In a world where technology and design intersect more seamlessly than ever before, architects are constantly seeking ways to enhance their projects, both aesthetically and functionally. Engaging with Audio Command Systems (ACS) early on doesn't just add value; it sets a foundation for innovative solutions that resonate with modern homeowners. But precisely what technical advantages does this partnership provide?
Current Supply Chain Issues Require Advanced Planning and Supply Options
If you’re considering integrating home integration into your existing home in Los Angeles or building a smart home from the ground up, congratulations. If planned and performed correctly, you’re on a journey that will leave you astounded at the immense enjoyment and ease of living this technology offers.
Planning, however, is more important than ever as supply chain bottlenecks persist. When you consider that a smart home platform manages and automates almost every system and electronic device in your home, including lighting, shades, climate, security, and entertainment, you can imagine the materials needed. Today, this level of integration requires extensive planning and knowledge of how to overcome logistical challenges through redesigning and finding alternative solutions.
At Audio Command Systems, we’ve designed and installed thousands of customized home integration systems nationwide. Our 40-plus years of experience have taught us what works and what doesn’t—the little hick-ups to avoid and the planning that can help make this process almost effortless. As professional consultants and integrators, we can keep your project headed in the right direction.
Let’s explore a few critical elements to ensure your project ends with the smart home of your dreams.
Learn Why Proper Planning Is Essential with This Must-Have Home Addition
Creating the perfect home doesn't need to be complicated. By working with home integration professionals who coordinate details with all of your project's stakeholders, you can have your dream home in Los Angeles, CA, without a headache!
Keep reading below to learn how Audio Command Systems can add convenience, comfort, and more to your daily lifestyle with a Crestron Home integration and control system. Scroll below!
Here Are Several New Improvements You Can Make to Your Home Integration System
As smart technology improves and new products enter the market, you have an opportunity to add more luxury to your life. New 4K TVs, smarter lighting systems, and advanced motorized shades replace older models to deliver an unparalleled smart home experience. These state-of-the-art home integration products are more intuitive, faster, and easier to use than ever before.
In this blog, we’ll focus on six products that enhance your home, both its appeal and the way it seamlessly connects with technology. Learn how these technologies help make your home in Palm Beach, FL, more loveable and livable. Keep reading below.
If you are getting ready to construct a new home, putting in major renovations, or creating an addition, NOW is the time to partner with ACS to assist in the design of a centralized lighting control system from Lutron. Why? Besides having complete flexibility with switching, dimming, energy management and shade control in one system, consider this…
Aesthetics- ACS can work with you, your architect or interior designer to minimize clutter on your walls with a well-designed Lutron centralized lighting system. Instead of wiring local switches for each different zone of light in a room which results in an unsightly bank of switches and dimmers, you can have a single, elegant keypad that comes in a variety of finishes to match your décor.
Flexibility- You have the ability to control any one light, shade, and temperature zone from any single button on a keypad, touch screen or smart device. You maximize convenience and can accommodate a multitude of lifestyle applications for you and your family. When your needs or preferences change it’s easy to make adjustments to your settings.
Scalability – Centralized lighting systems offer maximum scalability. Everything from a Manhattan apartment to a sprawling Beverly Hills estate can be accommodated. Get ACS involved during the design phase of your large residence to collaborate with architects, designers and general contractors and ensure appropriate wiring infrastructures is implemented.
Reliability – ACS works with Lutron because their design, quality control and performance are unsurpassed in the industry. Wireless lighting control has proven to be effective, yet nothing can replace the tried and true results of a centralized system using dimming panels hard wired to local keypads via low voltage. In an emergency, multiple redundant systems further ensure uninterrupted operation.
You may have noticed some not-so-subtle changes to the ACS online presence. We are in the midst of an exciting expansion to further promote our national reputation as a factory-authorized and trained dealer and installer of the finest A/V, Lighting Control, Motorized Shading, Network and Home Integration equipment anywhere on the web. Part of that development includes this new blog presence.
We’re going to be using this space to announce important ACS company news, spotlight preferred manufacturers and components, and generally keep in touch. If you have a need for custom electronics design and integration, whether for your home or business, this is going to be an excellent resource for you.
ACS has an expansive array of services, including:
- Automated Shading
- Home Theater Design
- High End Audio
- Lighting Control
- Managed Home Networking
- Integrated Living Solutions and much, much more!
With offices in the New York Metro region, Los Angeles and South Florida, ACS is among the largest residential Audio/Video, Lighting Control and Home Integration companies in the country. Anyone anywhere, from Maine to Washington, who’s looking for technology solutions that respond to their lifestyle while maintaining their home’s architecture and interior design, should give us a call! We’re here to build lifelong relationships with our customers and look forward to demonstrating our expertise.
