Perfect Sound from CAV Residential Technology University

Written by Louise Collier

was recently invited to attend a class offered at Custom Audio Video’s design facility located in Bluffton. The class was part of a continuing educational program developed by Doug Hoover, Architectural Consultant, and Kevin Ray, General Manager of Custom Audio Video. The courses offered in this program help enhance the knowledge of sound and video in home theaters, offices, boardrooms and places of worship.

From the very beginning of sound system development, there has been a dream of creating an acoustically perfect room. We have come from mono to stereo. Then we tried egg-crate foam on the walls and huge speakers (we actually thought bigger was better). Now we have surround sound systems and the science and capability to position all aspects of your home theater to be physically perfect. No kidding! Scientifically perfect. It’s all about sound waves.

Sound is a disturbance of mechanical energy that propagates through matter as a wave. Sound is characterized by the properties of waves, which are frequency, wavelength, period, amplitude, and speed.

Humans perceive sound by the sense of hearing. By sound, we commonly mean the vibrations that travel through air and are audible to people.

The matter that supports the sound is called the medium. Sound propagates as waves of alternating pressure, causing local regions of compression and rarefaction. Particles in the medium are displaced by the wave and oscillate. The scientific study of the absorption and reflection of sound waves is called acoustics.

The study of acoustics has been fundamental to many developments in the arts. Some of these, especially in the area of musical scales and instruments, were only explained theoretically by scientists after long years of diligent experimentation by artists. For example, much of what is now known about architectural acoustics was actually learned by trial and error over many centuries and was only recently formalized into a science.

Now, welcome to the future. CAV has developed three programs that will allow your architect to achieve the “perfect sound” in your home theater.

1. Impact of Systems Integration on Architectural Design - This course of instruction is designed to demonstrate the impact of advancing integration technologies on architectural design elements, their structural requirements, and lifestyle benefits to the consumer.

2. Sound Isolation in Residential Construction - This course of instruction is designed to demonstrate the proper construction techniques and use of common building materials required in attaining predictable sound isolation ratings in residential construction.

3. Acoustic Design of the Dedicated Theater - This course of instruction is designed to demonstrate the complexities of sound waves and their relationship to room dimensions and surface application. (This is the class I attended and I was amazed at the level of sound perfection you can achieve in your home theater).

Custom Audio Video developed these courses because they are dedicated to educating the architectural, design and building industries in technology which enhances the lifestyle of home and business owners.They achieve this by inviting leading industry associates such as architects, interior designers, owners and other design professionals to take these courses. All Custom Audio Video facilitators have been trained on CES guidelines and presentation skills. All receive in-depth training and are considered industry experts.

The programs are one to two hours and are taught using a PowerPoint presentation. Doug Hoover and Kevin Ray were the facilitators during my course, which included a specially prepared acoustic environment to dramatically demonstrate the science of sound waves and their relationship to room dimensions. You personally experience the physical phenomena created by sound wave interaction. I was blown away. Doug and Kevin just smile knowing the effect this has on people. This program actually allows you to “see” the sound waves.

Facts About CAV’s Continuing Educational Program

Continuing education courses are designed for professional development and promotion of any business or product during the presentation is not allowed. Architects and building designers are required by applicable state laws to complete a minimum of continuing education LUs (Learning Units) or CEUs (Continuing Education Units) per year or bi-annually (depending on the state) in order to maintain their license.

AIA/CES (American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System) CAV is only one of a dozen companies registered as a “Provider of Continuing Education” in the Integration industry in the United States. The three courses CAV currently provide have been authorized by NCSA (National Systems Contractors Association) and these along with four courses developed by NCSA are presented for credit. CAV is authorized by CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design & Installation) who is a certifying body of Integration Industry, to present
for credit three courses developed by them.

AIBD (American Institute of Building Design) CAV is the only Approved Provider of Continuing Education in the Integration Industry for the AIBD They recognize all ten courses as well.

CAV has issued over 100 LUs to the HHI/Bluffton area Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and will be offering courses to the Savannah Chapter and to members of AIBD in South Carolina and Georgia this fall. Members of the building community are welcome, although not for credit, but a certificate of completion will be given.

CAV also offers evening “Tech Nite” to anyone who would like to learn about the science of the technologies CAV can provide. These are casual wine and cheese style affairs.