Audio Visual Specialist
Audio visual communication, broadcasting, and production is continuing to play a major role not just through traditional media, but through digital media, as well. As such, audio visual specialists are widely required to help organizations and clients meet their AV needs with ease.
Job Description & Responsibilities
The audio visual specialist is essentially the member of the production team who is most focused on the effective, high-quality operation of the audio visual systems and technology. They are often not only in charge of maintaining, troubleshooting, patching, and improving systems but for choosing the systems that are right for the project in the first place.
As such, the scale and scope of the audio visual specialist’s duties can change depending on the nature of the project they’re working on, as well as the organization. However, there are a few duties that they are likely to be in charge of fulfilling:
- Maintaining and troubleshooting audio, video and lighting equipment
- Preparing and positioning audio, video and lighting equipment for broadcasts and recordings
- Connecting, tuning, and configuring AV setups to ensure high-quality broadcasting
- Operating software to control AV technologies
- Preparing teleprompters with scripts
- Monitoring live feeds to ensure quality
- Finding effective means to store and transport AV equipment as and when it is needed
Qualifications & Skills
A high school diploma is considered necessary for audio visual specialists. However, a bachelor’s degree is widely recommended, especially in fields like audio-visual production, video production, and multimedia operations.
Most entry level AV roles offer on-the-job training, and around 5 years of work in AV is expected for those who want to work as an audio-visual specialist. Besides that, a clear motivation to work with multimedia is practically required. It’s a field in which the technologies and trends are ever updating. Other skills worth noting include the following:
- Technical understanding of AV and IT systems
- Up-to-date awareness of AV technologies and their features
- Expertise in video conferencing and broadcast systems
- Extensive knowledge of the architectural, cabling, and control system requirements of AV technologies.
- Proficiency in Microsoft office.
- Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Analytical and risk assessment abilities.
- Project management and deadline fulfillment skills.
- Strong technical and troubleshooting skills.
Certifications
Field Engineer can help freelance audio visual specialists to tap into a world-wide network of opportunities. Built by telecom veterans for engineers and technicians, it helps pair you up with the work opportunities that best meet your qualifications. One of the best ways to show those qualifications is with the right certification. Few things adequately communicate that you have the skills you need. Here are some certifications recommended for audio visual specialists:
- CTS
- CTS-D
- Crestron
- Extron
- CEDIA
Job Outlook
The roles available for audio visual technicians of all levels, including specialists, is expected to grow by 8% from 2016 until 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As new media continues to make recording and broadcasting more broadly available, more organizations are going to need experts who know the tech on their side.
As such, audio visual specialists often work with other AV team members. This can include designers, project managers, installation technicians, and so on. Specialists may also be referred to as the systems engineers of the group.
When working as a freelance audio visual specialist, your role may grow considerably depending on the nature of the work. Clients may hire you to work as part of their own AV team, or they may require you to handle their AV needs on your own. Primarily, this means choosing the right technologies, setting them up, and making sure that they’re fully calibrated to operate as effectively as possible.
Pay Scale
According to PayScale.com, the average salary for an Audio Visual Technician, which specialists fall into, is around $44,806 but can grow to as much as $71k a year depending on any expertise or experience under your belt.
As such, self-employed audio/visual technicians would need to charge a rate of around $18 in order to achieve the equivalent kind of annual earnings. Hourly earnings can range from anywhere between $13 and $28 roughly.
If you want to see what your own skills, experience, and certifications as an audio visual specialist are worth, then Field Engineer can give you the up-close look at the market that you need. Simply join us, upload your resume, and see which projects are most relevant to your skills.
