Hey there, AV pros! Day Two of LAVNCH WEEK 11 is officially in the books, and it was all about education, big visuals, certification, and smart spaces. From reimagining classrooms to designing immersive digital canvases, today’s sessions covered the full spectrum of what’s possible when AV meets innovation. We had a packed lineup — and […]

The industry wasn’t exactly asking for another wired cable standard. We already have HDMI 2.1 and 2.2, DisplayPort 2.1, USB4, and Thunderbolt 4 and 5 — and most of us have our favorites, along with a few scapegoats. Each standard is busy working on its next version, promising faster speeds and better performance. Still, a […]

Hi, friends! We kicked off LAVNCH WEEK 11 with a stacked lineup of sessions, panels and product spotlights — and Day One did not disappoint. From state-of-the-market insights to tech that’s transforming classrooms, it was the perfect mix of forward-looking strategy and hands-on ProAV innovation. We had a packed schedule, and trust me, you don’t […]

Welcome to Authentic Esports, a monthly series where I take you deep into the heart of the esports and gaming market. If you’re expecting the usual corporate jargon about “cutting-edge AV solutions” or a thinly veiled sales pitch dressed up as expertise, hit Alt+F4 now. This isn’t that. Here, we talk about real esports, real […]

If you’re at all familiar with my columns, you know one of the drums I beat regularly is the importance of follow-up —whether you’re trying to win new clients or take care of the ones you already have. Closely tied to that is my frequent soapbox about CRM systems — client relationship management — and […]

Five years ago this March, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. We learned a lot during that time — and in the months and years ahead, we’ll need to put those lessons to use. Whether or not you agree with the directives of the new U.S. administration, it’s clear that the White House […]

If you’re looking for a comprehensive recap of all the products and software suites announced at the just-completed NAB Show – this article ain’t it. Plenty of people (including the team here at rAVe) have already covered the press releases and booth announcements. For many years now – including this one – the NAB conference […]

As the title probably gave away, this year was my first time attending NAB Show. You know as well as I do that my trade show shoes have seen more InfoComms, ISEs and CEDIA Expos than I can count. But as someone with a background in theater and broadcast journalism, this show almost felt like […]

I’m sure some rAVe readers know me as “the guy with all the aphorisms.” To be fair, not all of them are aphorisms — some are metaphors, others are sports analogies. But I digress. Not every saying I bust out — here or in person — is a favorite. Some I don’t particularly care for, […]

LAVNCH WEEK 11 is back with a completely reimagined format, and registration is now open. Taking place April 22–24, this three-day virtual event delivers a dynamic mix of education, product announcements and expert insights designed to highlight the latest trends and innovations in the AV industry. Unlike past LAVNCH WEEKs, which focused on a single […]

Shure’s Innovation Roadshow made a stop in Charlotte this week, and obviously, I had to check it out. The visit was part of Shure’s 100th anniversary celebration, and they brought along a few of their latest collaboration solutions for some hands-on demos. The day kicked off with a short session highlighting the company’s legacy and […]

Next week is the Global Association of Customer Engagement Professional’s Spring Conference. A few hundred professionals dedicated to providing world-class customer experiences will converge on Austin to share best practices, network, and learn about new innovative methods of engaging customers. I always look forward to connecting at this conference because the conversations revolve around impact […]

In an NPR article posted Monday (and in an “All Things Considered” segment), Nell Greenfieldboyce urges users of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, etc., to pay attention to how their computers are altering their voices. She points to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that found high-quality audio makes […]

This Sunday, Chris Neto introduced the topic of projection mapping to the #AVintheAM community. I was busy with family activities throughout the day, and even though the topic was practically shouting my name, I had to sit it out … until now. Projection mapping is often misunderstood. It involves much more than large-scale projection on […]

I recently had the chance to attend the Sony AV Tech Expo in San Diego, hosted at its headquarters (which is stunning, by the way). The two-day event brought together industry pros, creators and tech leaders, and gave them hands-on experience with Sony’s latest tech: professional displays, spatial reality, device management, remote control and more. […]

What is AV? This question is more relevant today than ever. If you’ve been in the AV industry for two years, 20 or even 40, you’ve witnessed its dramatic evolution. AV integrators are now de facto technologists, IT specialists, C# and HTML5 programmers, visual and UI/UX designers, third-party automation experts, subsystem communication pros — and […]

