Ensure the Projects You Build Will Stand the Test of Time
More and more frequently, builders and other tradesmen are collaborating with custom electronics professionals to help make their projects smart home ready. As the market for integrated technology continues to grow, smart home prewiring is becoming essential in areas like Oahu, HI and beyond. But now that the analog sunset has happened, there are some big changes happening. In this blog, we’ll explain why builders should be concerned with smart digital prewiring solutions. Read on below.



See Also: Is Your Audio Video System Prepared for the Analog Sunset?
The Importance of Prewiring
Prewiring is the act of laying the network foundation for future electronic devices as the property is being built. The benefits of this are obvious: if the wires are installed before the walls are fully built, it’s easier to avoid costly rework time down the line. By collaborating with an established professional custom electronics installer from the beginning, you can make sure the end user gets exactly what they want the first time around.

Understanding the Analog Sunset
At the start of the decade, the analog sunset began to take effect. Essentially, it meant that devices would no longer include analog inputs and outputs, like RCA connectors, and would solely include digital input and outputs, like HDMI. That has slowly taken effect over the past few years. Now that no new audio video components offer analog connections, properties throughout Hawaii have been rendered unprepared for easily installing many modern smart home features.

So that means today’s wiring is different from what it was 10 years ago. Whether you’re building a room to be a dedicated home theater, or simply a versatile living room, there are new requirements that you’ll need to meet if you want to avoid coming back to rework the same project.

How to Avoid Analog Sunset Rework
Here are some helpful tips any builder can take to make sure the project is completed to customers’ satisfaction the first time around:

• Ensure that digitally-capable cables are being used throughout the house. HDMI cables are perfect for a home theater system, but AV signals have to travel across great distances. Your partner integrator can define a wiring scheme with fiber optic and other appropriate cables to ensure the best signal over any distance.
• Find out if the homeowner is looking to automate any satellite houses or garage spaces. Often homeowners don’t realize that a hardwired connection is possible between the main house and the pool house. Integrators can lay down long range digital cables throughout the entire property before the build is complete.
• Don’t neglect rooms that aren’t typically AV ready. Modern technology means homeowners can enjoy streaming music in the kitchen and TV in the bathroom. Collaborate closely with your integration partner to find out exactly what they can do to make sure the property is ready.

Looking for an established AV partner in the Oahu, HI area? Contact Pacific Audio and Communications today!

Pacific Audio & Communications Creates Energy Efficient Systems in Maui, HI

Hawaii depends heavily on the use of petroleum for its energy needs, more than any other state in the country. While less than one percent of the United States’ electricity is generated using oil, by contrast, Hawaii relies on oil for 69.4 percent of its electricity production. Therefore, the state’s electricity prices are more than double the U.S. national average. What does this mean for luxury Maui, Hawaii hotels? Building automation systems allow hoteliers to effectively and efficiently manage energy consumption throughout their properties. Read on to learn about how to get started.



SEE ALSO: How to Distribute Quality Audio and Video in Your Business

Develop an Energy Management Plan

Knowing there is a better way to manage the use of energy within your hotel is a valuable realization but will do nothing to impact your bottom line unless there is an action that follows. The first step is to study how electricity is used throughout the property, where is energy being wasted or conserved. Such an evaluation will yield ways to save and therefore reduce consumption. Are spaces such as ballrooms and conference areas fully illuminated even when not in use? Can the temperature automatically be monitored and adjusted so that you need not rely on staff? The experts at Pacific Audio & Communications can make recommendations about a variety of building automation solutions that can further hotel management staff reaching their energy goals. Consider harvesting daylight by using motorized shades that respond intuitively based on the amount of available sunlight. Lights and shades can be paired to help keep large spaces from overheating resulting in an HVAC system that performs more efficiently.

Form a Team

As you develop an energy management program, you’ll want to be sure to include key employees as well as training focused on electricity-saving steps they can employ. The number of members and the team make-up will depend on the size of the organization and the amount of time and resources that can be committed to the project. Team members may also include local utility representatives or outside consultants familiar with the hotel industry.

Evaluate a Hotel’s Lighting System

A typical hotel is made up of many subsystems from water and ventilation to security and AC. A hotel’s lighting is often a good starting point since you’ll have data related to usage. Proper lighting within a hotel property requires some of the most sophisticated design. Each space within the hotel, think guest rooms, lobbies and restaurants, all need different types of lighting to create the right atmosphere. If the light is not used correctly, you’ll not only fail to set the mood, but you’ll also drive up costs related to electricity. At PAC, we partner with the best lighting designers to help you evaluate the way in which you currently use light throughout your property and the means by which you can control it. Light switches and dimming knobs are an antiquated way to adjust lighting levels. A commercial lighting control system allows you the flexibility to easily adjust lights using a keypad, hand-held remote or smart device. Hotel staff can easily recall specific lighting scenes to set the mood in various spaces throughout the property. Dimmers, sensors and timers all aid in the reduction of energy consumption.

PAC building automation systems have many additional capabilities to assist hoteliers with energy management. We’ve only just scratched the surfaces when it comes to upgrading the various systems in your hotel and would welcome the opportunity to talk to you in more detail about the possibilities.

Make Sure You’re Getting the Reliability and Performance You Need

On our blog, we’ve talked a lot about the many benefits of smart home automation – energy efficiency, convenience, comfort, property value, etc. But deciding that you want the benefits of a smart home is the easy part. The struggle for many homeowners is finding a smart home company that will do the job right. With so many contractors in the Honolulu, HI area, how can you know for sure which one is the right fit for your needs? There are a lot of factors to consider, but here are three key characteristics you should look for.

