What is AV equipment?
AV is short for audiovisual. In short AV equipment means audiovisual equipment. That is, technical equipment used to convey sound (audio) and image (visual). Here in the article you can read more about what type of equipment it is.
Today there are many types of technical equipment that can be said to convey sound and image without us necessarily categorizing all equipment that has these properties as AV equipment. In this article, we will instead try to categorize the types of equipment that are typically associated with AV equipment.
Typically, one would associate the word AV equipment with the type of technical equipment used to convey sound and image at meetings, conferences and events. That is equipment that e.g. helps lecturers to convey their presentations, videos etc. to their audience using clear images and the right sound. in relation to the visual part, the right lighting also belongs, and therefore lighting equipment is also an important component when talking about AV equipment. We have rented and sold this type of equipment for more than 30 years and will try to describe below the most common types of AV equipment that we rent out, so that you can gain a greater knowledge of what AV equipment is.
Our AV solutions include e.g. the following types AV equipment: LED screens, LED walls, projectors, sound equipment, lighting equipment, microphones, voting equipment, live streaming equipment, stage equipment.
How do I choose the right AV equipment?
Whether you are faced with simply having to plan the use of AV equipment for a small meeting or perhaps a large international congress, it is important to choose the right AV equipment.
- How many participants are there at your event?
- How big is the room?
- Is both sound and image needed? (Presentations and video)
- The light conditions of the room in relation to the use of a projector, flat screens or e.g. LED wall
- Is loudspeakers and sound production needed?
- Is there a need for a stage and what should take place on stage?
- Is there a need for a lectern, panel table or similar?
- What type of microphones are needed? (Headset, panel microphones, etc.)
- Is there a need for camera coverage of presenters?
- Is there a need for coloured lights, follow spots or the like?
- Is there a need for operation and support from professional AV technicians? Read more in our guide and checklist about AV project management. The checklist may help you with regard to your future use of AV equipment at your event.
Review of the most common types AV equipment
We have now looked a bit at what AV equipment is and what considerations you can make when you are faced with having to use AV equipment for your upcoming event. Below we review the most common types AV equipment used at many events. So read on if you want to know more about: Screens, projectors and LED walls , lighting equipment and lighting , sound equipment and microphones , voting equipment , live streaming equipment.
Screens, projectors & LED walls
At meetings, conferences and events, there is almost always a need to convey e.g. PowerPoint or Keynote presentations, video etc. to the participants. For this purpose, either flat screens, projectors or LED walls are used.
The different screen types
Flat screens and large screen projectors are used at many events. This applies whether they are to be used for PowerPoint presentations, product presentations or something else entirely.
Typically the following screens are used:
• Flat screens (stand-alone or as video walls)
• Projectors (small and large)
• LED walls (bright screens for concerts, large conference rooms, exhibition stands, etc.)
What is important to think about when using screens is how they can best get your message out to the participants. Screen sizes, screen types and location are therefore important when you want to achieve the best communication. The most common types of screens are described below:
Flat screens
Flat screens come in many different sizes. The different sizes give you many different options to communicate to your participants, whether you need a flat screen where there is little space, or want to get your message out in a large format. The screens can be set up individually on a stand or hung on the wall.
Projectors
As with flat screens, projectors can be delivered in many different sizes, whether they are, for example to be used in a small meeting room or in a large conference hall. Projectors are typically set up on stands or suspended from a truss. Several projectors can also be used in conjunction to create an even larger image than the individual projects would otherwise be able to deliver. Screens must always be used together with projectors. If there is not already a projection screen in the room, these can be rented in many different sizes, depending on how large a picture you need.
LED walls
Many people know LED screens from e.g. concerts, sporting events or mounted on buildings. They deliver large and bright images. Therefore, they can also be used on e.g. exhibition stands and in large conference rooms, if you do not want to use projectors. They are further interesting, as they e.g. on a stage both can be used as a digital backdrop for logos, playing videos etc., as well as acting as large colorful presentation surfaces for your message.
Audiovisual Equipment & microphones
Just as the right image production is incredibly important, it goes without saying that the right sound production is at least as important. The participants must be able to see and hear your message clearly and distinctly.
Sound equipment will most often consist of speaker systems and sound mixers with which you ensure the right sound production throughout the event. It is important to consider what kind of sound you will use at your event. Is there e.g. just talking about a presentation in a small meeting room, then a wireless microphone and a small speaker system are often sufficient. But if you have to produce sound for a conference, annual meeting, general meeting or product launch , you often have to use larger sound setups that include several different types of speakers, microphone types , as well as a larger sound production. Below you can read more about the most common types of audio equipment.
Speakers
Loudspeakers come in many different sizes. For the small arrangement, if a speaker system has not already been installed, smaller speakers on each side of the stage mounted on speaker stands will often be used. If it is a question of larger events, where the sound has to fill a larger room and now out to a great many participants, you will often use line-array systems, which you e.g. knows from concerts and the like.
Stage monitors
Stage monitors are speakers that face the presenter or band. This ensures that you can always hear yourself clearly and distinctly when presenting or playing and singing.
PA system
PA system is a collective term for sound equipment that is often used by bands and which consists of e.g. loudspeakers, stage monitors and microphones. In short, everything a band or DJ needs to get the sound beyond the stage. PA stands for public address, which refers to a sound system whose sound must reach many people. PA systems can of course be scaled according to how many people the sound is to be conveyed to.
Sound mixers
Sound mixers are also available in many different models and it is important to use the right sound mixer for your task, so that you are sure of being able to create the right sound production. An audio mixer consists of a number of audio inputs and outputs (channels) and volume buttons, etc., on which AV technician or user can control the sound for the various channels.