ACS is determined to be your resource for all things home integration. To that end, we wanted to focus this newest edition to our blog on a key integration partner; Control4.
Imagine receiving an alert from your phone while you’re away from home that says your garage door is open, and then it gives you the option of closing it. Or imagine pressing a button as you leave the house and your AC shuts off, your lights go out, and your alarm system powers up. Then, when you return home, another button push brings up the lights you have selected for that time of day, turns on your music or queues your television to your DVR. Such progress is no longer limited to your imagination and such functionality and ease-of-use has made Control4 a preferred entry-level solution for home integration.
Who is Control4?
Control4 is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company that has made value and the customer experience its priorities since 2003. Control4 emphasizes usability within their product offerings, bringing you control over virtually everything in your home from almost anywhere you happen to be, whether you’re at the office across town or on vacation halfway across the world.
For an all-in-one home integration system, there are few packages that can beat the ease of use that Control4 provides. Keep in mind, this total integration system must be installed professionally by an authorized dealer, such as ACS.
At ACS, we certainly enjoy working with residents to help make their home technology dreams come true. That said; what about business? So much of today’s connectivity and integration can be incorporated into your life at the office, not integrating these solutions is taking a chance on clients leaving with the impression that you’re out of touch. When you partner with ACS, your modern office guarantees you’ll make the best first impression every time.
How we work
Our goal is to accomplish your systems integration while maintaining your office’s interior design. We work with you, your architect, contractor and designer to incorporate everything seamlessly into your remodel, renovation or new construction project. Our goal of increasing the productivity within your newly-upgraded business can include one or more of the following services:
Conference Rooms: Plasma screens. LCD projectors. Video and audio conferencing. Why not bring all your network capabilities into the board or conference room? Boardroom control systems let you control a wide range of electronic equipment (audio, video, projection, lighting, screens, blinds, security and communication) from one central location.
Video Conferencing: Reduce travel costs with an in-person experience that can transform your business and allow you to make decisions faster. With real-time remote video conferencing, meetings can take place with true interaction between all participants. An effective telepresence platform is a great collaborative solution that improves your working relationships and productivity.
When IMAX bought ownership stake in Prima Cinema recently, it was like watching two good friends become a couple in your favorite romantic comedy: A match made in Hollywood!
Separately, Prima Cinema and IMAX are brands in which ACS have collaborated for some time. Prima allows subscribers to screen theatrically released films in their own homes, a popular option for many ACS customers in New York, Southern California, and the South Florida regions, while the IMAX Private Theatre solution began offering 2D and 3D systems (with floor-to-ceiling screens and state-of-the-art sound) for individual ownership just this year, and we’ve been a Certified Technology Partner since the beginning.
The agreement with Prima Cinema enhances IMAX’s ability to deliver a premium, end-to-end in-home entertainment experience, combining the best of IMAX’s immersive images and sound technology with the opportunity to view current theatrical titles.
While screening a new release at home has long been a wish for many film buffs, studios have hesitated to deliver first run films to the home due to concerns of privacy. However, Prima has recently signed deals with Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures as a direct result of their encryption technology to prevent illegal copies of movies.
Prima also provides exclusive at-home opening premieres for movies such as "Lone Survivor" starring Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana, "About Time" starring Rachel McAdams, and "Dallas Buyers Club" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.
It's our experience here at ACS that the most successful projects are engineered and documented well in advance of actual construction. Early documentation of your audio/video distribution, home integration, network, lighting, motorized shades, and security needs in the design phase ensures accurate coordination between your architect, interior designer, builder and all subcontractors involved. Initial plans specify all the build requirements your team of professionals need to know.
Before you begin a project, whether partnering with ACS or working with another integrator, it will help to be familiar with the documentation involved.
Prewire Drawing Set
“Prewire” refers to the installation of cables and wires during a new home’s construction, including the AC electrical wiring and low voltage, home systems cabling. Remember, many wireless devices still use proprietary communication protocols, making them incompatible with other manufacturer’s products. Also, prewiring is a permanent upgrade to your home, increasing its value at sale time.
At ACS, we’re committed to providing the level of professional service that makes a home or business owner a client for life. For example, we were given the opportunity to work with a particular client again after proving our abilities on their previous home, which ACS integrated more than a decade ago. Even after so much time had passed, our relationship included a comfort and confidence that was invaluable with all the unique challenges and requests which were brought to the new project.
The Challenges: The new home is 42,000 sq ft in beautiful Greenwich, CT. There were considerable differences in the two projects. At the first home we integrated for the client, our racks were shoe-horned into a small room along with the alarm vendor, pool controls, thermostats, and an existing (and not very-well designed) infrastructure. While in the previous home the client perceived that, when a piece of electronic equipment wasn’t working, a simple “power cycle” could fix the problem 99% of the time. He requested that we design the system so that anyone could easily access the backs of all the equipment. (In the previous home this was not possible due to equipment being housed inside custom cabinetry).