1.   Appropriate Licensing

Effective July 1^st, a new ordinance in Hawaii requires all AV contractors in the state to have an electrical journeyman’s license. This licensing helps to ensure that the person working on your smart home project has the skill and knowledge to do the job right.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a good process in place to track down and stop smart home installers who are operating without a license. The good news is that all licenses are kept on record, and you can easily check to see if the company you’re considering has the appropriate licensure by visiting Hawaii’s Professional & Vocational Licensing website.

2.   Experience

If you’re relying on a contractor who has never done AV or automation work before, you’re simply not going to get high-quality work. A smart home automation system needs to be installed seamlessly into your home and work great both now and in the future. Here are some ways to assess experience level:

• Find out how long they’ve been in business
  • A company that has been around for more than a decade likely knows what they’re doing
• Ask to see work samples
  • A picture is worth a thousand words. If they can’t provide you with examples of previous work, it might be because they don’t have any. Of course, you can also assess the quality of the installation from the imagery.
• Ask for references
  • If previous customers are happy with the smart home company’s work, they’ll have no problem putting in a good word.

3.   Insurance

Just like with an electrician, roofer, or plumber, it’s not a good idea to hire a smart home company that is not insured. Your smart home installer will be working with electrical wiring and components, and in the unlikely event that there is an accident or injury, it’s not worth the risk of having to pay for it yourself. Instead, choose a company with appropriate insurance, and you can rest easy knowing that everything is covered.

SEE ALSO: Why Building a Strong Infrastructure for Your Smart Home Pays Off
When you find a quality company for smart home automation, you’ll have the assurance that your home will be taken care of for years to come. At Pacific Audio & Communications, we do every smart home installation to the best of our abilities. Our low voltage contractors are licensed, insured, and experienced. We also provide 24x7x365 tech support for all of our clients.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact us today by calling 808-386-5963 or filling out this quick form.

 

Another happy client, this one from our Kauai office, Mr Gary Henderson.

It is a real pleasure to recommend the services of Pacific Audio and Communication. They just installed a Home Theater System in our Large Room and a beautiful, fully controllable, dispersed audio (music) system throughout our house. Alex designed the system(s) and Chris did the installation. Both are real \"pros\" - knowledgeable, great sense of what the client needs are, meticulous in their work, and lightening fast in responding to questions/concerns.
I am an Apple \"addict\", a bit concrete in my thinking, like designs that are minimal/clean, modern, and don\'t like to be oversold on things I don\'t really need (am I a customer from hell?). Well, I was completely won over by Pacific Audio! They patiently educated me on the state-of-the-art AV technology, worked with me through multiple design changes, installed everything with minimal disruption (e.g., ceiling speakers in every room, but did not require a bit of touch-up painting or clean-up), and their \"tech support\" rivals Apple (I\'m not kidding).
My last request of them? Could you please move my new (BIG) flat-screen TV down a bit (4 inches!!!). Their response? \"No problem\" and was done the next day (even though it took two people because it is really big and heavy).
I can give you many more examples of \"beyond my expectations\", but just let me conclude with -
I heartily recommend Pacific Audio & Communications, enthusiastically, and without any reservations Gary Henderson

Understand how the Latest Technology Upgrades will Affect You

The analog sunset is causing some big issues for homeowners in the Honolulu, Hawaii area. If you’re unaware of what the analog sunset is or how it might affect you, then you’re going to want to read the information below. We break down what this technical issue is and how you can make sure your audio video system is prepared.

What is the Analog Sunset?

Before we can explain what the analog sunset is, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what analog technology is. Generally speaking, audio video system technologies fall into one of two main categories: analog and digital.

A good example of the differences between them is a household clock. With an analog clock, there are physical hands that spin around to indicate the time, while a digital clock shows the time on a display screen.

The trend with consumer electronics is to evolve from analog to digital technologies, and that is where the analog sunset comes in. Soon, analog devices within your audio video system simply won’t be compatible with anything else. It’s time for analog to go away for good.

A Brief History of the Analog Sunset

The origins of the analog sunset start way back in 2005 when the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) released a licensing agreement intended to prevent people from illegally copying media. Analog video outputs on devices such as Blu-Ray players made it too easy to get past copyright protections, so the solution was to create AV equipment that didn’t offer analog outputs. On top of that, many movies now include code that prevents them from being played on systems with analog capabilities.

We’re now reaching the very end of the analog sunset. While the standard for media devices is now for them to be completely analog-free, you’ll still run into analog components every so often.

SEE ALSO: What Cables Should You Use for Your Home Audio Distribution?

What Does This Mean for You?

The analog sunset obviously had a big impact on the audio/video industry, but what about Hawaii homeowners? Well, if you still have an audio video system with analog components, you’ve probably noticed some issues with your system:

• Media that simply refuses to play
• New devices that won’t work with your system

If you want to take advantage of the latest and greatest media technologies, like 4K Ultra HD video, you need to consider how those technologies will fit into your system as a whole. One of our AV experts can offer guidance on the best approaches with a consultation.

Another concern for homeowners seeking a media upgrade is the type of components they choose moving forward. You wouldn’t want to accidentally buy a new TV with analog inputs right at the end of the analog sunset! Again, your best bet is to consult with an expert on which brand and model are right for you.

 
If you need assistance with this transition with your home media, we’re one phone call away. Contact us today to learn more.

 

 

   

Offering Tech Support 24/7/365 via text, phone or email

Have you been down and out with your electronics not working, Cable box keeps locking up, Internet seems slow or your network seems to have slowed down some, well give us an email or a call at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 808-824-3495, 24/7/365 availability, 30-minute response time.


