Audiovisual Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Workplace Safety and Equipment Care

Addresses electrical safety, ergonomic rigging practices, and preventive maintenance routines. Safe habits protect personnel and extend equipment lifespan.

Lesson 2 • Signal Types and Transmission Basics

Covers analogue and digital signal fundamentals, including voltage, frequency, and bandwidth. Provides the physics foundation needed for all cabling and routing topics.

Lesson 3 • Decibels, Levels, and Metering

Explains dBu, dBV, dBFS, and SPL as measurement units used daily by technicians. Accurate level reading prevents equipment damage and ensures consistent output.

Lesson 4 • AV Industry Overview and Roles

Introduces the AV industry structure, job titles, and workflow expectations. Establishes context for all technical skills developed throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Audio Cable Types and Connectors

Covers XLR, TRS, TS, RCA, and speakON connectors alongside their matching cable constructions. Correct connector selection prevents hum, noise, and signal loss.

Lesson 2 • Network and Control Cabling

Introduces Cat-rated Ethernet, fibre optic, and control bus cables used in AV-over-IP and automation systems. Network cabling skills are essential for modern AV infrastructure.

Lesson 3 • Video Cable Types and Connectors

Examines HDMI, DisplayPort, SDI, VGA, and composite video cabling with their signal capacities. Matching cable to resolution and distance requirements ensures image integrity.

Lesson 4 • Signal Routing and Patch Bay Use

Explains normaling, half-normaling, and de-normaling in audio patch bays and video routing matrices. Efficient routing enables fast reconfiguration during live events.

Lesson 1 • Equalisation and Dynamics Processing

Teaches parametric and graphic EQ, compression, limiting, and gating for live and installed audio. Processing skills shape tone and protect speakers from damage.

Lesson 2 • Gain Structure and System Levels

Establishes correct gain staging from microphone preamp through amplifier to speaker. Proper gain structure maximises headroom and minimises noise floor.

Lesson 3 • Feedback Prevention and Room Acoustics

Identifies feedback causes and applies EQ, gain reduction, and speaker positioning to eliminate it. Acoustic awareness improves intelligibility in any venue.

Lesson 4 • Microphone Types and Placement

Covers dynamic, condenser, ribbon, and boundary microphones with their polar patterns and applications. Proper placement is the first step towards clean audio capture.

Lesson 5 • Mixing Console Operation

Explains channel strips, bus routing, aux sends, and master section controls on analogue and digital consoles. Console fluency enables real-time mix adjustments under pressure.

Lesson 1 • Multi-Display and Video Wall Systems

Configures video processors, tiling, and bezel compensation for multi-screen and video wall installations. Multi-display skills are required for large-format corporate and event environments.

Lesson 2 • Video Resolution and Colour Standards

Explains HD, 4K, and 8K resolutions alongside colour spaces, bit depth, and HDR standards. Understanding these specs ensures signal compatibility across the entire video chain.

Lesson 3 • Projector Setup and Lens Selection

Covers throw ratio, lens shift, keystone correction, and projector placement calculations. Accurate setup eliminates geometric distortion and maximises screen coverage.

Lesson 4 • Display Technology Fundamentals

Compares LCD, OLED, DLP, laser, and LED display technologies by brightness, contrast, and use case. Technology selection directly affects image quality and total cost of ownership.

Lesson 1 • Wireless Troubleshooting and Compliance

Diagnoses dropout, interference, and squelch issues while observing spectrum use regulations. Compliance with frequency allocation rules avoids legal and operational penalties.

Lesson 2 • In-Ear Monitor System Operation

Configures IEM transmitters, belt-pack receivers, and custom mix feeds for performers. IEM systems replace wedge monitors and reduce stage volume significantly.

Lesson 3 • Antenna Distribution and Placement

Covers antenna placement geometry, active distribution amplifiers, and coaxial cable loss budgets. Proper antenna infrastructure extends range and eliminates dropout zones.

Lesson 4 • Wireless Microphone System Components

Identifies transmitters, receivers, antennas, and frequency bands used in professional wireless systems. Component knowledge is prerequisite to frequency coordination and troubleshooting.

Lesson 1 • Dante Audio Network Configuration

Configures Dante-enabled devices, routing subscriptions, and clock domains using Dante Controller. Dante is the dominant audio networking protocol in professional AV installations.

Lesson 2 • Networking Fundamentals for AV

Introduces IP addressing, subnets, VLANs, and switching concepts relevant to AV-over-IP systems. Network literacy is required to configure and troubleshoot modern AV infrastructure.

Lesson 3 • Traditional AV Distribution Methods

Covers analogue and digital distribution amplifiers, matrix switchers, and extender systems. Traditional distribution remains common in installed and rental AV environments.

Lesson 4 • AV-over-IP Protocols and Standards

Compares SDVoE, NDI, Dante, and AVB/TSN protocols by latency, bandwidth, and scalability. Protocol selection determines system flexibility and interoperability.

Lesson 1 • User Interface Design for AV

Designs intuitive touch panel layouts with clear labels, logical groupings, and appropriate feedback. Good UI design reduces user errors and support calls in installed systems.

Lesson 2 • Device Control Protocols

Covers RS-232, RS-485, IR, relay, and TCP/IP control methods used to command AV devices. Protocol selection depends on device capability and installation distance.

Lesson 3 • System Testing and Commissioning

Validates control programmes through structured testing, user acceptance, and documentation handoff. Thorough commissioning ensures reliable operation and client satisfaction.

Lesson 4 • Control System Programming Basics

Introduces event-driven logic, conditional statements, and feedback polling in control programming. Basic programming skills enable technicians to modify and maintain existing systems.

Lesson 1 • Load-In, Setup, and Line Check

Sequences equipment deployment, cable runs, and systematic line checks before soundcheck. Organised load-in reduces errors and ensures every signal path is verified.

Lesson 2 • Strike, Inventory, and Post-Event Review

Manages safe equipment strike, inventory reconciliation, and post-event debrief documentation. Post-event review captures lessons learned and improves future production quality.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Event Planning and Rider Review

Interprets technical riders, site surveys, and advance sheets to plan equipment and crew needs. Thorough pre-production prevents surprises and reduces setup time on event day.

Lesson 4 • Soundcheck and Show Operation

Conducts structured soundchecks, sets monitor mixes, and manages the mix during live performance. Real-time mix decisions directly affect audience and performer experience.

Lesson 5 • Video and Presentation Show Operation

Operates presentation software, video switchers, and confidence monitors during live events. Seamless video operation supports speakers and enhances audience engagement.