Video World

For most event companies, video is a jump that seems too costly to make and the return on investment is questionable. That does not need to be the case with the new technologies being applied to processing equipment and to projectors.

Starting with a small system for corporate A/V or club use, a complete system can be assembled for less than $50,000. The system will include a basic input switcher, the appropriate amps and drivers, cabling, and for simplicity’s sake, one screen and projector.

Just when you were getting comfortable with automated lighting, along comes this new technology that demands that you get up yet another steep learning curve. Digital lighting, LEDs, low-resolution and high-resolution graphics displays and DMX-controlled media servers are little more than video with a new skin. But they are invading the lighting industry like it’s Omaha Beach on D-Day. Pause—press reset—reboot and begin again.

I recently had a change of scenery that involved less of driving a switcher and more of driving a desk. This has given me a different perspective on preparation for the one-off gig in the world of video. What I’m finding is that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. So what exactly is an ounce of prevention? This is my take concerning video flightpacks, LED screens and projection.