AV Control System: What is it and why do you need it in your meeting room?
An AV control system is a special device that connects all the different AV equipment in a meeting space. You can then control everything in the room from one interface – typically a touch screen or a keypad - effectively removing the need for a stack of remote controls and a jungle of cables in the room.
Professional AV equipment performs better than consumer equipment in a setting where AV control is required. The product quality is also higher overall. Learn more about the difference between Pro AV and consumer-grade equipment by downloading our whitepaper.
The terms ‘AV equipment’ and ‘AV control systems’ might not necessarily be words that are in your daily vocabulary, but AV equipment is doubtlessly something that you see and use daily at your workplace. AV stands for audiovisual and refers to a wide range of audio and visual devices. Some examples could be smart boards, projectors, displays, webcams, sound systems and other devices typically found in meeting rooms or conference rooms.
A seamless experience across devices
The modern workplace - and the modern workforce - have moved into the digital age and AV equipment is, therefore, playing a more important role than ever before. Workers/employees use a variety of devices (including laptops, tablets and smartphones) to connect, companies are increasingly international and remote working is growing in popularity. The modern workplace takes advantage of video, audio, instant messaging and other collaborative software to communicate across geographical locations and time zones. As a result, AV equipment needs to work together seamlessly to enable communication, support users during their meetings and provide a positive experience.
Download 'Comparing Pro- & Consumer AV equipment' guide
AV control systems- eliminating users' frustrations
We have witnessed that there is a lot of anxiety about the AV equipment in meeting rooms. Most people have had negative experiences in meeting rooms; remote controls were missing or didn’t work, too many cables tangled up on the floor and no idea which one to use, bad connections and poor-quality sound and video in a conference call. Meeting rooms and AV equipment have gotten a bad reputation; AV equipment, especially pro-level technology, is perceived as being overly complex, and therefore, intimidating. We’ve observed that technology users’ biggest fear is that of not being in control; where one feels that the technology – not the user – is dictating what can or cannot be done.
This is where AV control comes in. An AV control system is a device that can be thought of as the brain behind the scenes; connecting and controlling all the equipment in a meeting room. An AV control system then provides the user with ONE simplified and streamlined interface that can control the equipment individually or simultaneously.
Comparing Pro AV with Consumer-grade products
In this whitepaper, we compare Pro AV equipment with similar consumer-grade products across several factors and specifications - not only price, as many are guilty of doing.
These factors are definitely what you should be taking into consideration when purchasing new equipment for your meeting spaces.
Download the whitepaper for the detailed comparisons, get informed and make a better decision when selecting equipment for your meeting room!
Streamline your equipment setup with an AV control system
The main benefit of an AV control system installation is simplifying your whole setup so that everything is controlled from one central location. An AV control system can either run automatically (an example is our Neets QueBec II ) or be controlled manually through a simple control interface.
A manual control interface can be in the form of a keypad; such as the Neets Control - UniForm, or a touch panel; such as the Neets Touch Panels. One of the factors that determine the choice between a keypad or touch panel interface is the complexity of the meeting room setup; including the number of devices one wishes to control and the number of functions one wishes to perform.
A good control interface should be easy for users to understand and use. Ideally, the interface's design should be inspired by other types of interfaces; ones that everyone is familiar with, such as smartphone interfaces. The control interface would, therefore, be recognized instantly, and users could start using it without requiring an explanation.
Another benefit is reducing the amount of support time from the IT responsible/IT department, as the control system solves the most common issues and the interface is so clear and simple to use.
How you can benefit from an AV control system
- Control all the equipment from one central location
- ONE streamlined interface to control devices
- A solution that is tailored to your room, your equipment and your needs
- Reduce technical onboarding and the learning curves for users
- Reduce IT support time
- Make it easy for meeting room users and presenters to get started fast
- Increase user satisfaction thanks to a more efficient and effective meeting room
What can an AV control system do
- Switch lights on and off, or control their output levels
- Provides ONE streamlined interface to control devices
- Turn various devices on and off, such as displays, projectors, cameras and microphones
- Control speaker volume and mute volume
- Upload content to devices – such as projecting your laptop screen to a display or TV
- Turn all the equipment on and off with motion detection
And much more!
Equipping your own meeting room
Hopefully, you now know quite a lot about professional AV equipment, AV control and what it can do for you! Remember to download the whitepaper to learn even more about the difference between quality professional AV equipment and consumer equipment meant for home use.
The next step is exploring our range of solutions for different types of rooms and finding the right products for you. Some of our products are available to purchase directly online. Products that require professional installation are available from selected resellers worldwide. Contact your local distributor or find the closest Neets Reseller.
