PLEASE HELP TENNESSEE’S FLOOD VICTIMS.
Make a donation directly to the Middle TN Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Despite the devastation and loss, we remain encouraged by the strength, resilience, and spirit of our community.  Please join us in doing whatever you can to help our community in this time of need.

“We’re out to design and create components that set new standards for system integration, upgrade capability and multi-zone expansion. So to say that Integra is a premium audio video line is an understatement-world-class components are our lives.”

We’re glad to say that Integra lives up to their own self description.  Check out their website for more information about the company.  Or, better yet, feel free to call or email us to find out more about Integra’s world-class DVD players (including Blu-Ray), CD players, receivers, amplifiers, tuners, and other components.

Home of the Year Awards 2009

24-Terabyte Theater Showcases Massive Video Library

Mega storage lets this movie buff keep growing his huge DVD collection, with 2.35:1 video and high-performance Monitor Audio surround system.

July 14, 2009 | by Lisa Montgomery

Measuring just 15 feet wide and 19 feet long, this home theater may be on the small side, but the size of the owners’ movie collection is anything but tiny. More than 2,000 movies are already stored digitally in the 24-terabyte Kaleidescape media server, some of which are films with scores written for, or produced by the owner’s two sons.

Still, with so much available space on the server, the owner can’t help but add at least a dozen more weekly—just one of the benefits of being a member of two mail-order DVD stores, says Steve Hooper, president of Audio Video Design Consultants, the Nashville-based firm hired to transform a spare upper-level guest room into a theater worth more than $250,000.

Films aren’t the only type of video stored on the server, however. There’s plenty of room for the owners’ extensive array home movies as well as trailers that he created himself. It’s a quick trip to the theater from his video editing station, which sits just behind the theater in a home office closed off by a door.

Bedrooms reside on the other side of the hall, so Audio Video Design Consultants covered the walls and ceiling entirely with two-inch-thick acoustical paneling to prevent the sound from seeping out—quite an accomplishment given the theater’s audio prowess. Seven Monitor Audio speakers and two subwoofers, driven by Lexicon processors and amps can really shake the room, says Hooper.

Proud of their son’s accomplishments, it only seemed fitting that the owners would present them on the biggest screen the room could hold (illuminated movie posters also pay tribute to their Hollywood projects). The 106-inch Stewart Filmscreen screen is not only big; it can also alter its shape based on the type of video being presented by a top-of-the-line Runco VX-550 projector.

When the owners watch a movie shot in CinemaScope format, the screen stays in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The films cover the entire screen in that setting. Not so with sporting events, however. Because sports and other programming aren’t shot in CinemaScope, the video would occupy only a portion of the super-wide screen. To make the screen more suitable for these programs, Audio Video Design Consultants added a system that rolls black fabric over the unused areas of the screen. The owner activates the motors of the masking system are activated by pressing the appropriate button on a portable Crestron touchpanel.

To view the rest of this story, click here.

We’re very proud to announce that John Lupear, our general manager, recently completed his training to become a Certified Green Professional.  The training and certification were offered through the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee, where we are also a member of their Green Council.

We have long designed and installed many of the systems inherent to green building, but we are really trying to go the extra mile in further developing and promoting green build technologies.  We couldn’t be happier to see “green” become the new buzzword in the industry and the culture at large.  There has never been a better time to implement these services in your home or office.  The good news is that they pay for themselves over time with reduced energy bills.  That’s the beauty of green technology, it’s good for the wallet, good for the earth, and often good for your health.

Here are just a few of the services we provide which are inherent to green building and green technology integration:

• Lighting Control - allows you to dim and adjust your lights according to time of day, time of year, or for specific events like a dinner party or movie night.
• Natural Lighting Control - allows you to control the natural sunlight through the use of automated window treatments such as shades and blinds.  This is especially beneficial for homes or offices with difficult to reach windows.
• HVAC Control - allows you to adjust the temperature in your home or office according to time of day and/or time of year.
• Irrigation Control Systems - we can control your irrigation and sprinkler systems so that they maximize energy savings and reduce unnecessary consumption.  We can also integrate sensors into your system so that you will never be watering lawns or plants during a rainfall.

Again, green building and green technology are a rapidly growing part of our industry.  Green certified properties are also becoming more common, and we can design systems which help maximize your points towards LEED, Earth Craft House, and NAHB Green Building certifications.

As far as we know, John’s training makes us the first audio/video & systems integreation company in middle Tennessee with a Certified Green Professional on staff.  We’re very proud of that and look forward to continuing our commitment to energy conservation and green building.