As systems get more and more complicated and businesses come and go you can count on our 26yrs in the industry to get your systems back up and running 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Yup anytime you have an issue just reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 808-824-3495 and we will be glad to help. If the line is busy just send us an email as well we will get right back to you one way or the other.

We are dedicated to the ongoing service and support of equipment and training of our clients.

Service is our full-time job.  We provide:

• 24/7/365 availability, 30-minute response time
• Email or phone (text support coming soon)
• 70+% of support requests are resolved over the phone or email.

Our technical assistance center is comprised of PAC employees that are among the most capable and certified experts in the industry. These experts will guide you through preliminary trouble shooting, remote diagnosis, testing and resolution.
Our directResponse Support program ensures end to end support across the full life-cycle of collaborative technology ensuring maximum system up time, efficient end user operation and expert network assistance.
Don’t let your electronics frustration get the best of you or your system. Contact us today at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 808-824-3495 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We will answer your calling.

Hi-Fi Audio is the Key to Outdoor Entertainment

Does your Kauai area home have a high-quality outdoor sound system? If the answer is no, you’re missing out on many opportunities. One of the biggest advantages of living in Hawaii is the gorgeous views that await you whenever you look out the window. And while you may enjoy lounging at the beach or hiking the Nounou Trails, there’s definitely something to be said for relaxing or entertaining at home.

If you want your verandah or patio to be a place where you can watch your favorite movie, host an exciting party, or listen to a relaxing playlist, you need to outfit the space with the right entertainment equipment. Keep reading to learn how best to install and leverage outdoor audio.

How to Do It Right

• Choose the Best Equipment

Not all audio equipment is suited for Hawaii’s hot, humid climate. If you want an outdoor sound system that will work reliably for years, you need quality components. We work with high-end audio manufacturers of all styles, and we can provide guidance on which brands and speakers are the ideal fit for your property.

• Keep Landscaping in Mind

Outdoor audio should be heard, not seen. Clunky, large equipment can detract from your home’s beauty and the natural landscape, so it’s important that all of the components are strategically placed to flow with the design of your outdoor space. We can provide speakers that are designed to look like rocks or other landscaping elements as well as bury some audio equipment so that it’s completely out of sight.

SEE ALSO: Interior Designers’ New Best Friend: Home Lighting Control

• Design Audio Zones

Every home is different, and many outdoor elements such as pools or topiaries can affect the way that sound is dispersed. That’s why we start any outdoor audio project by assessing your home and designing a plan that has the perfect speaker placement and sound levels. This plan ensures that the sound is heard evenly throughout your property, with no dead zones or overly loud areas.

• Set Up Central Control

Your outdoor sound system should be just as easy to use as any indoor stereo. Using a central control system, every aspect of your outdoor audio can be managed right from your smartphone, tablet, or even your voice. If you want to change the music playlist or turn up the sound levels, it’s an incredibly simple process.

Don’t let your outdoor areas go to waste. To learn more about the different options for adding high-end audio throughout your property, give us a call at 808-245-6255 or fill out this quick contact request.

How Smart Home Automation Helps Sell Homes

Honolulu has a very hot real estate market. Whether you’re selling new homes or previously owned properties, it’s always a good idea to explore new ways to appeal to home buyers. And the trend that is hitting it big in Hawaii is definitely smart home automation. Historically, smart home technology has been limited to custom installations by individual homeowners, but real estate companies are starting to realize the advantages of upgrading homes with automation in order to sell properties fast for top dollar.

3 Reasons to Invest in Smart Home Automation

1.    It’s Growing More Popular (and It’s Here to Stay)

According to a recent study by Houzz, almost half of homeowners prioritize adding smart technology when renovating homes. It’s clear that smart devices are part of everyday life, so why not make it easy for buyers by giving them the technology right from the start?

2.    It Gives You an Edge on the Competition

Imagine how different the experience is for buyers when they walk into a fully automated home. The windows shades rise, the lights brighten, and the audio system starts playing music at the touch of a button or single spoken command.

When given the choice between that and a home without smart technology, it’s not difficult to guess which option is going to win.

3.    It’s Easy to Get Started

You don’t have to integrate all of this technology yourself. By partnering with Pacific Audio & Communications, you can gain all the benefits of having technology-infused homes without any of the time or effort. You do the real estate work, and leave the rest to us.

Possible Technologies to Add to Homes (and Their Top Selling Points)

Once you decide to embrace the smart home automation movement, it’s time to explore the possibilities! There are a lot of smart technologies out there, but not all of them are an ideal fit for new home buyers.

Here are the options we recommend that real estate companies consider:

1.    Lighting Control

We can connect all of the lights throughout the home to one central management system. With this technology, you can adjust a single light, a certain area, or the entire home with one tap on your smartphone or tablet. It’s convenient, it can help keep energy bills low, and it’s great for enhancing a home’s décor.

SEE ALSO: Interior Designers’ New Best Friend: Home Lighting Control

2.    Motorized Shades

Motorized shades give a “wow factor” to each room. With zero manual effort, the shades can raise or lower upon command. The biggest selling point for motorized shades is their energy-efficiency—we can add smart sensors to the windows that automatically adjust the shades to avoid solar heat gain, which keeps energy bills low.

3.    Climate Control

There’s a reason why Nest Learning Thermostats are so popular. Homeowners love how easy it is to set the temperature from their smartphone. We can go beyond just a smart thermostat though. Ask us about our full climate and energy management solutions.

