As we rapidly approach the close of the first quarter of 2022, it’s time to consider the money that your organization or company is pouring (or is thinking about pouring) into the continued maintenance of remote audio and visual systems. It’s also time to abandon the dangerous pitfall that has been menacing us all: that any system is ‘good enough for the time being.’ The ‘time being’ has been the last two years; rather than thinking of your existing sound and video systems as ‘short term fixes’, it has become vital to focus on the potential for maintenance and longevity. The essential tools to maintain any system haven’t changed; we rely now, as we always have, on intelligent planning, quality equipment, and clarity of vision to preserve what works and fix what doesn’t. It isn’t about the next new thing. It has always been about getting back to the basics of project planning and budgeting.
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‘Maintenance and longevity’ can mean different things according to your industry or organization, your needs, and the needs of your patrons, clients, etc. In budgeting terms, maintenance costs can take many forms: replacement equipment, third-party subscriptions (think Zoom,) upgraded equipment, and more. However, consider what those costs actually look like: buying whatever equipment is available, whether or not it actually satisfies your business or organizations needs; struggling to find new solutions when natural changes in software and hardware availability mean unexpected obstacles and issues in the AV system that you cobbled together yourself, or with the help of a local or staffed IT department; basically, a lot of wasted time spent working to patch up the symptoms of long-term problems with short term solutions.
 
Therefore, when we talk about budgeting for a potential professional sound system installation project, it’s important that you look beyond basic costs. Professional sound companies, or professional AV integrators like design-build integrators at Sound Planning provide sustainable solutions for the deeper issues that are causing the systemic short term disruptions. Consider a system of integrated microphones, speakers, and even video designed on the basis of real and actual specifics of your conference or boardroom. The Audio Visual and Integrated Experience’s (AVIXA’s) Pro-AV Business Index (1), which has continually tracked trends in sales of AV equipment and the employment of AV professionals since November of 2020, continues to predict a steady demand on equipment and business professionals. In-house upgrades of outdated systems might not only be difficult to maintain in the long term; they will most likely consistently suffer from the scarcity of resources that has been a primary issue throughout this era of on-and-off lock-downs.

The Sound Planning experience isn’t just about the best equipment for the best price. Sound Planning brings advanced experience and training to the table

It may seem trite, but there is immense value in peace of mind. Sound Planning understands that you have spent the last two years looking for the best ways to stay connected to one another; regardless of industry or end-user, the clarity that we have always craved from virtual connection hasn’t changed. Whether it’s an upgrade, a fully integrated system, or just the intelligent tools to work smarter to achieve the same goals, it’s time to reconsider the real cost of the items for which we’ve been budgeting. 

Contact us for a customized quote, click here to get in touch. 

You’ve done your research and you know the specific needs of your house of worship. You’ve consulted your annual budget and balanced the needs of your fellowship, but audio visual integrators like Sound Planning understand that  hiring a professional sound company for your professional sound system installation can represent an intimidating cost. Design-build integrators like Sound Planning have always understood that bringing the best possible product to the people that need the support most in these troubled times is always the ultimate goal of organizations like yours. Now, You have committed your organization to a professional installation.

Once the critical decision is made, it’s time to focus on getting the best bang for your buck. Now is the time to consider: Where do you go from here? 

Here are some quick tips for selecting a professional sound integrator for the installation of your new professional sound system!

1. Seek expertise
Welcome to the AV era, where every person seems to have an opinion about professional sound system installation. Take a peek at your search engine results for questions like ‘audio visual’, ‘AV’, and sound system installation; not only can the number of results feel daunting, but all the well-meaning blog posts in all the world couldn’t provide you with the unity of vision, industry expertise, and customized care of an audio visual /integrator. Organizational and church design-build integrators like Sound Planning don’t just have the answers for you and your organization; they know how to keep it simple and serve your needs completely. With 45 years of experience with house of worship sound systems and design, Sound Planning works to understand your needs for a custom fit. 

2. Build strong foundations to help support future growth
Your money is a valuable resource, but so is your organization’s time and your staff and volunteers’ effort. Committing funding to an outside organization for this type of project can be daunting, but audio visual integrators are more than just industry professionals. They have the tools to fully diagnose the full scope of the issues your organization is facing. When choosing a quality audio visual company for your professional sound or AV system installation, consider what  else the company brings to the table. Additional services like preliminary acoustic modeling help Sound Planning find any problems at the source. From strong foundations, the sky really is the limit. Understanding what makes each organization space or house of worship unique makes it that much easier to make improvements on your terms. Stop fighting the symptoms; let Sound Planning help you find the source of crystal clear sound and flawless video feeds!

3. Measure twice, cut once
What was good for your grandfather should be good for your organization. The benefit of hiring a professional sound or audio visual company goes beyond outsourcing difficult work; Sound Planning makes sure that the first installation is the only installation. Just like the materials for any home improvement project, high quality equipment loses value fast when it’s not paired thoughtfully with a well designed system. The best way to assure that thoughtful pairing is to put your trust in a high quality team. Your organization is more than the money it spends. As 2022  progresses, make sure that your only preoccupation is how to improve on your current system, not how to fix amateur errors that only mask problems without solving them. 

As design-build integrators, Sound Planning will help you get the best bang for your valuable buck; they also work hard to save you time and effort as well. As  we all move towards a new (and more stable) normal, let Sound Planning help you make the most of your 2022! 
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Contact us for a customized quote, click here to get in touch.