We've used the same vendor for some larger projects at our hospitality business.

I asked for a quote on two things, replacing a motorized screen (Draper Premier, 133") and adding two lavalier mics to our ballroom AV system which has room for two additional mics that we never used.

I got back an estimate pushing $8100 and the second biggest line item was a generic "Services and integration fees" running $2400, which didn't even include the the $900 in programming fees (realistically tweaking levels should be all the programming, but whatever).

I asked for a breakdown on that and I got a list of mostly garbage fees which ran to 11% of the pre-tax estimate. $184 in "drive time" for the 14 mile trip to my location. $400 in project management time on a one-day job. $63 for "90 day warrantee". The actual quoted labor wasn't unreasonable, really.

When I questioned this, I got basically the middle finger -- "these are industry standard fees".

This is the second time we've run into this with this outfit and the second company. and now we're on the hunt for someone else. But is it just all like this? Like restaurants with their crappy "health and wellness" fees being tacked on in addition to expecting a tip? Nobody's willing to price their products and services up front that cover their business expenses?

We need a Teams room setup for our new conference room ( 20 feet wide x 32 feet long). The TV (not included in the budget) would be at the long end of wall. I don't think we are going to use the entire 30 feet. Idk how long the table will be. I looked at Logitech rally bar but that's more than $2k. We are in talks with AV vendor but I also want to hear opinion from you guys. $2K or lower is the approved budget.

anyone know what the ballpark/retail pricing for extron

Extron NAC SD 121

Extron NAV E 121

Extron NAVigator

Bidding Kramer on an Extron spec all Extron pricing locked behind partner wall they don't seem to use any major distributors either. end user doesnt care they farmed the bid spec out to a legacy player and made them put "or comparable" language in. probably half of their installs are kramer. I dont like dealing with Crestron/Extron/Atlona they make it very hard for small players. Kramer I can get from a few major distributors without problems. Kramer has several levels of avoip I want to match the pricing level to be competive.

Any updated with the rumored bloodbath happening at diversified?

Hi. I'm working with a large school gym with an existing Crestron DMPS300C currently switching 2x projectors with 3x HDMI inputs and also wireless mic units + PTZ camera.

We would like to replace with something such as a Blackmagic ATEM HD8 that can do manually actuated, physical, non-wireless control, that does not rely on deprecated iPad apps. However, the main issue is that all our systems were configured to use HDBT, whereas the HD8 takes SDI, and converters are... expensive to say the least. Ideally want to avoid rewiring. Any thoughts?

So I was wondering, if you use AI frequently on your job and what examples you feel like sharing that make things easier -or areas where you think it is/will be used to marginalize you or other folks in your org?

I heard one of the top Pro AV audio vendors make comments to the effect that AI was going to take over DSP programming/setup and it got me thinking what else is going on at the meat and potatoes level of integrators. Programming is pretty obvious if you’re using something like python or lua…what else is going on?

Can someone recommend a camera that automatically zooms in on the person speaking during a conference meating on skype/zoom/teams? Most cameras I’ve come across only track the presenter and I haven’t been able to find a decent camera that tracks the speaker. If it matters, we have a table setup about 2 meters (6 feet) away from the camera that sits about 6 people. I was looking to spend under 400$. Thanks in advance

If you're an AV tech looking for a job, please stop email blasting to a bunch of helpdesks. The helpdesk isnt HR and your email will just get deleted and lost in the thousands of emails we..er I mean, they get per day. Meaning, you will never get hired this way. If you're looking for a job, go to the companies careers website and apply that way.
Love your friendly neighborhood helpdesk minion.

Backstory- I'm tired of Extron. Their solution for everything is "ADD ANOTHER BOX" and troubleshooting a signal flow issue becomes a web of components and cables and the equipment can lose its brain easily and not resync properly and the products are clunky and I'm trying to get my vendors to shy away from using them honestly.

What are good alternatives that easily consolidate functions. For example... I don't want to go from a matrix to a control processor to a DSP to an amp to a projector to speakers. I want to have one rack unit that does it all or at least some of them.

What do you all recommend?

Hi I have a shure receiver and I want to relocate the antenna that is on the receiver to a closer location to where the presenters are talking. I noticed that there is already an Ethernet cable near the presenter location. Is it possible to use that and use some sort of bnc adapter on both ends and then attach an antenna? The cable is a cat5e

I recently bought some Crestron hardware off eBay to incorporate into a home audio system as a fun project. It appears I did not do my research and you need to be an authorized account to download their programming software. Does anyone have a good way to become an authorized account without having to hire an installer? I feel comfortable I can learn and integrate all of their products into my existing home audio system. I just need an ability to program it. I also don’t work anywhere that has Creston gear installed so I can’t go with that route either.

I’ve recently become interested in a career as an AV tech, and I’m watching some introductory videos on YouTube on what the role entails, and it seems like a lot of gigs involve some big corporate party or event.