4.    Smart Security

Security is usually top of mind for home buyers. Make it easy for them with an already integrated security solution that includes surveillance cameras, smart door locks, window sensors, and more.

5.    Professional Networking

The last thing you want is to be showing a home and have the potential home buyers discover that they have no cell service or Wi-Fi access in certain areas. Ensure reliable coverage in every room with a professional networking installation. Cellular boosters and wireless access points are strategically placed throughout the home for top-notch performance.

Whether you’re in Honolulu, Kauai, or another area of Hawaii, Pacific Audio & Communications is your smart home automation expert. We work with builders, interior designers, real estate agents, homeowners, and more to develop high-quality, easy-to-use technology.

Contact us today for more information.

• Enjoy hands-free technology
• Effortlessly control every aspect of your home
• Customize your system to fit your lifestyle

Total Control of Your Home is Possible with Crestron

Just a month ago, CEO Facebook Mark Zuckerberg achieved his 2016 goal of creating an artificial intelligence system to run his home. Aptly named Jarvis, the smart home technology controls everything from the lights to the surveillance cameras to even a T-shirt cannon. Zuckerberg even commissioned Oscar winner Morgan Freeman to do the audio recordings for the voice control system. If the idea of having your own Jarvis is appealing to you, read on to learn how you can add a voice control system to your Honolulu, HI area home.

Say Hello to Jarvis

Zuckerberg’s Jarvis system has a lot of fantastic elements that make it easy for his family to enjoy life at home.

• Lighting: All of the lights, from the landscape lighting to the bedside lamps, are connected to Jarvis. The Zuckerberg family can turn lights on, off, or to a specific brightness level in any area with a single voice command.
• Climate: They can set the thermostat to a certain temperature, turn the HVAC on or off, or simply request to make the room cooler or warmer.
• Appliances: Zuckerberg’s Samsung televisions, smart refrigerator, and even the toaster can all be voice-controlled.
• Music: To enjoy music throughout the home, Zuckerberg chose the simple yet high-quality audio brand Sonos. To listen to a favorite Spotify playlist, all he has to do is ask Jarvis.

SEE ALSO: Why Invest in High-End Audio?

• Security: When leaving home, Zuckerberg can ask Jarvis to arm the security system or lock the front door. Using Nest cameras, Zuckerberg can also keep track of his loved ones while away just by pulling up his smartphone.

Creating Your Own Voice Control System

The backbone of Jarvis is formed by Crestron, the biggest name is smart home automation technology. Crestron has the largest collection of home control devices, which makes them the obvious choice for a custom system like Jarvis.

Zuckerberg gave a personal shout-out to Crestron, saying “I recommend using a system like Crestron as a common interface to all those basic devices to simplify things.”

You may be thinking that having an artificial intelligence system in your home is only for the likes of moguls like Zuckerberg, but anyone can experience the comfort and convenience of smart home technology through Crestron (minus the dulcet tones of Morgan Freeman).

Pacific Audio & Communications is Hawaii’s top choice for Crestron smart home systems. Contact us today to learn how to we can help you transform your home with the power of voice control technology.

• Get the Best Sound Quality
• Enjoy Music the Way It’s Meant to Be Heard
• Gain Peace of Mind

The Benefits of Getting a Professional System for Home Audio Distribution

Home audio distribution technology has come a long way in recent years, making it easier than ever to enjoy pure, high-quality music in your own home. With the influx of so many “off the shelf” audio systems that you can pick up at your local Oahu electronics store, the question for audiophiles in Hawaii is usually whether a professional system is worth it. The short answer is “Yes.” For the long answer, keep reading.

The Difference in Sound Quality

Have you ever gone to a concert or symphony to enjoy your favorite music, then listened to a recording of the audio at a later time? It probably didn’t sound quite as good. There are a lot of reasons why this loss in quality happens:

• Equipment: A lot of research and innovation goes into the materials and style of sound equipment.
  
  • Material: The rigidity of the materials used in speakers affects how sound reverberates, which in turn affects sound quality. Some high-end manufacturers even use materials like Kevlar and diamond in their speakers to produce better sound.
  • Style: The size, shape, and depth of speakers all have an impact on sound reverberations. Top manufacturers utilize an extensive quality assurance process to ensure there are no workmanship flaws in the speakers that could cause dead spots, muffled sound, or other issues.

SEE ALSO: What Cables Should You Use for Your Home Audio Distribution?

• File Format: MP3s and similar audio files are typically compressed to allow for small storage size and easy streaming. Unfortunately, these file formats use a “lossy” compression that sacrifices quality for size. To improve sound quality, listen to MQA-encoded DSD or FLAC files, which use a lossless compression style. The file sizes are larger, but the increase in quality is more than worth it.
• Acoustics: It’s hard to beat the acoustics of a concert hall, but a common mistake that people make when installing audio systems is to ignore the acoustics in the room. A professional audio installation ensures that you have the right sound equipment in the right locations to make your music sing out with clear, pure sound.

The Professional Touch

• Peace of Mind: High-end audio systems are about more than just sound quality. They’re also about reliability. With a professional installation for home audio distribution, you gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing it will be done right the first time and will be set up to last over time.
• Ease of Use: Tired of fumbling around with different remotes for different speakers or stereos? With home audio distribution, you get one remote that controls every aspect of your sound system. Using your smartphone, you can select a song or playlist from your favorite streaming service, then choose whichever room you want it to play in.

Explore the Possibilities

Ready to enhance the way you enjoy music in your home? Contact Pacific Audio & Communications today to get started.

