What does Audio Visual Mean?
Audio Visual, commonly referred to as ‘AV’ is the combination of Sound and Sight. Audio-Visual refers to a wide range of digital audio and video devices used in private homes, commercial, and education.
Audio-Visual technology is used in many different settings as it provides a lot of value. For example, in the corporate world AV is used for meetings, video conferencing, presentations, and much more. In education, AV is used as a learning tool. Instead of the traditional whiteboard, teachers are now able to use interactive whiteboards to help students stay engaged. Lastly, at home AV maybe used for your TV to sound system.
Examples of AV Equipment?
- Soundbars & Sound systems
- Audio Amplifiers
- Webcams
- Microphones
- Projector Screens
- Projectors
- Interactive Whiteboards
- Media Servers
- Home Cinemas
- Video Conferencing
- Television/ Display Screens
In addition to the listed hardware elements you also have a wide range of different equipment that will provide power and control the audio-visual system. The hardware will distribute the audio and visual elements throughout the building, allowing control of each of those elements via control systems such as iPad’s, dedicated control panels, and smart phones. Equally important, different software systems can be incorporated to run off the control system to provide live content to each of the devices. For instance, Spotify/Apple Music installed onto a SONOS system that is distributed throughout a hotel.
Data Cabling for Audio-Visual
One of the major elements of every audio-visual installation is the cabling that links it all together. It is critical that the AV system is connected with the correct cabling infrastructure. Without correctly installed data cabling, the overall system will underperform or fail. After all, a system can only perform as well as its weakest link.
Prior to the advancement of technology, HDMI could be transmitted over Cat5e and Cat6 cables. However, since the improvement of video quality, installations now require a specific AV cable or a minimum of Cat6a. Here are a few considerations to be taken before opting for Data cabling.
Hardware: What type of hardware is the cable supporting? The manufacture will be able to provide you with some insight regarding which cables will work with the equipment. Lastly, cabling can highly impact the performance of the equipment. Its important to spend some time understanding the requirements to optimize your AV system.
Bandwidth: As previously advised Cat6a is now the standard data cabling used for AV systems. Once again, your equipment supplier/manufacturer should be able to provide some guidelines around what the minimum bandwidth is to support the equipment. Other options may be available.
Distance: Standard data cables are designed to cover a distance of 100 metres. You will need to take this into consideration when designing your meeting room, office, shop etc…
