Both in the commercial and residential AV market, the range and number of audio visual
input and output devices just keeps growing. HowToAV.tv shows you how to get all those
devices connected and under control to send any signal - anywhere!..
How many AV source devices do you have in your home?..
SkyTV? DVD? BluRay, Apple TV, iPad, smart phone, camcorder, digital media store, Xbox,
PS3, PC and a laptop?!.. Surprising how long that lists starts to get
when you think about it, isn't it?.. And what about TVs?.. One in the living room?,
one in the kitchen maybe? Children's bedrooms perhaps?
- and maybe now the car's even been demoted to the driveway since the garage got converted
into your very own home cinema or personal 'man cave' perhaps?!..
So as the number of AV devices increases, we're beginning to see more home entertainment
systems becoming comparative to the multi-channel, multi-screen systems of the commercial AV
industry. And we can use exactly the same principals
and technologies to manage, control and distribute all these devices - both in commercial and
residential AV applications.
Let's start with a simple task of connecting 4 HDMI AV sources to a single screen. Most
TVs and commercial screens will be limited to just 2 on-board HDMI inputs.
But if we want to connect more HDMI devices (BluRay, Apple TV, Sky Box and PS3, for instance)
without having to switch cables around when we want to switch devices, then a simple HDMI
Switcher is going to provide the answer. A 4-way HDMI Switcher has 4 HDMI inputs (to
connect all 4 source devices) and a simple HDMI Output to connect to your display screen,
projector or TV. You can switch between source devices either
from the buttons on the front of the unit, using an infrared remote controller, or in
many cases your Switcher will support RS-232 control to integrate with third-party automation
control systems such as Control4, Savant, Creston or AMX, for instance.
Taking multiple device distribution a stage further, what do we do if we have multiple
source devices and multiple output displays in the same system?..
(So for example, let's say 4 source devices and 4 screens, TVs or projectors)
This now requires an AV Matrix - ie something that has 4 inputs
and 4 HDMI Outputs. An AV Matrix allows us to simultaneously connect
all 4 source devices and all 4 display devices; and quickly and easily switch which source
we wish to display on each screen. So that might be BluRay to screen 1, AppleTV
to screen 2, Xbox to screen 3, for example. Or, we can select the same device to show
on multiple screens; for example BluRay on screens 1, 2 and 3; and Sky Box on screen 4.
and any combination you choose of the 4
In and 4 Out signals. Just like the Switcher device we discussed
earlier, a Matrix can be controlled from the front of the unit, or remotely via infrared
or third party control systems via touch screen devices, tablets or your iPhone for instance.
And Matrices (to use the correct plural!) aren't limited to 4 or 8 inputs and outputs.
As the requirement to control more and more devices continues to increase - with a wide
range of signals - you'll now find professional Matrix products on the market with anything
up to 32 inputs and outputs! controlling not just HDMI, but also other
AV standards such as VGA, DVI and SDI. And with AV signals now being transmitted
over greater distances using the emerging HDBaseT technology, HDBaseT Matrices are becoming
commonplace for commercial and residential multiple AV signal distribution.
We tell you more about the emerging HDBaseT technology in our video titled 'What is HDBaseT
5Play?' available now on the HowToAV. Tv channel. For more information on AV signal distribution
or for direct system advice from our AV experts, click on the screen now - or leave us a question
or feedback in the Comments section below. Thanks for viewing and join us again soon
at HowToAv.tv for more help and advice from the world of Audio Visual.