 

• Give Buyers What They Want
• Start with a Plan
• Trust the Automation Experts

The Demand for Commercial Automation is Rapidly Growing

Smart buildings are the big new trend, and construction firms are starting to take note. More and more businesses are seeking out builders who have experience in constructing commercial buildings with integrated automation systems. Is your construction firm ready for this shift in buyer need? Keep reading to learn about the benefits of integrating commercial automation and how your Oahu, HI construction company can get started.

Enhance Your Offerings

• Personalized Solutions: Today’s business owners don’t want cookie-cutter buildings. They want buildings that are perfectly tailored to their business image and needs. Automation technology offers an easy way to provide that customization while still keeping initial construction costs low.
• Everything in One Go: Builders often work with many different contractors, bringing in companies for A/V, security, lighting design, networking, etc. When you work with an automation company, you’re able to knock out many outsourced aspects of construction in one go. Everything from the digital phone systems to the business access control can be handled by the same skilled and experienced company.

 

How to Get Started with Commercial Automation

Partner with an Automation Company

Builders and architects don’t have to take on the task of automation on their own. When you partner with an established automation company, you can rest easy knowing that they have the skill and experience to weave the technology seamlessly into your building design.

• Collaborative Effort: The automation contractor will work with your construction company from start to finish, offering guidance on everything from the initial plan through to the final optimization of the audio video system or lights.

Start from the Beginning

A common mistake that builders make is waiting until construction is complete before they bring in someone to do the automation. However, many elements of automation design and implementation are best accomplished before the building is finished, such as:

• Pre-Wiring: Automation often requires different wiring than your typical commercial building would have, especially if the building needs to support a large number of high-definition televisions or have completely reliable wireless signals throughout. To keep the building design clean, it’s best to do the wiring before walls are closed up.
• Equipment Placement: If the building is going to have hidden equipment, such as Wi-Fi boosters or control panels, it’s best to start planning on where those devices will need to be installed early.
• Lighting Design: Placing and programming smart light fixtures and sensors is an art in and of itself. With the right lighting design, commercial buildings can promote a unique ambiance while also saving on energy costs. If the automation comes after construction is complete, the possibilities for specialized lighting design are significantly restricted.

 

Take the First Step

Is it time for your construction firm to embrace commercial automation? Pacific Audio and Communications works with builders throughout Hawaii to provide superior automation systems in both new construction and remodels. To learn more about starting a partnership with Pacific Audio and Communications, contact us today.

• Pick the Right Type of Equipment
• Design with Acoustics and Viewing Experience in Mind
• Gain One-Touch Control of Everything

Create the Full Cinematic Experience in Your Kauai Home

What’s the difference between an average home theater and one that immerses you in the sights and sounds of your movie? There are a lot of different factors—everything from the lighting to the seating needs to be carefully planned out. If you’re considering adding a dedicated home theater system to your Hawaii home, keep reading to learn about must-have features that will transform your theater into a luxury viewing environment.

High-End Equipment

The quality of the equipment you choose for your home theater goes a long way toward creating that immersive experience.

• Screen: There are several screen types and materials that are optimized for different room environments.
  
  • White screens are best for traditional theater rooms without much ambient light.
  • Dark screens are designed to deflect light that isn’t coming straight from the projector, so they’re great for multipurpose rooms or outdoor cinemas.
  • Acoustic screens allow you to hide speakers behind the screen without muffling the sound.
• Projector: Make sure you consult with your home theater designer and installer about the best option for your space.
• If your projector doesn’t have the appropriate amount of lumens or resolution for your chosen screen, you could easily end up with a grainy or warped image.
• For the clearest picture, choose a projector with native 4K resolution.
• Speakers: Surround sound is absolutely essential for home theaters.
  
  • Choose a system that allows you to adjust sound levels and base frequencies to be optimized for the space.
  • Speaker material and design have a big impact on sound quality. High-end speakers use the best quality materials and innovative designs to create pure, clear audio.

 

Acoustics and Layout

Home theater equipment and your room’s layout go hand-in-hand. The care and planning that go into where equipment is placed are what set luxury theaters apart.

• The size and shape of the room will impact a lot of different factors.
  
  • Screen Size: Sometimes bigger isn’t necessarily better. The screen needs to leave room for the A/V equipment and provide enough distance between the screen and the seats.
  • Seating Amount and Positioning: The larger the room, the more flexibility you have for how many seats are included and where they can be placed.
  • Speaker Placement: Depending on where the seats are located, speakers are lined up to ensure that there are no acoustic dead spots.

Full Room Control

The best part of a luxury home theater is that you don’t have to put any effort into getting the room ready to start the movie. With a smart home automation system, you can control everything with the push of a button:

• Movie Selection: Get access to all of your movies, music, and streaming services right on your smartphone or tablet. Simply pick the show you want to watch and press play!
• A/V Equipment: You don’t need separate controllers for your projector, screen, etc. It’s all connected so that when you want to watch a movie, your equipment responds to your command.
• Lighting: Need to pause the movie to grab popcorn? You don’t have to fumble around in the dark for the light switch. Your home theater system can automatically dim the lights as the movie starts and brighten the room after the show finishes or pauses.
• Sound Levels: Even with the room’s speakers optimized during installation, sometimes it’s nice to turn the volume up or down. Just pull up your control tablet or phone and set the sound level wherever you want.

 
The thought of designing a personalized home theater system may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Pacific Audio and Communications can handle everything from the initial design to ongoing optimization and support. Contact us today to learn more.