Additional challenges included:
• Ensuring multiple people could use the control system in a home this large
• Client requested the large V15 touch panel to be utilized as a TV monitor in a number of areas
In our last blog edition, we discussed the challenges we faced, as well as the solutions we provided for a project that was recently given the “Biggest, Baddest Home” Integration Award at the CEDIA Expo ’13 in Denver. The most important part of the story, of course, is the results…
Overall this is an incredible, must-see project. Everyone who has stepped foot in this amazing home leaves with their jaw dragging on the floor.
Firstly, the dedicated A/V room saves a tremendous amount of time when an issue arises. In most cases the problem is resolved within minutes. Also, ACS is monitoring the CCTV Cameras on the Crestron touch panels and iPads. From the touch panels or any TV in the home you can select your own source so that all recordings are easily accessible. As a result, the children, staff, and home owners are able to easily use the system.
The indoor pool’s 25' barreled ceiling utilizes Sonnex amplifiers and the room sounds incredible. In addition there are 3 large outdoor zones (the main Great Lawn able to hit 94db without clipping). Over 60 outdoor speakers were installed in coordination with the landscape designer, GC, electrician and landscaper.
Home Theater – the theater features a high-end Meridian 4k projector, full surround sound with multiple subwoofers and high-end audiophile speakers. Viewers can sit in the custom leather seating or in the balcony area to enjoy the featured presentation. 8 zones of lighting in this room (including a star burst ceiling) are controlled by our system.
Welcome back to the ACS Blog!
After almost 40 years of providing audio and video solutions throughout the U.S., ACS understands that there are few things in life more exciting than the mere prospect of having your own private movie theater at home. Whether you are building a new home from the foundation up or converting an existing space into the home theater you’ve always imagined, ACS will walk you through the entire process. As anxious as you may be to get started, however, there is a lot to consider before beginning the build.
In this and future blogs, we want to offer 10 specific considerations; things you will want to have determined (or at least considered) to minimize your frustration throughout the process.
1. Your Space Options
Where do you plan to put it? Keep in mind, the size of the room will determine how large your video display can be, what projection system will work best, how many guests you can assemble, etc. The specifics of the room you choose are going to dictate quite a bit of the work. Such as:
ACS knows that there are few things in life more exciting than the mere prospect of having your own private movie theater at home, as well as the potential pitfalls of starting a home theater build without proper planning. Last blog, we discussed the importance of determining your (1) space and (2) display options before making any commitment to building a home theater. This time we focus on sound.
(3 of 10) The Sound Reproduction
Many would argue that the quality of your theater’s audio capability is even more important than how clear the images are on the screen. Your options include either an AV Receiver or a Preamplifier/Amplifier combination.
An AV Receiver combines the functions of three components:
a) A Radio Tuner for AM/FM and, in some cases, HD (Hi-Def), Internet or Satellite Radio
Last time, we discussed the importance of finalizing your audio and component choices before making any commitment to building a home theatre. This time we focus on the finishing touches.
(6 of 10) The Components
DVD or Blu-ray? Do you still have a VCR and a collection of VHS? Maybe you want a DVD Recorder too? And how do you receive your television programming? Cable, satellite or antenna? If you have high-speed internet access, you might not require a Blu-ray or DVD player as you can stream both music and movies. New Blu-ray players and televisions can actually connect to the internet directly, but you can also purchase an external box (Network Media Players or Media Steamers) as an affordable option. It’s all predicated on what you need from your theater and how much you want to invest in it.
(7 of 10) The Protection
Surge protectors may replace your pet as your new best friend. Power outages and brownouts happen with no notice so, while surge protectors aren’t foolproof, it’s always a good idea to defend your system as much as possible. Another option is a Line Conditioner, a more comprehensive way of protecting against power surges, as well as monitoring and even regulating the power reaching your components.
Room acoustics indicate how sound waves interact within a room. Every room reacts differently to the variety of sound frequencies, primarily because of the objects in it, and every speaker sounds different when in a different room. When you partner with ACS for a home theater build, acoustics are a vital component considered as we design and engineer your space…and for good reason.
The next time you sit down to watch a movie or listen to music, think about the ways – good and bad – that your room may be affecting the overall sound of your system. A basic understanding of room acoustics (and speaker placement) can help you maximize the performance of any audio or home theater playback.
Imagine that room empty, with hardwood floors and bare drywall. That’s going to have a lot of echoes, right? Now imagine the same room with carpets, thick drapes, plush seating and bookcases or a private concession counter. Suddenly the room has a quieter, more intimate feel. The fact is, these are the extremes of room acoustics, and the perfect-sounding home theater exists somewhere between the extremes.
