Professional podcasts are booming. They’re an effective way to establish company executives as industry leaders, humanize a large organization, drill down on specific topics, and actively engage with a company’s target market. When it comes to building an audience, first impressions count. But without broadcast-quality visuals and audio, viewers may search for a more engaging channel on the same topic.
While podcasts started as an audio-only medium, video is now commonplace. To create engaging podcasts Associa knew the highest possible quality video was a must. And key to that is well designed lighting. No matter how brilliant your content, poorly executed lighting gives off an amateurish look – think boom mic in the shot. On the flip side, professional lighting communicates credibility and shows you’re serious about your brand.
Moving to headquarters in Richardson, TX, Associa, the largest community management company in North America, was designating more space in its new digs for its podcast studio. The studio needed to support one current show as well as upcoming productions from other divisions. Associa turned to Dallas-based Taurus Technologies, an audio/visual commercial integrator, for design guidance on the new studio.
“With plans to produce more podcasts in the future, Associa was focused on an A/V system that was easy to use for non-technical personnel, cost-efficient, and upgradeable with the highest production quality possible,” said Tyler Cutrer, Account Manager, Taurus Technologies. “We always pay close attention to lighting because it sets the tone right off the bat. And it’s something we can build the system around. The best cameras in the world can’t create beautiful images if they’re poorly lit. We have a long relationship with Brightline Lighting. The combination of their stellar video lighting with the new AV/720 low voltage control system sounded ideal for Associa.”
Image Courtesy of: Brightline Lighting
The AV/720 is an all-in-one control system for variable white lighting over a single low-voltage cable. Designed to provide seamless compatibility with low-voltage professional AV systems, the AV/720 lighting control system offers a simple “lighting by numbers” installation with true color reproduction.
The newly installed AV/720 system in the Associa HQ podcast studio powers and controls 17 Flex-T in-ceiling LED fixtures. The lights hang from an acoustic drop ceiling. Ten Flex-Ts feature drop arms for greater flexibility in lighting direction. The drop arm fixtures also give the space more of a studio look and feel. The remaining seven Flex-Ts are in-ceiling fixtures without drop arms. Each fixture is connected separately to the AV/720. The AV/720 is then connected to the lighting console via a 5-pin DMX cable. A single DMX cable runs from the lighting console to the AV/720, enabling the user to control each fixture individually.
For Lighting Designer Chris Boyd, this was his first Brightline Flex-T and AV/720 installation, and he found the process surprisingly simple. “I was impressed by the ease of installation of the fixtures and the rack mounted AV/720,” he said. “Hannah Jackson, the technician from Taurus, did an incredible job managing the cabling for the fixtures inside the rack. Running each fixture individually to the AV/720 allowed us to have each light on low voltage power, which prevented additional general contracting installation costs and enabled our crew of three to complete the install very quickly.”
Cutrer shares Boyd’s enthusiasm for the simplicity of the install process: “They were able to get everything up and running in two and a half days, with zero issues. The installation was smooth and quick. Though our experience with AV/720 is limited, its ease of use is a huge benefit to any customer with limited experience and technical resources. Our goal was to provide Associa with a very simple to use system that had the highest production quality possible,” said Cutrer. “Our client was very happy with the end result.”
Since the AV/720 arrives programmed and with pre-labeled cables and fixtures, installation is simplified. Onsite installers simply follow the numbers. If system expansion is desired, either with existing capacity or by adding a second AV/720, Brightline will run a new program at the factory and send the software update to support the expansion.
“The Flex-T/AV/720 combination is ideal for small studios or conference rooms with standard drop ceilings like Associa’s new headquarters,” said Tim Godby, Product Ambassador, Brightline Lighting. “We are thrilled that a company as well regarded as Associa will be producing all its future podcasts with our LED fixtures and low-voltage lighting control. They can be assured each podcast will look as professional as a nightly newscast.”
For more information on the AV/720, please contact Tim at [email protected] or 1-412-06-0114 or schedule a training session.
Take a quick look at the AV/720 here.
About Associa
With more than 300 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for more than 7.5 million residents worldwide. Our 15,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 48 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.
About Brightline
A leading manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting systems for broadcast, videoconference, e-learning, and government, Brightline’s mission is to enable communication through clarity. With more than 5,000 customers in over 35 countries, Brightline specializes in enhancing the presentation of visual images by providing high quality, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective evolutionary lighting solutions. Get enlightened at brightlines.com.
Feature Image Courtesy of: Brightline
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