• Save Energy with Timers
• Harness Sunlight with Sensors
• Adjust Lighting Levels with Dimmers

Enhance Oahu Home Design with Smart Lighting

Any interior designer knows the importance of having proper lighting in each room to illuminate the artwork, décor, and other design elements throughout the space. However, not every designer knows about the versatility that comes from implementing a home lighting control system in that space. We work with interior designers, architects, and homeowners throughout the Oahu, HI area to create a seamless lighting design that enhances the architecture and décor of the home.

To learn how you can use home lighting control technology to present home décor at its best, read on.

Timers

Timers ensure that the home’s décor is well lit with no extra effort for the homeowner.

• Perfect Timing: A home’s lights should be tailored to the lifestyle of the homeowner. Use timers to automatically turn lights on and off at the times that make sense for each room.
• Energy Savings: Timers save on energy costs by only lighting areas when they are needed.
• An Automatic Process: Homeowners don’t want to waste time walking into each room to turn the lights on during the day and then off again at night. Timers avoid that manual hassle.

Sensors

Make the lighting throughout the home react intelligently to certain trigger events.

• Occupancy Sensors: Keeping spotlights lit up throughout the home can be wasteful, spending excessive amounts of energy when nobody is there to admire the artwork or sculpture being illuminated. Occupancy sensors solve this problem by turning on lights whenever someone enters the room, then automatically turns off the lights after everyone leaves.
• Daylight Sensors: A daylight sensor detects how much sunlight is entering the room. On sunny days when the room is well lit, the sensor can automatically cause the dimmers in the room to lower the amount of artificial light to keep the room from being washed out with brightness. As the sun starts setting, the lights will brighten to ensure the room always has just the right lighting levels.

Dimmers

Dimmers allow interior designers to set the perfect lighting levels throughout the day for each space and activity.

• Time of Day: Using dimmers and timers together, the lighting levels can adjust from morning to afternoon to evening.
• Room: For interior rooms without much sunlight, the dimmers will keep rooms bright, but in rooms with windows, the dimmers will adjust to save energy by harvesting natural light.
• Activity: Most rooms have multiple purposes, so the lighting designer can create “scenes” for each occasion that optimize the room’s lighting for that specific activity, such as enjoying a candlelit dinner or reading a book on the sofa.

 
These three home lighting control technologies are just the tip of the iceberg of how smart home automation can enhance interior design.  Contact Pacific Audio and Communications to learn more about our process for working with interior designers to optimize lighting in the Oahu area.

• Check in with Family and Friends
• Manage Energy Use
• Simplify Access to Your Home

Go Beyond Security with these Home Monitoring Uses for Your Maui Home

A home monitoring system is an excellent way to enhance your security system, going beyond cameras and alarms. However, home monitoring is useful for more than just security. Below, we’ve covered three ways that you can use a home monitoring system throughout your daily life in Maui, HI.



Check in with Family and FriendsA home monitoring system doesn’t just detect intruders. It can also be used to keep track of pets, children, elderly family members, and more.

• Keep your pet off the furniture with smart sensors that alert you whenever your cat or dog is feeling adventurous.
• Have a room in the house where your children aren’t supposed to go? Receive a notification if they enter the pool area without you or exit the home at an unusual hour.
• Check in on elderly family members with cameras and motion sensors that let you know whenever they need assistance, when they take needed medications, and more.

Manage Energy UseThe same sensors that keep your home safe can also cut down on unnecessary energy costs:

• Lighting Controlo Use sensors to automatically turn lights on when someone enters a room, then off again when that person leaves. This keeps you from wasting energy on lighting rooms that aren’t in use.
• HVAC Controlo Use intelligent monitoring to optimize how your HVAC system operates. On sunny days, your smart home automation system can lower motorized shades to cut down on sunlight heating your home.
• Device Controlo There’s no need to run all of the electronic devices throughout your home when they aren’t in use. Cut down on your energy bill by controlling TVs, gaming systems, surround sound speakers, and more from your remote tablet.

Simplify Access to Your HomeMake it easy for people to gain access to your property, whether you’re on location or not.

• Prep for Delivery/Maintenance Workerso You don’t have to stick around the house all day waiting for the cable guy to show up. Instead, receive an alert whenever the worker arrives, then give them access to your home straight from your smartphone or tablet. With the sensors placed throughout each room, you can ensure that workers only enter areas where they are supposed to be.
• Accommodate Unplanned Guestso If a family member decides to stop by while you’re not at home, you can still give them access to your residence so that they can wait for you to arrive in comfort. Simply unlock the gate and front door right from your phone.
• Avoid Dealing with Physical Keyso Physical keys are one less thing you have to worry about with a home monitoring system. The gates and smart locks on your home can be unlocked with the press of a button so that you always have easy access without having to carry jangling keys in your pocket.
  o With security codes and access cards, you can keep track of who comes and goes at all times.

Home security, energy management, access control, and more – a home monitoring system is a comprehensive solution for your smart home. To speak with us about the possibilities for your Maui home, call 808-870-1619 or fill out this quick online form.

• Centralize Control of Your Technology
• Invest in the Proper Equipment
• Protect Your Property’s Distinct Style

Why You Need to Invest in an Audio/Video System

Any business, whether it’s a sports bar or hotel, can benefit from a dedicated AV system. Having a professional solution in place, particularly as part of a commercial automation system, makes it easy for you to set the right ambiance, communicate with employees and engage customers. In this blog, we explain how this technology can be used in businesses throughout Kauai, Hawaii.

Centralizing Control

By incorporating your AV into a commercial automation system, you can access all your technology on a smartphone, touchpad or tablet.

