What’s an AV technician’s job?

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An audio-visual technician operates equipment to create and project sound and visual images. They can work in a variety of environments and may need to plan and implement all stages of production. Employers include public speaker offices, government agencies, and large corporations. Knowledge of equipment and organizational skills are important. Entry-level positions do not require a college degree, but career advancement may require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

An audio-visual technician operates a wide variety of equipment to create and project sound and visual images. His job may require him to produce simultaneous transmissions of sound and images, or just one of the two. His scope of responsibilities may be limited to transmitting or creating the images, or he may do both.

Any company that regularly uses sound or projected imagery to train employees or give presentations to current or potential clients can hire an audio-visual technician. He may be referred to by many titles, including projectionist, videographer, DJ, sound mixer, or stage hand. An audio visual technician can be found working in a wide variety of environments. The venue can be as simple as a classroom presentation or as sophisticated as shooting a movie. The job might require him to plan and implement all stages of production, or it might require him to prepare a production created by a third party.

Common employers of audio and video technicians include public speaker offices, public relations groups, government agencies, academic institutions and large corporations. Jobs at these locations often require the technician to operate film, slide, and video equipment and coordinate visual displays with background music, sound effects, or oral remarks. The ability to easily communicate with non-technical professionals in these environments is highly valued.

A person in this position will typically need to have a deep understanding of how audio and visual equipment components work, independently and together. As there is often a lot of equipment involved in audiovisual production, a thorough understanding of how the systems produce sound and images is necessary to coordinate their functions and solve mechanical problems. It is also desirable to manipulate the equipment to create unique sounds and images.

As technology advances, the equipment knowledge requirements for this position increase. Generally, basic skills in using sound mixing equipment, lighting tools, microphones, projectors and video recorders are required. The technician may also need experience operating amplifiers and spotlights. Knowledge of the ins and outs of distance learning classes, teleconferencing, and computer-based webinars is often helpful.

Excellent organizational skills are usually required to excel in this position. Customers and clients often entrust precious CD and DVD collections to the audio visual technician. He normally expects to keep them safe while he edits and copies them to the client’s specifications. Keeping track of your personal inventory of equipment and supplies is an important part of your job.

Entry-level positions in this industry do not require a college degree. If career advancement is desired, an associate’s degree in digital media or audiovisual technology is often required. Career advancement typically requires a bachelor’s degree in communications, broadcasting, or journalism.




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