we work with your team to provide solutions to help facilities look and sound better.
Sound and video systems can suffer from hums and other noises. In audio, they can be heard and in video, they can actually be seen. If you are hearing the wrong sounds out of your audio system or seeing Hum bars or other distortions on your video screens, here are a few tips to help diagnose the issues. First, do your best to identify the symptoms. A hiss is different from a hum, which is different from a squeal. Let’s start with the most common, a “hum”. This can often be caused by AC power challenges. The first thing to check is to see if the equipment is plugged into a dedicated and isolated AC outlet. If the hum changes (in volume or tone) when you turn on lights, shut down unrelated equipment or if you change outlets, it’s usually an AC issue. Consult with you A/V Contractor, but most likely you will need an Electrician to resolve the matter. If the sound is more like a Buzz or Hiss, this could be caused by lose ground wires or improperly adjusted (often over-driven) ins or outs. Check for loose connections or unplugged cables. If that does not help, turn all volume controls to zero and bring them up equally but none past 50% until you have the desired volume. If the unwanted sounds persist contact you’re A/V Contractor for assistance. Noises can often occur in A/V systems and may be brought-on over time or come and go intermittently. If basic troubleshooting (as noted above) has not fixed the problem an experienced trouble-shooter will be necessary to isolate and eliminate your concerns. Keep in mind, although these odd noises can be annoying and have a negative impact on any presentation, they could also damage your systems. Protect your technology investment and contact a true professional for Tech support. www.CSAVsystems.com is ready to help you whenever the need may arise.
Digital soundboards are all the rage and the next natural step to upgrade a sound system. But what does that mean in my application? Good question. If you have a “plug & play” sound system where you just want to flip a switch and it works with a few Microphones and maybe a source or two, then this may not be an upgrade you need at this time. On the other hand, if you have an old soundboard and someone who runs it in your facility, you should look seriously at the latest Digital Mixing Board technologies. There are many reasons why and they certainly sound and perform better than analog components, but here are three initial (and important) reasons why you will benefit from a new Digital mixer; 1) Remote Tablet Control: New Digital consoles (or “control surfaces”, as some tend to call them) can interface with the internet and be controlled via an iPad, Droid or another tablet (or Smartphone). This allows the user maximum flexibility in being able to move around the listening area and adjust settlings or even run the digital mixer from the stage. This wireless interface has many benefits that will be enjoyed with a digital upgrade. 2) Pre-Set Scenes: You just went through a long rehearsal and you finally have the sound board all set where you need it (dozens of knobs are just the way you like it). A day or so later you walk back in the sound booth and nothing is the way you left it and the show starts in an hour. After screaming, your options are limited. But not with a digital board. Setting scenes on a new digital mixer will allow you to store dozens of scenarios and with a touch of a button (and perhaps a Password entry) all your settings come back to where you need them. 3) Post Mix Recording: Ever hear a sound (baby crying, a door creaking, a cough or two) in your recording (after an event) that you really wish was not there? How about an instrument or vocalist that should have been louder but was lost in the live mix? With a digital board (and the proper interface) a post sound mixing can be as easy (probably easier) as a Live Mix recording. On a digital board, all channels can be recorded simultaneously and therefore you will have control over each channel even after the live performance. Studios have done this style of mixing for decades, but now with digital soundboards, it can be done in your a/v booth or facility. These are but a few of the many reasons to consider a Digital Sound Board upgrade for your A/V system. Let CSAV Systems help you make the right choice and provide a cost-effective enhancement to your sound (and/or video) systems. www.CSAVsystems.com
Video projectors can be an expensive investment. Maintaining projectors is worth the effort and now more simple than ever. Projectors are air-cooled and it is critical that airflow remains constant to prevent overheating and damage to internal components. Fans bring air in from the outside, pass it through the projector, usually directed over critical sections and then out through a vented panel. Since room air is used in this process, dust that floats in room air is also pulled into the projector. The projector’s air filter prevents these particles from getting in the optical path and degrading image quality. If it is not regularly cleaned dust can clog the filter reducing airflow and ultimately damaging the projector. Below is a typical projector. This unit has a side-mounted filter. Depending on the model, filters will generally be located on the side or the bottom. After removing the filter cover, the filter should be exposed. Every model is slightly different so please consult the user’s manual for more specific instructions on removing the filter. In this photo, the filter can be seen. Note the dust in the filter. The lines are caused by the grill pattern on the filter cover. Once the projector filter has been removed, it can be cleaned in several ways. Compressed air can be used to blow the dust out of the filter from the opposite side. Most filters can also be cleaned with a vacuum or by using warm water. If you use water, be sure the filter is completely dry before putting it back into the projector. Reassemble the filter and cover according to the manual. Many projectors also come with timers that remind you it is time to clean the filter so check the instruction guide to see if your unit has a timer and how to reset the timer if necessary. Clean projector filters can make a projector last longer and help you get the most life out of the expensive lamps in the units. Dirty filters lead to many problems including overheating, poor image quality, blown lamps, and degraded optics. The projector filter cleaning process only takes a few minutes, but it is the single most important maintenance activity an end-user can perform.
One of the most common pieces of technology used in the professional AV industry today is the video projector. These units can be critical components of boardrooms, classrooms, training facilities, meeting rooms, auditoriums and even in Churches & Temples. Today projectors are feature rich and very diverse and choosing the right unit for your specific application can be difficult. To simplify this process here are three basic (but important) specifications to look for: 1) Brightness: Projectors today are becoming ever brighter and sharper. Where an ultra-bright projector a few years ago was 2000 lumens, most units today (for corporate environments) can be 4000 to 6000 lumens. Brightness is important but can be costly, it is also not the only specification you should be concerned with. If the room is bright and very well lit 5000 to 6000 lumens should be considered. In the average meeting space application with controlled lighting (no direct Sunlight on the screen) 4000 to 5000 lumens should be sufficient. 2) Resolution: The newest trends are towards HDMI interface with DVD players, Laptops and Teleconferencing devices. HDMI may very well replace the old VGA standard in the years ahead (perhaps sooner rather than later). But HDMI inputs on a projector do not mean that the unit can provide the full resolution quality that one may expect. Especially since most people are watching TVs at home that has a True HD (1920 X 1080) resolution. If the image is important to your presentations look for a minimum of a WXGA (1280 X 720) projector. Of course, a better choice would be SXGA (1280X1024) or the goal for HD at WUXGA (1920X1080) would be even better. Keep in mind this resolution rating will have a substantial impact on the cost of the unit, but will also affect the quality of the presentation. 3) Contrast Ratio: A less well known yet still important spec for any video display device is Contrast Ratio. The higher this number (1000 or 3000 or greater) the better the image quality on your screen. Contrast ratio in its simplest form is the ratio of the light reflected from an all-white image and an all-black image. So a projector with a 3000:1 contrast ratio means that the white image is 3000 times brighter than the black image. The higher the contrast ratio, the more detail you can see on the projected image whether its numbers, pictures, graphs, text, or video. Contrast is what makes it possible for us to see the subtle shades of colors. So good contrast is all about seeing the details. There are many other specifications and features that can be of value to review, but these three will give you a solid foundation for making the right choice to achieve the desired end-result. Who isn’t looking for the “biggest and brightest” but often budget will dictate what we will finally purchase. Of course, the most critical decision you can make will be choosing the right A/V vendor to install, replace or otherwise handle your sound and/or video needs. Relying on a trusted resource provider in A/V can save you and your company a lot of money, time and most importantly embarrassment… www.CSAVSystems.com