• Set the Right Ambiance
  • Adjust the volume and playlist in your restaurant, office or hotel at the touch of a button. Intuitive control lets you pick out music that enhances your brand while creating the perfect ambience—say a soothing instrumental playlist at your hotel spa.
  • Create scenes within your system to transition smoothly:
    
    • Use an “Evening” scene to transition from day to night (or lunch to dinner service) by closing the shades, turning up the lights (or dimming them in a more romantic setting), and changing the music.
• Enhance Office Communication
  • Automate your boardroom to run more efficient meetings and conference calls. You can create scenes to prepare the room for any activity:
    
    • For example, a “Video Conference” scene rolls down your screen, turns on your projector and sets your display to conference mode. All you have to do is dial the number.
  • Incorporate the speakers you use to distribute music into an intercom system. Use your tablet or smartphone to page a particular room and immediately communicate with employees.

 

Installing the Right Equipment

It’s also important to invest in the right equipment to get the most out of your system. This is where you benefit from having a professional familiar with the top brands in the industry.

• Finding the Right Speakers
  • In most commercial environments you want to invest in in-wall and in-ceiling speakers with wide-dispersion to get uniform sound while protecting your space’s décor. Unless you’re running a sports bar or club, you want your sound to be heard but not seen.
• Mounting Your Video Displays
  • Whether you want to share beautiful images in your hotel lobby or have various TVs playing in a restaurant, we help you find the right mounting option:
    
    • In a lobby or boardroom setting, televisions should be mounted flat on the wall for easier viewing and a sleek look.
    • In a sports bar where you have multiple televisions, find the right mounting angles so as many people as possible have a clear view.
• Incorporating Screens and Projectors
  • Outdoor screens for movie screenings, training or promotions should be paired with bright projectors with a high lumens count.
  • Use retractable screens for training rooms and boardrooms so they can be put away when not in use to optimize your space.

 
From the right equipment to a comprehensive control solution, we cover every aspect of your business’ AV needs. Contact Pacific Audio and Communications for a consultation.

• Remote Monitoring to Anticipate Needs
• Quick Service and Maintenance of System
• Professional Support for Your Technology

 

 

Why You Need Expert Support for Your Home Automation System

The benefits of a smart home automation system are endless. You get intuitive, centralized control of all the technology in your Oahu, Hawaii home including lighting, security, entertainment and more. This adds a level of convenience to your everyday lifestyle, but only if your system is running smoothly. Our services don't end at installation. We want to make you a client for life, offering customer support and remote monitoring of your technology, so any issues are resolved quickly and efficiently.

Remote Monitoring of Your System

To ensure the health of your system and reduce the amount of downtime during any service call, we implement remote monitoring service plans that allow us to recognize issues preemptively and repair them quickly.

• Our team receives alerts whenever a component of your smart home automation system is not functioning properly.
• In most occasions, we can log-in to your system remotely and resolve the issue without having to schedule a service call.
• Through remote management, we can also apply upgrades to your equipment to keep it running reliably and securely.

Efficient and Reliable Service Calls

There are a few benefits to having a home automation expert on hand:

• Quick Access to Experts: If you buy smart products on your own, you may find yourself wasting hours of valuable time trying to resolve a problem or finding someone with the expertise necessary to help. With one of our installations, you can put us on quick-dial, and we're here to help with issues ranging from cable service interruption to reprogramming smart control devices.
• Expert Knowledge of Your System: We know every little detail about your smart home automation system. We have your design plans and programming codes on hand. This makes it easier to identify problems and resolve them.

Quick Replacement of Parts

• Remote management lets us recognize if a new part is needed whether it’s a new thermostat or matrix switcher.
• With prior knowledge of your system, we know the exact make and model of the product you need.
• A direct line of communication with the top manufacturers in the industry lets us get your replacement part in a matter of days to speed up your repair.

 
To enjoy the full convenience of a smart home automation system in your Oahu property, you need to make sure it’s working properly at all times. Contact Pacific Audio and Communications to set up a consultation and sign up for one of our remote service plans.

 

 

• Transform your space with pre-set scenes • Reduce wall clutter with centralized control • Expand the versatility of your home’s lighting

Why is Smart Lighting Important for Your Home’s Interior Design?

Smart home lighting control systems offer intuitive control which makes it easier to manage your technology. This in turn helps you create a beautiful, dynamic style for your home. From taking ugly light switches off the walls to adding a touch of creativity to your lighting, the right kind of control can enhance your interior and landscaping design.



Using Scenes to Transform Your Space
Scenes are an essential part of a home lighting control system, letting you adjust multiple fixtures simultaneously at the press of a button or at a scheduled time.

• Using Manual Pre-set Scenes
  
  • Create unique scenes that you can pull up at a moment’s notice to prepare the room for a specific event or activity. This way you can prepare the room quickly for any occasion:
    
    • Party Scene: Press a button and colored LED lights go up in your pool, fountains and living room. Decorative fixtures light up your driveway while inside fixtures highlight new pieces of furniture or art.
  • Some scenes can be scheduled at a given time each day. These are a great feature when it comes to your landscape lighting:
    
    • Light Up the Night: Show off your home when it gets dark. Schedule a “Night Time” scene at 7 p.m. that turns on your outdoor lighting. LED lights highlight specific architectural features and important walkways.