Microphones
The right choice of one or more microphones is important when presenters and meeting participants have to communicate with each other. Often, presenters will use wireless microphones (handheld, on a stand or headset microphone). Wireless microphones give the presenter freedom of movement on stage, so a presentation can be more dynamic. At conferences and meetings, BOSCH table microphones are often used, so that meeting participants can participate from their location in the room or hall.
Lighting equipment & lighting
In many meetings, only the light that is already installed in the meeting room is used. But there are also many events where the correct use of lighting equipment can be included as part of the overall impression.
Considering the right lighting for one's event is an important factor. Often, the existing light in a meeting room will be sufficient if it is a small meeting or if a few presenters have to make a few presentations. However, there may also be situations where a more specific lighting design is desired, e.g. suitable for some corporate colors or if you want to use effect lighting for e.g. product presentations or the like – i.e. use a specific light production for your event. To help you choose the right light, you can consider:
- Is the existing light in the room sufficient?
- If not – what do you want to communicate with your use of light?
- Should the light match corporate colors (logos, etc.)?
- Should the lighting be more event-oriented and create an atmosphere?
- Where do you imagine light should be placed / used?
Uplights
An easy and effective way to create stylish lighting at most events is to use wireless uplights. These lamps can deliver all colours, but can also be used to simply deliver warm white. Often, however, you want to create an atmosphere with one or more colors. The lamps have an incredibly long battery life, so you don't have to worry about them going out in the middle of your event. They are often used along walls, by the stage or at entrances, but only the imagination sets the limits. They can also be used outdoors.
Spots for stage viewing and stage lighting
Classic mood lighting also includes the most common stage lighting. Here, you will often use light on or along the stage's backdrop (unless it is, for example, digital in the form of an LED wall). This way of lighting the scene with e.g. colored spots are called "washers". In addition, lamps will be placed to ensure that lecturers, panel tables or the like are lit in the right way, so that the participants see the people on stage clearly. Here you will often use spots mounted in a truss above the stage or on stands on either side of the stage. Fresnel, profile and pair lamps are most often used for this type of lighting. If it is a larger stage, you can also choose to use a follow-up spot if you are speaking, e.g. moves around the stage and the rest of the light in the room is dimmed.
GOBOs - Metal discs with patterns for effective lighting
An increasingly traditional form of light that certainly does not make it less useful or effective is the use of gobos. A gobo is a small disk into which a pattern, logo or similar has been milled. The disc can be easily mounted spots and thereby used to e.g. illuminate a backdrop at a stage, a floor or ceiling area – again only the imagination sets the limits. If you are considering using gobos at your event, remember to take into account that the discs to be used take some time to produce.
Moving heads
You may know the use of moving heads from concerts, TV studios and the like. Common to this type of lamps is that they create an enormously effective moving light in several colors with or without the use of gobos . Often you will use two or more moving heads placed on e.g. a series and programmed to shoot concentrated cones of light, wash cones of light or the like into space. This can also be done on the floor and ceiling or on a stage backdrop. In this way, a very effective lighting can be created.
Table lamps
If your event includes a dinner, this will almost always include mood lighting as described above. In addition, you will also often place a table lamp on each table. The lamps create cozy lighting and can glow in many different colours. Of course, they can also be adjusted up and down in brightness.
Voting equipment – a super tool
Voting systems can be advantageously used at general meetings, annual meetings etc. They can also be used to make quizzes. In short, they can be used for opinion gathering and participant involvement.
If you need to conduct polls at your upcoming event, a polling system is a good tool. The systems are user-friendly and can easily visualize the results for the participants. They can also be used to engage participants through fun and relevant quizzes. Today, there are many different ways to create voting. At Teletech KonferenceKommunikation we use three different systems:
• Physical voting units – the IVS Lite system
• SMS voting
• Parliamentary voting
Below you can read more about the individual systems.
IVS-lite
Participants easily cast their vote via the buttons on the device. The vote is registered immediately. Voting can also be personalized via the software. We prepare your questions in PowerPoint-like software. The results are displayed after voting is finished (can also be hidden if necessary). Rent the IVS-Lite system if you want a user-friendly voting system with lots of options, as well as physical voting devices for your participants.
SMS voting
Most people are now familiar with SMS voting as a popular and easily accessible way of collecting responses. We offer a user-friendly system where your participants can cast their vote via their mobile or smart device (requires a SIM card).
Parliamentary vote
From us you can rent BOSCH Dicenti meeting microphones with built-in parliamentary voting (+ YES, – NO or X ABSTAIN). The poll is easy to set up and easily allows meeting participants to cast their vote via the touch screen on the microphone. If participant identification is desired, the system also offers this via registration cards that can be read via the microphone using a built-in NFC card reader (Teletech can help with the setup).
AV equipment for live streaming
With live streaming, you reach a larger audience. There can e.g. streamed between one or more venues, as well as streaming to online participants and online presenters.
A streaming solution can contain one or more cameras (both manual and remote controlled). It is also possible to make title signs, sliding image transitions, logo placement, etc., depending on how advanced an image production you want. A split screen effect can also be created, where the presenter and e.g. PowerPoint presentation is displayed side by side.
If you want presentations etc. to be available after your event, a video on demand (VOD) solution can be used.
There are many different types AV equipment to create streaming solutions. It is therefore important to consider the type of live streaming you want. Should there e.g. simply stream from a camera with a fixed position filming a presenter, or if you need a more advanced production.