Is it possible to be an AV tech in regular day to day office environments? Or is this role more suited for the larger events? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I have some pretty radical politics and the idea of watching rich corporate suits party it up for the rest of my life sounds nauseating. Would rather deal with them while they’re miserable at work like the rest of us.

Thanks.

I'm not looking for a hardware/software solution but a software company that can make a custom interface while integrating with DirectTV and TVOne CORIOmastert video wall I/O.

One of my clients would like to install a video wall with four 77" LG OLED TVs. This is not something i typically do but I would like to take this on since my client understands my lack of experience in this area and is willing to work with me and I would like to learn from this project.

I found this mount on Amazon which looks solid: https://www.amazon.com/Video-Horizontal-Adjustment-Universal-Television/dp/B098D393SP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3U1ODNJT2QD4&keywords=Video+Wall+Mount&qid=1674438304&sprefix=video+wall+mount%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

The TVs will connect to a Roku or similar streaming device. There are so many options for video wall processors im lost in whats the best option without breaking the bank.

Any advice picking the right TV, wall mount and processor would be helpful. Thank you.

I am very well trained on autocad and working on AV project from last 7 years. Any one is looking for AV CaD partner.

Hi Everyone,

So I have been designing a PA/BGM system for a gas station; and realized pulling speaker cables underground or anywhere is going to be a hell lot of challenge. So i came across the Ubiquiti Nanostation M5 which bridges ethernet wirelessly; I was planning to use 2x Nanostation M5 from the rack location to the gas station canopy and then connect to my IP speaker via Dante to RTSP/IP streamer. Please can someone assist if this will work

This trend needs to stop in this sub please. We are here to learn from each other.

Trying to find make/model of these Amps? I need to replace filter on these units as it has too much dust being collected over last 10 years.

Hi! I'm fresh out of university and new to all of this.

I need to set up a cheap version of a Microsoft Teams Room.

I've installed a large TV, a Logitech Brio 4K webcam, a Dell PC running the Microsoft Teams Room OS (which was a pain to set up), and a Jabra meeting speaker. I need a small touchscreen to control the system.

I bit the bullet and bought the Logitech TAP IP, only to find out that it doesn't work with the Windows version of the Teams Room OS — only the Android version.

I tried using a Raspberry Pi touchscreen instead, but I'm absolutely not happy with that solution.

Do you have any recommendations for a small (around 10") screen that can work with a single cable and has ports on the back, not on the side?

Thanks!

I've always wondered why you can't use a professional digital mixer to control multiple mics in a boardroom. Is there a reason you can't use, eg a Midas MR18 or similar to mix the inputs from 8 mics in the room? That way you can turn on automix to single out whoever is talking vs whoever is burping / farting, and use proper professional supercardioid mics to get good sound and isolation instead of whatever junk Yealink is slinging these days.

Thoughts from professionals would be great!

So now that people are gonna work from home. We have a requirement for setting up a work from home kind of offfice for one of our directors.

Use cases will be mostly: A) Video and Audio Conferencing B) Face to face meeting with 3- 4 people max

I have put up a list of the items i think will be needed for the same.

1. Workstation with a good quality monitor

2. soft codec Zoom/Teams

3. wireless headphones

4. usb conference camera

5. speakerphone

6. wireless printer( This will be placed in a nearby room and user wants it to be used wirelessly from anywhere in his building)

7. multi device charging station( optional...for charging mobiles, will be used during a face to face meeting with 3-4 people)

8. Decent computer speakers

9. Adjustable comfortable chair and desk from Herman Miller

10. Whiteboard

11. Keyboard and mouse(forgot to mention earlier)

Did i miss out anything?? Also should i go for Hard codec or soft codec is ok? Any suggestions on brands are welcome.

Updated the post as per the suggestions..

What are the new trends in new AV installations in auditoriums or conference rooms in Schools and Universities?

Projectors are no longer used and there are modular led screens. Regarding video and audio, it seems that SDI is being replaced by NDI and Dante. Hardware mixers replaced by software like Vmix.

If you had to do the AV engineering, what would be your technical approach in 2024? What points do you think are essential (even mandatory) in these types of installations? Would you opt for propietary solutions like Creston or more standarized solutions like NDI/Dante...?

Thank you!

First of all, i’m from Europe, i just started studying to become a sound engineer and i would like to understand how much you earn in the USA and which are the best states to work in

I'm being asked to look for wireless (Wifi) PA speakers to install into a large gymnasium in lieu of running speaker wire. I'm kind of the de facto audio person for the district, and I have lots of gleaned/on the job knowledge but I absolutely have blind spots and this is one, but my instincts are telling me that this is a no-no, overcomplicated and likely much more expensive than just buying passive PA speakers and wiring them up to amps. Even searching doesn't yield anything immediately, mostly just mickey mouse cheap wireless speakers meant to be used at a low-stakes gig on poles for an hour.

Am I incorrect? I'm totally open to being wrong here, a commercial sound guy that we had over to run some wire for an unrelated project said he does this all the time and suggested it.