Audiovisual equpment technician
I design, service and install professional audiovisual equipment. This can range from broadcast TV and audio editing equipment, to large venue sound systems, video and audio confrencing equipment, and a whole host of video projection and display technology.
My job entails designing systems to fit a user's particular needs, and integrating the equipment together. For example, a VCR could be used to show videos on a projector, but could also be used to record pictures off a camera. It's all in what's hooked up to it. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well, it is easy till you start adding large amounts of equipment to the systems. Then, we are talking about matrix switchers that handle up to 64 inputs and 64 outputs, and an automation system that has to be designed simple enough for an end user to operate it! A system like this could have plasma screens all around and a host of signal sources like TV tuners, disc players, cameras, etc. It also gets quite complicated when you add recording capability and there's loop backs, etc....The job is a bit more than just hooking up stereos
One of my specialties is video "walls" where multiple projectors are used. They each are aimed at a portion of a large sceen to tile an image. When they are set up properly, you think you are looking at one large picture, not 12 different small pictures!
We've been getting into automation technologies too. We are a Crestron and AMX dealer, and work with the ISS departments at locations to automate not only the A/V systems, but other building equipment too, like lighting, HVAC, shades, and other building environment machinery. The equipment is also great for status monitoring.
...it's a really fun job, and it's especially great working with all the cool new technology. It's interesting seeing how the AV industry, although very high-tech, still embraces a lot of older stuff. I have worked on a theater that had a digital DLP projector sitting right alongside a set of old Western Electric 2A3 tube amps!