Audio Visual Solutions Available to Businesses in Maryland

There are a number of Audio Visual (AV) solutions available to businesses no matter the industry. AV systems have become vital to how we communicate and do business. Could you imagine speaking at a conference, presenting a proposal to a prospective client, or making a campus-wide announcement without the use of microphones, speakers, or video screens!? 

Audio equipment, video screens, cameras, lighting, etc. All of these are aspects of AV systems and can be used in a variety of ways for different businesses. A warehouse will use PA systems throughout their buildings, office buildings will have video conferencing setups, a counseling center may have a sound masking system in place and the list of AV possibilities goes on. 

Because there are so many different AV solutions and applications we wanted to help businesses understand the potential options. 

In this article, we will explore the different types of solutions applicable for businesses and how to get the best AV experience. Of course, if you have questions you can always give us a call. 

The Types of AV Solutions

When it comes to seamless communication it’s important to have the right AV Solutions. Your technology should add value and just be something your business has to do to stay “relevant.” For example, having a video display in a conference room is good, but if the only microphone and camera are the ones on your laptop then the video display isn’t adding very much value to your conference calls.

Many businesses simply don’t really know what is available, so they are left with sub-par AV integrations. To ensure you get real value out of your equipment, we’ve broken down the main components of modern AV solutions: 

• Audio Equipment

Audio equipment should help enhance communication within your organization. It’s important for communication to be effortless wherever you are, but the sound quality also has to be high quality. There is a number of different audio equipment that your organization can utilize.

• Microphones and speakers
• PA systems
• Sound masking

• Visual displays

What can be seen is just as important as what can be heard. Your displays should be sharp and allow you to better convey whatever it is you are trying to communicate. When it comes to video displays there are a number of things to consider that can help aid in how you communicate. 

• Video Screens
• Projectors
• Cameras
• Interactive whiteboards

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• Connectivity

Connectivity is the unheard and unseen aspects of AV that allow everything to work well together. It not only aids in better audio and visual quality but in some instances, it is a requirement for the audio and visual to even function. Here are some of the connectivity aspects that will help ensure your AV equipment is functioning at its optimal efficiency:

• Structured Cabling
• Network Services
• Control Panels
• Wired and wireless Integrations

With all of your AV equipment, you want to think about the user experience. If you’re installing a PA system or speakers, does it make sense to have 2-way communication? Can both the tech-savvy and the technology inept use it? Does its functionality aid in your ability to communicate?

When exploring AV solutions, it’s important to think about the user experience, not just the basic need. 

How to get the best AV experience for your business

With the internet, anyone with a little bit of knowledge can obtain high-quality AV equipment and learn how to plug the right cables into the right places. Many businesses choose to go this route but often end up with a subpar experience. You’ve likely experienced this in your office or when visiting another business. 

Their video conferencing is constantly having issues. Their sound and video experience is low quality. There are tangled cords and wires everywhere. The microphone only works when sitting in a specific seat And the list goes on. 

Besides the fact that they are trained and do the job all the time, there are two reasons why professional AV installers create the best AV experience. These reasons are:

• Design
• Proper Installation
• Testing

Proper installation is of course the most obvious reason because, without it, the systems simply won’t function correctly. But it means more than simply hooking the right cables into the right ports. It also means testing the installation in various ways to ensure that the setup works every time and from everywhere you need it. 

The design aspect is less obvious and is something most in-house IT people don’t think about. When an AV expert installs their systems they look into how everything works together. There is a lot that they look at that most people would not have thought of. Things like: Will the speakers allow for everywhere in the room to hear without giving feedback? Are the cameras and screens positioned in a way that every party can see well? Is the Wifi signal strong enough in this room for video conferencing or will they experience issues? How can we best organize the cables the room stays clutter-free?

Hiring or consulting with an expert AV professional is the best way to ensure your systems will provide you with the best possible experience.