1. 1. Wire for everything now…even wireless – If you are building or remodeling a home, start with a plan for future wiring needs. Wire is necessary to support wireless applications. While no one can guarantee what the future will look like, CEDIA professionals make it their business to stay current to offer expert advice about technologies on the horizon.
   2. Insist on integrated systems – Make sure the electronic equipment you are buying can be hooked up together and operated with one, easy to use control system. Systems that communicate simplify your life and offer peace of mind by “watching” over your home.
   3. Integrate lighting and heating control – Going green meets convenience. Get the most out of your system with the least amount of energy consumption. System integration provides automatic energy-efficient adjustments saving you time and money.
   4. Think with your wallet, but lead with your head – Quality and long-term dependability are the most cost effective attributes that you can build into a home.
   5. Buy an experience, not a box – Find an electronic systems contractor that allows you to test drive the entire system or at least experience the thrill of a high performance system. Few people have the time to research and evaluate all the hardware choices. It’s smarter to focus on the end result and make your choices based upon overall performance and value.
   6. Simplify your controls – Easy to use, all-in-one remote controls are available for any system. You can even have them custom programmed so they make perfect sense to you. New technologies offer control from other devices and even through Internet browsers anywhere in the world.
   7. Increase your expectations – Your home electronics system is a big investment and you deserve to be satisfied with it. CEDIA professionals will provide you with extensive options, comprehensive designs, complete installation and especially, in-home service for your systems.
   8. Think “green” – By utilizing green practices, you can save money by having a more energy efficient system and help save the planet. Ask a professional about how you can “go green” in your home.
   9. Ensure the experts work together for you – Maximize your home’s electronic systems capabilities by having your architect, builder or remodeler, and interior designer collaborate and partner with an electronic systems contractor from the beginning of the planning process.
   10. Consult a professional – Today’s integrated electronic systems grow, evolve and change over time, constantly adding entertainment, comfort and security features. Select an electronic systems contractor you can trust and who will support your electronic integration needs for years. Having a long-term relationship with one professional will maximize the reliability and enjoyment of your home’s electronic systems. Find a CEDIA Certified Professional near you at www.cedia.org.

The power and convenience of social and business networking cannot be understated in today’s world.  With millions of users worldwide, facebook provides a great place to meet others, stay abreast of trends, and keep your friends, clients, and business associates informed.  Please join our group where you can find out the latest news about our company and industry while meeting some of our friends and partners along the way.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Audio Video Design Consultants -Top 50 Dealer

We are very proud to announce that we were recently named one of Elan Home Systems’ Top 50 Dealers in the nation.  The annual award is given to companies “for excellence in sales, design, installation, and support of custom installation systems.”  We are extremely honored to have been recognized by one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home integration system components.  Elan has been a great manufacturing partner with our company in every respect.  Elan systems are known worldwide for their innovation, ease of use, sleek design, and reliabilty.  We thank them for this honor and look forward to continuing this successful partnership for many years to come.

Thanks to today’s technology, there has never been a better time to consider the benefits of a custom lighting design.  The lighting for your entire home, both inside and out, can be integrated within a reliable home automation system in unbelievably effective ways.  Even better, today’s systems offer effortless controls that can be mastered in a matter of seconds.  Imagine coming home from work and having your home illuminate a path of light from your garage to the area in your home where you rest your keys, purse, or briefcase.  Imagine also having your dining room lights dim to the perfect level of ambience for a dinner party without worrying about awkward and unsightly dimming switches.  Those are only two examples of the countless benefits that lighting control offers.  Your lights can also be designed to automatically brighten or dim as the sun rises and sets or the seasons change.  This ensures maximum energy savings and a more comfortable lifestyle.

The best way to begin the process is with a certified lighting designer (and, yes, we have a certified lighting designer in house!)  The advantage of using a certified lighting designer is that they bring a wealth of technical knowledge while also understanding the aesthetic demands of lighting.  The problems that can occur with less experienced people attempting lighting design range from the sloppy to the dangerous.   A certified lighting designer understands the complicated electrical concerns, but also knows the difference between a nice-looking fixture and a high-functioning fixture (which looks great AND functions perfectly, too.)  Sometimes, a less experienced designer will stick their customer with a fixture that looks fabulous in a showroom, and may even look nice in a home, but simply provides the wrong type of light for the situation at hand.  We pride ourselves in always anticipating the many concerns that go into custom lighting design and lighting control before any problems arise.  In short, we get it right the first time, and you always get the design that works for you.  We don’t do cookie-cutter and we don’t cut corners.

For more information, please feel free to call or email with any questions; we would love to hear from you.

The 5.6″ screen of the TPS-6x  is bright, vivid, and just the right size for many applications.  The unit also has a series of illuminated, tactile pushbuttons beside the touchpanel screen for quick access to many of your favorite functions.  It can be used completely wirelessly with a range of 200 feet.  It can also be used as a wired system when resting in its dockable station for charging, or in tiltable configurations on its sleekly contoured base.  This allows the convenience of eliminating glare or awkward viewing angles.

While docked the TPS-6x offers impressive full motion video graphics allowing you to watch a DVD or television channel at full quality.  The built-in high quality batteries typically allow twenty-four hours of usage per charge.

Once again, Crestron has shown that they understand the needs of homeowners and have designed a beautiful and high-functioning control panel to meet the needs of today’s smart home technologies.  For more information, please feel free to call or email us at any time.

You can also go to Crestron’s website for more information about the TPS-6x.