Every room a puzzle
Audio Command is a leading provider of complete turnkey solutions for audio/visual integration, including Security & Surveillance options. We take pride in offering cost-effective, user-friendly security services to the New York area that directly address your needs.
You install a security and surveillance system so you don’t have to worry about your property, possessions and loved ones. But the greatest peace of mind comes when you don’t have to worry about the operation of your system either. That’s why ACS offers home security.
Audio Command designs, installs and provides ongoing support for all your security needs, including camera systems with integrated access control, CCTV integration, entry systems support, remote system monitoring and more.
Video Surveillance
We provide centrally managed Closed Circuit Television Systems as well as Internet Protocol Camera Systems so that you can monitor various points from anywhere in the globe from a computer or smartphone. With cameras in and around your home or office you can monitor your residence while at work, or your business while on vacation … or the nursery while in the other room!
With most businesses operating across multiple time zones and national boarders, the right technology is key to staying relevant in today’s global economy. Telecommunications increase productivity and collaboration while reducing travel costs and employee relocation expenses.
Whether you have associates who work remotely or business partners in multiple markets, video-conferencing systems from ACS can give your business the necessary capabilities to execute major projects and priorities, allowing you to effectively communicate with anyone anywhere.
Important Considerations when Designing a Video Conference System
Whatever the venue – boardroom, conference room, classroom and auditorium – ACS has the in-person video experience solution. With video conferencing systems, additional factors must be considered besides those accompanying traditional presentation environments. Sharing your screen with team members in your local office and remotely requires a variety of solutions such as:
Camera Positioning - Sight lines and angles of participant interaction must be planned into the design of any system. In many installations, multiple cameras are used to create a balanced view to the room. A camera should be located at the front of the room near the display to mimic the in-person experience for a remote presenter, while a wide angle might also be placed in the back of the room to include a view of a local presenter. In smaller rooms a voice-activated camera can be installed to automatically focus on the speaker.
When you stop to think about it, we all have a somewhat intimate relationship with our lights. One of the first things you do when you wake up is turn on the lights and usually the last thing you do before going to sleep is turn them off. When you enter your home or walk into a room, what do you usually reach for? Yep, controls for the lights. You might like a bright room while your spouse prefers a more dimly lit space. Lighting is more personal than we realize.
If you get the annual “telephone book” stack of Restoration Hardware catalogs you’ll notice one was dedicated specifically to lighting. Fixtures and table lamps have personality and there’s tons of options to suit any individual taste. With lighting being a personal matter, ACS has noticed in working with thousands of homeowners and hundreds of designers and architects that personalized control of lighting is often overlooked. If you’ve never thought about expressing your individuality with controlled lighting options, a technology integrator can make that happen. The process is fun too!
An expert lighting control system allows you to get creative in all sorts of ways (from which light sources react to your commands to the design of the controllers themselves, and much more) that will uniquely express your personality and style. Whether you’re in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester or just about anywhere from New York to Florida to California, your personalized lighting system will feel like a natural extension of your house when you partner with ACS; easily relatable and providing genuine value and enjoyment.
Customizable Interfaces
Controllers can be designed with a particular theme in mind; be it coastal, traditional, contemporary.. The many personalities of your household can be reflected in the lighting scenes you choose and the aesthetics of the device used to activate those scenes. Keypads can be color matched, architecturally finished, custom engraved, and the icons on smartphones, tablets and touchscreens can be labeled however you prefer, including different languages.
Is there any part of the home you can’t make “smart?” More and more homes (and apartments and resorts, etc.) are being constructed with advanced technologies built in. Viking ranges and Sub-Zero refrigerators are being delivered with WiFi, apps and touchscreens. Whether designing a new home, remodeling or a retrofit application ACS has solutions for introducing basic home integration. A great place to start is with something you interact with everyday… window shades!
Controlled window shades are convenient and cool to have, but are there any other benefits? Glad you asked! There are actually several reasons why programmed, responsive window treatments are both a great investment and a “smart” decision for your property and family.
Stop the Sun Damage
Many of the items in your home (such as art, photographs, upholstery, rugs, and more) contain dyes and inks that will fade when exposed to too much sunlight. One of our New York clients was shocked when redecorating and saw the discoloration on her living room wood floors and realized what kind of damage must have also been done to her Stark rug and heirloom Matisse. Controlled shades can be programmed to prevent the harshest direct light from damaging your valuables, and can even be scheduled to alter the operations due to Daylight Savings and seasonal changes. ACS shading system designer, Cody Derby, has found that since you’re putting some kind of treatments on your windows anyway it’s an easy next step to automate them. Otherwise they usually stay raised when you’re not home and UV damage occurs.
Enhance Your Privacy