Enterprise Connect 2025 has come and gone, and if one thing is clear, it’s that AI isn’t just a supporting act anymore — it’s the star of the show. From Microsoft and Zoom to Cisco and nearly every other major player, AI-driven automation, intelligent assistants and workflow enhancements dominated the conversation. Everything was described as […]

There’s an old expression I’m sure you’ve all heard that goes, “It’s not what you say but how you say it.” No one likes receiving bad news, and sometimes there’s no alternative: You just have to give it to them straight. That said, there’s always room for nuance. I’m going to bring up a very […]

As I virtually watched colleagues and friends jet off to Barcelona last month, I thought about the  interconnected aspects of our world. We can hop on a plane in the U.S. and — within hours — be anywhere in the world. I have never been to Barcelona. In fact, have only been to one other […]

By Steve Thorburn On the evening of Wednesday, March 6, 2025, Scott R. Sharer passed away after a seven-year battle with brain atrophy and dementia caused by vascular degeneration. A gifted communicator, teacher, and engineer, Scott was also a beloved brother and a friend to many in our industry. I first met Scott at InfoComm […]

Spring is (basically) here, and that means AV roadshows are in full force! I love to attend a roadshow whenever one makes an appearance in North Carolina because it gives me a lot of face time with manufacturers that I otherwise might not get. When I realized Sennheiser was taking a tour around the U.S., […]

One day, I was on the road, making targeted cold calls. When I walked into one of my stops, the guy working at the parts counter immediately recognized me as a sales rep. Before I could even introduce myself, he said something to the effect of, “We’re corporate, and our head office is in New […]

I have long felt that hybrid meetings are the worst. Trying to navigate the waters of meeting with several people in person, some remote, some wanting to display from their own laptop, etc., all becomes very complicated very quickly. Typically, when I set up a meeting, if more than one person needs to join remotely, […]

Welcome to the recap of rePLAY ISE 2025! Today, we will give you the recap of the recap—and so much more. During this event, Gary and Steph take us through the Best of ISE 2025 Awards, some of our 2,400 product videos, and honestly, just some really cool AV technology that you do not want […]

As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” At the same time, a popular aphorism states, “You’ve got to spend money to make money.” I take issue with that aphorism because there are more exceptions to it than examples. In reality you’ve got to make money to make money, then take a disciplined […]

If you’ve ever seen “When Harry Met Sally,” you know it’s a great example of a relationship that didn’t work the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. But eventually, after years of near misses, misunderstandings and stubborn resistance, Harry and Sally found themselves perfectly matched. That’s an apt analogy for what’s happening […]

Many of us constantly monitor the Kastle Office Occupancy Reports that come out weekly. And, for the last two years, there hasn’t been much to report. But, this past month — and this week — set new records in recent years. In fact, we hit a post-pandemic record for office occupancy in the top 10 […]

It’s post ISE, and although I observed this year’s show from afar, I was able to gather a lot of information via my team on the ground in Barcelona, as well as the quantity of videos and interviews produced on the floor and shared on platforms like rAVe and social media like Linked In. I […]

At ISE 2025, at the annual industry awards powered by Inavation and ISE, Telmaco took first prize in the Government and Public sector for its work on the UN Africa renovation. Every now and then in the ProAV business, if you’re lucky, you get to touch a special project … a project that not only […]

Years ago, I was in Calgary doing store visits. I stopped at the location of one of my retail accounts, and the salespeople exclaimed, “Lee! Thank goodness you’re here! Our manager was fired last month, and none of us know how to place orders on your portal!” First, I showed the keyholder how to access […]

Shure Incorporated is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of pioneering innovation, quality, and unyielding commitment to audio excellence. S.N. Shure started the Company in downtown Chicago in 1925 selling radio parts kits. In 1932, Shure became one of only a few U.S. microphone manufacturers with the introduction of the Model 33N microphone. Since […]

ISE 2025 was filled with the potential of an upcoming AV Cloud onslaught. Big brands such as Legrand AV, Crestron, QSC, Shure, BrightSign, Philips, Sennheiser, and Microsoft each had cloud-related pre-show announcements and were pitching their versions of managing products via the cloud. The show was simply too big to walk in four days, but […]