To achieve what the client wants, it is important to work closely in the early stages to understand what is needed. It is advisable to produce a script and description of operation for any display, to make it clear how it is intended to work. The systems integrator will usually work within a design team, that includes the designer, producer, lighting designer and other specialists.
Reliability is easier to achieve these days, with solid state technology for replay of audio and show control readily available, and now economical for high quality video. Avoid tape and disk for permanent installations. Video server technology is preferred for consistent high quality video replay, and thus a happy audience.
There is only one thing worse than a project that uses ‘the latest technology’ badly because the medium is inappropriate, and that is the project that is done cheaply with no consideration to operation! Some of the best effects actually use fairly conventional technology, but done well. Remember, in most cases the technology is the tool, and not the attraction!
Standard equipment ensures that replacements can easily be obtained, usually for a number of years. A short term decision to use custom modules to make a particular saving, can sometimes be an expensive decision in the long term. There are times when custom equipment is needed, and then it is important that the units are to the same standard as proprietary equipment, and are suitably backed with spares.
It is an easy decision to use cheaper equipment, but not so easy to deal with the effects of unreliability or poor performance. Always used ‘tried and tested’ equipment, of an equivalent level of quality to the expected end result of the project.
To keep a systems design simple may seem an obvious comment, but many clients can be too clever by coming up with a design that is unique, but difficult to put together or maintain. It is also important to avoid too many diagnostic and automatic replacement techniques, which can increase costs dramatically, but do not improve the end result. If a design is good and the equipment reliable, then some of the more complicated monitoring and built in redundancy techniques are not needed. Practical visual checks are the best monitoring methods!
It is quite usual to advise on the use of central control rooms for larger projects, even with discrete interactive computer stations. This increases the level of planning and cabling, but the control equipment can be housed in the right conditions, dust free and at the right temperature, and be easily accessible.. In the event of equipment failure it is particularly bad for an engineer to have to dismantle a display, and be in view of the visitors whilst working on equipment.
