Better Lighting Means Better Communication: Studios, Conference Rooms, Event Spaces, and Architecture!

What broadcast and events spaces have known for years – quality lighting makes the experience – is just as critical for architecture and conference rooms!

“We offer lighting at a professional level, solving problems before they become a problem,” says Scott Lopez, CTI’s Lighting Subject Matter Expert, adding, “If you’re investing in video communications equipment, the right lighting can have a huge impact on the quality of your video.” Widely known for AV integration, from huddle and conference rooms to broadcast studios, control rooms, and more, CTI also designs, engineers, and installs lighting systems across the US.

Lighting Design For Every Location
“Most of our clients are trying to solve a problem,” notes Lopez, “It’s a needs-based thing: My camera looks like trash, The choir can’t see on stage, Our lobby needs to pop, or Why does our CEO look so… grey?” On the other hand, he notes, live space clients, such as dance clubs or casinos, “are often looking for the flashiest, coolest new thing. They’re looking for something that sets them apart.”

Lighting has been a critical component in the design of event venues, theaters, and broadcast studios for decades. More recently, it’s become a key feature in many houses of worship, especially for streaming services. Lighting decisions can also be critical for architects, especially in high-profile spaces like entrance lobbies.

Better Light Means Better Video(conferencing)
Lighting is also a growing part of ensuring a conference or huddle room delivers on its promise to users. The right lights can make a massive difference in the quality of your videoconferencing. It’s even more noticeable when rooms with dated fluorescent lighting are fitted with the latest multi-camera UC systems.

“We know there’s a learning curve. Some people know lighting, but that’s not the norm,” says Lopez, adding, “It’s an opportunity to talk about something I love. My goal is to answer the question I’m asked.”

Not all lights are created equal. Beyond the quality of construction by various manufacturers, various specs can influence your space’s appearance. The wrong lighting temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin, can make your environment harsher. Higher color temperatures from 4500K and up that are cooler or blue-white, also known as “daylight” bulbs, or more forgiving, include lower color temperature bulbs around 3000K, aka soft white or Tungsten. Bulbs with a low CRI or Color Rendering Index rating can make colors look wrong, both to cameras and your eyes.

Selecting the right light for the space is critical for success!

What do you know about lights?
The most significant change in lighting in decades has been the move to LEDs or Light-Emitting Diodes. Instead of a filament, an LED’s ‘core’ is a semiconductor with a significantly longer lifespan—think 50,000 vs. 1200 hours! Even better, they run cooler and consume substantially less power while producing the same amount of light. LEDs’ versatility and color range have grown exponentially over the last decade, solidifying their dominance.

Low voltage lighting that runs 12V to less than 60V has reached a point where it delivers sufficient brightness and quality even for the most critical studio applications. Tape lights exemplify the advancements in quality and functionality within this sector, offering tremendous flexibility in installation. Most recently, Power over Ethernet, or POE lighting, which receives power over Ethernet cabling, has simplified and sped up installation to “bring the work home” fast!

Adopting low-voltage house lighting is becoming global in Houses of Worship and entertainment spaces. This kind of low-voltage lighting reduces the need for extensive electrical work by allowing multiple lights to be powered from a single source. It is also gaining popularity in offices and commercial spaces and offers a host of advantages for architectural design.

LED bulbs can offer complete remote control over brightness and color; pre-sets can be operated remotely from a simple touch panel on an office wall or an entire theater lighting board. The most extreme lighting, like 1000W equivalent bulbs and ultra-high lumen spotlights for theaters, are the only spaces that LED has yet to take over and where traditional dimming is still necessary in a lighting control solution.

Always Learning More About Lighting
“I started working with lighting as a technician about twenty years ago,” says Lopez, adding, “I found it really interesting. I began attending shows and took all the classes I could find; it became ‘my thing. There’s always more to learn.

When CTI started doing broadcast, working with that team in Atlanta was a natural fit; broadcast lighting differs a bit from larger entertainment spaces, but the basics are the same.

Working on architectural lighting, helping the architect bring their vision to life, adding dimension to the whole experience, and making it more immersive is exciting! Think about the last ten years, the impact of social media, and how fast information moves. You have to do something different now to draw attention. For me, at least, that’s where lighting comes in: you can make or break a space. Creating that whole experience wakes me up in the morning!”

Are You Ready To Upgrade Your Lighting Systems?