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FEBRUA RY 2016 | 37 Audio Visual Systems BOARDROOM PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD JOHNSON/COURTESY SOUND SOLUTIONS; WHISTLER HOME PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAEF GROHNE/COURTESY LA SCALA Audio visual trends to watch out for this year by ROBIN BRUNET T owards the end of every year analysts predict industry trends that will emerge a few months hence, and the audio visual (AV) sector isn't exempt from their scrutiny. While consumers often prove these predictions wrong, AV trends are more reliable because they depend so heavily on evolving technology. Plus, it's easy to see how one trend leads to another; video giving way to digital giving way to cloud, or Internet leading to smart and blending with connectivity. The overriding trend this year in this rapidly-evolving sector is the blurring of the lines between what AV companies offer customers. "There used to be a distinc- tion between security, entertainment and other services, but less so these days as we provide connectivity in the fullest sense of the term," says Mike Chorney, presi- dent of La Scala Home Cinema + Integrated Media. "This is great for companies like ours, because the blurring of the lines enables us to expand our reach; we already have a strong reputation for catering to high-end residences, but our commercial activity is becoming more prevalent too." Chorney adds, "Technology is more and more disposable. This is beneficial to end users for many reasons, but one thing should not be overlooked, whether you're a homeowner wanting a media room or a CEO looking to revamp your boardrooms across the country, you need the proper infrastructure as the base upon which mul- tiple systems can operate efficiently." Companies such as La Scala (which recently won five CEDIA Awards in Dallas) are invaluable in this regard. "We get involved in infrastructure right from the get- go, starting with network and power management," says Chorney. "From there, what we provide is mind-blowing." Case in point: for one high-end residential project in Whistler, La Scala recently provided everything from entertainment components (including no less than 130 audio speakers, which required a full feeder in the basement and acoustic engineer- ing) to automated driveway de-icing. "It took us three years, but it earned us a Best Integrated Home award from CEDIA," says Chorney, adding that in the commercial sector his company also recently supplied an intelligent window blind system and many other components for the new Nordstrom store in Vancouver's Pacific Centre. Governing La Scala's approach to controls and integration is the quest for user simplicity. In noting that almost all control systems now offer a seamless interface with Mac tablets and smartphones, Chorney says his job is to decide which system makes sense for the user. In a similar vein, La Scala combines the latest technology with the client's preference to create the perfect interface. Generally speaking, when it comes to control there are two choices: "in the box" and custom solutions – the former intended for consumers who are happy with pre-specified control parameters. However, this presents difficulties whenever considerations such as unique feedback or monitoring are required. Custom solu- tions are therefore typically offered by more experienced firms, and one company in Western Canada that has earned an almost iconic standing for providing them is Commercial Electronics. Hal Clark, Commercial's director of design and engineering, points out, "Getting existing technology to work at optimum levels is key for us, and in the residential market business is booming. That said, it's still a task to convince people that do-it- yourself integration often results in as many apps needing to be constantly opened and closed as the number of remote controls that required constant manipulation back in the bad old days. In other words, these solutions are inefficient and cumber- some – and saving these people from apps hell is big business for us." Clark predicts that his company's residential activity will rise by 15 per cent this year, thanks partly to the ongoing evolution of entertainment technology (that includes the latest in audio standards, Dolby Atmos, which supports up to 128 simul- taneous audio objects), and partly due to the fact that systems programming prices are steadily dropping. "Thanks to technology such as Crestron Pyng, the set up and control of home automation has become incredibly simple," he says. Working closely with customers, which has always been the objective of major AV suppliers, is assuming increasing importance in a number of related disciplines – and it is the mantra of Sight N Sound Design Inc., which provides full commission- ing and end-to-end performance testing of simple and complex AV systems. Sight N Sound prides itself on its personal professional consulting, design, manage- ment, installation, commissioning and training services. As a result, the company is able to design AV systems of the highest quality in boardrooms, meeting rooms, court- rooms, council chambers, training centres, auditoriums and learning institutions. Digital signage and lighting may be considered an offshoot of the AV realm, but here too, affordability and ease of use are prevailing concerns. "The prices for digital signage in hospitality and institutional/commercial applications are dropping sig- nificantly," says Maurice Gaudio, president of Galerie Audio Video (GAV MGMT Inc.). Echoing the sentiments of his colleagues in other AV-related companies, Gaudio notes, "In addition to price advantages, end users are more apt to consider investing in signage because so much of the technology is controllable through the Internet. The rise of the cloud has truly made the most complex systems accessible to people who aren't necessarily tech savvy." As for business, Gaudio says his firm, which has a wealth of experience in the cor- porate, commercial and residential AV, lighting and low voltage technology industry Sound Advice Avanti acoustical panels boardroom installation by Sound Solutions Inc.; Crestron Pyng home automation control system from Commercial Electronics; Home theatre system installation by La Scala Home Cinema + Integrated Media.

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