By Missy Berg, Director of Business Development, Markey’s Rental & Staging.
To enhance your AV knowledge and help you communicate more effectively with your technical team prior to and during a live event or conference, we’ve compiled a handy guide of five audiovisual terms that apply to almost all events:
1. Gain – Not Just for Your Muscles!
Gain isn’t about pumping iron, but about boosting your audio signals. In AV terms, gain refers to the amplification of the audio signal. Think of it as turning up the volume on your playlist—but be careful not to crank it up too much, or you might get distortion! It’s all about finding that perfect balance between “I-can-hear-it” and “I-can-feel-it-in-my-bones.”
2. White Balance – Not Just a Fashion Statement
White balance might sound like something you’d do before your big photo shoot, but in the world of AV, it’s all about making sure that white looks white and not blueish or yellowish on your screens. It ensures that colors are true to life, making your event visuals look as crisp and sharp as possible.
3. Latency – Not a Fancy Coffee Drink
Latency is the time delay between an input and its corresponding output. In simpler terms, it’s the lag you notice when you say something, and it takes a moment for the sound to come through. Ideally, you want latency to be minimal—after all, nobody wants to be that person in the back row who hears the punchline of a joke five seconds too late.
4. Crossfade – Not a Dance Move
In AV terms, crossfade refers to the smooth transition from one audio or video source to another. It’s like blending two tracks seamlessly or transitioning between video clips without a jarring jump. Perfect for keeping the flow of your event smooth and professional.
5. Aspect Ratio – Not a Movie Review Scale
Aspect ratio refers to the proportion of width to height in your screen or image. Common ratios are 16:9 for HD screens, 4:3 for older screens, or a unique aspect ratio when using custom LED video walls. Knowing your technology’s aspect ratio and designing content to that same ratio ensures your visuals fit perfectly and intentionally when displayed and without any unsightly stretching or cropping.
Let us help you create a defining experience for your audience! Reach out to Missy Berg with Markey’s at mberg@markeys.com if you are planning an event and want to chat with one of our consultants.