Commercial Integrator + Security Sales May 2024 - 20

CI
PERFORMANCE AUDIO
Growth in Key Verticals
Allen observed earlier that AVI Systems
has seen record performance within the
corporate, higher education and government
verticals. " The bar has clearly been
set high for 2024, " he proclaims. " Customers
expect hybrid-enabled solutions
and broadcast-level production quality
in both their internal and external-facing
communications. " This year, as more
organizations formalize policies and make
workplace investments to entice employees
back to the office, Allen expects to see
a heightened focus on the in-person user
experience. " However, " he remarks, " We
don't envision that will diminish customer
expectations for high-quality hybrid
collaboration and events. "
Wright, too, believes that streaming will
continue to be strong. He states, " I thought
that by now, many customers would have
their streaming systems in place, after the
pandemic. " However, from his perspective,
that could not be farther from the truth.
" Many customers sat to see if streaming was
a long-term need and many are finding that
it is [a major requirement], " Wright says. " It
is rare that I have a conversation with a customer
today where streaming or recording/
camera systems are not discussed. "
As Caroll pointed out, immersive audio
is gaining significant prominence among
customers. " Immersive audio continues to
evolve quickly, " He adds. " And integrators
need to either invest in having subject
matter experts in the field or bring in a
partner who already is familiar with it. "
According to Carroll, this partner could be
another integrator or a vendor that caters
to the technology.
As an example, Lee brings up players
in this field, which include Meyer Sound,
d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics, Yamaha,
SPAT Revolution - FLUX:: Immersive
(recently acquired by Harman) and Iconic
Music's spatialized system among others.
" [Additionally], with the Unreal Engine
making inroads to immersive experiences,
it's going to be a wild ride over the next
few years, " Lee enthuses.
According to Best, virtual reality and
augmented reality experiences have
gained traction across various sectors -
20
Which performance audio products and technologies
does your firm integrate on a regular basis?
75.9%
72.4%
64.4%
58.6%
Wireless Systems
Ceiling Speakers
69% Power Amplifiers
Wired Microphones
Background Music Systems
57.5% Digital Signal Processors
46% Point-Source Speakers
42.5%
39.1%
35.6%
33.3%
32.2%
Ceiling Array Microphones
Column Arrays
Paging Systems
Line Arrays
Intercom Systems
31% Beam-Steering Speakers
18.4% Immersive Audio
including entertainment, education and
real estate - as they offer immersive and
interactive user experiences. She adds,
" The emphasis on environmental sustainability
has increased the demand for
energy-efficient and ecofriendly solutions
in performance audio. "
Addressing Rising
Demand and Talent
Best agrees that last year ushered in a
bonanza of rapid growth and technological
advancements. However, she adds
that the performance-audio category
had its fair share of economic pressures
and regulatory considerations, as well.
Best begins, " Venues have faced the
pressure of upgrading their technological
infrastructure to meet high audience
expectations, such as immersive expeCommercial
Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | May 2024
riences and addressing sustainability
concerns. "
She further reveals that, as regulatory
and legal landscapes continued to evolve,
integrators had to divert attention to
compliance with copyright laws and noise
ordinances. " These factors collectively
underscored the need for the industry
to embrace flexibility, innovation and
strategic planning to thrive in a rapidly
changing environment, " Best says.
Indeed, the performance-audio
space faced a massive challenge in
adapting to the changing environment
and technologies. As Allen aptly puts it,
" Change always brings new challenges. "
He remarks that regardless of size or
vertical, all customers in 2023 had to
deliver technology to end users at a scale
and speed unheard of pre-pandemic.
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales May 2024

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