Getting Rid of All Your Wall Clutter
Through a smart home lighting control system, you can access all your lights from a touchpad, tablet or smartphone. It’s a dream come true for interior designers. You can get rid of the switchers and dimmers on the wall and streamline your décor to fit your specific stylistic theme. Centralized control can affect your interior design in two distinct ways:

• Get control from the device of your choice
  
  • Transfer all controls to one single device. Instead of five different switches in your living room, you only need one sleek touchpad on the coffee table.
• Use scenes to reduce the number of switches
  
  • Instead of designating a switch for each fixture, install a keypad with each button corresponding to a commonly used scene - like a “Welcome” scene that turns on all lights or a “TV” scene that dims the lights.

Expand the Versatility of Your Lights
Home lighting control makes it easier to embrace new stylistic choices. With centralized control, you can bring in new features and ideas into your home from the comfort of your couch using your smartphone or tablet.

• Get Creative With Colors: Change the color of your LED light fixtures to fit your mood or a given occasion. Go green for St. Patrick’s Day or red, white and blue on July 4^th.
• Highlight Different Features: It’s also easy to change up the things you want to feature. If you get a new piece of art work, turn up the fixtures around it to make it pop. Want to show off a new lawn ornament? Dim other areas in your landscaping and raise the fixtures around your new purchase.

We work hand-in-hand with architects, builders and designers to create lighting control systems that meet clients’ unique styles. Contact the experts at Pacific Audio & Communications to learn about the many ways smart lighting can benefit your home.

 

• Design a Room Optimized to Get the Most Out of Your Technology• Receive Expert Advice on What Works Best for You• Find Equipment that Matches Your Stylistic Preferences

 How Does a Custom Home Theater Differ From Retail Options?

A custom home theater system is an immersive entertainment experience. Every inch of your room is planned out to get the most out of your technology and space. We find the best equipment for the room, optimize it for sound and visual quality, and even work with you to design a unique theme. Below we take a look at some of the benefits of a professionally installed home theater.

Figuring Out the Layout for Your Room

The success of your Maui home theater system comes down to having the right layout in place as well as the right technology. Below we take a look at some of the things you need to consider when designing your brand-new entertainment system:

• What kind of screen do you want in your home theater?
  • The size of your screen will affect the seating arrangement for the room, which will then determine where to place your speakers:
    
    • Screen Size: As a rule of thumb, for a 120" screen you want to be at least 12 feet from the images to reduce strain and to see the picture clearly without having to move your eyes.
    • Screen Viewing Cone: Image quality will diminish as you move away from the center of the screen. Once your screen is installed, we ensure all seating is neatly placed within your screen viewing cone: this signifies how wide you can go before you start seeing a drop in image quality.
  • What kind of surround sound do you want in your home theater system?
    • This will determine how many speakers you’ll have in your room and where they need to be located. We ensure all speakers are equidistant to the viewers, so no one is stuck with audio that is too loud or too low.
      
      • Traditional Surround Sound: These systems include five or seven speakers and one subwoofer. Speakers are installed in front, to the side, above, and behind the viewer.
      • Dolby Atmos: For the best, most –realistic sound you should upgrade to a Dolby Atmos system.
        
        • Separate sounds into distinct objects so they can move within a 3-dimensional space:
          
          • For example: Hear a plane literally flying overhead as the sound travels from speaker-to-speaker above the viewer.

Expert Advice on What Equipment Works Best For Your Space

Once we have a general idea what you’re looking for in your home theater system, we help you find the right equipment:

• Choosing the right screen:
  • Depending on your room's limitations, we help you find the right size, color, and texture for your screen. For example, in places with a lot of ambient light, you want to go with a darker gray or black screen. If you want a discreet option, we can offer motorized screens that retract into the ceiling.
• Choosing the right speakers:
  • We offer the latest state-of-the-art technology when it comes to your speakers. Invest in Dolby-Atmos enabled speakers for truly realistic sound and, if you have space restraints, we also offer in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

Don’t settle for a second-rate discount theater from your local electronics store. Contract Pacific Audio and Communications to create a truly immersive entertainment space in your Maui area home.

• Identify Problem Areas With Home Monitoring Solutions• Help Out Your Air Conditioning With Smart Shading Control• Eliminate Excess Usage With Motion Sensors


Why Do You Need a Smart Home Monitoring Solution?
There are a lot of things that could make the energy bills in your Kauai, Hawaii home skyrocket. There’s the rising temperatures as spring approaches, the tendency to embrace the beautiful landscapes with large windows and doorways, and excess usage while you’re away. Alleviate these issues with a Crestron home monitoring system that brings all your technology together to find your biggest problem areas and design simple solutions.



How to Find Your Biggest Problem Areas
 The first step in crafting a successful energy-cutting solution is to figure out the rooms and technology taking up the most resources. Below we explain how to best find these problem areas. 

• Using Your Energy Dashboard
  
  • Crestron’s Fusion EM Software lets you see how lighting, entertainment, climate control and security affect your usage.
    
    • Create historical reports: Look at your usage over time to see if certain months or even hours result in higher energy use.
    • Project future consumption: Once you start thinking of solutions, input them into your software to see how they would affect your consumption. These projections will help you pick and choose which solutions are best for you.

 How Can You Resolve Problem Areas?
 Once you’ve pinpointed issues in your home, it’s time to come up with a solution. Below are some common problem areas and potential solutions for each:

• Reducing the Load on Your Air Conditioning
  
  • Make sure to lower your temperature when you’re not in your home or a specific room.
    
    • Install motion sensors so your thermostat rises in unoccupied rooms and automatically drops when you return.
    • Your home monitoring solution also lets you make changes remotely. Turn up your thermostat from your smartphone as you leave and turn it back down when you’re heading home.
    • We know most homes in Kauai are vacation homes. Pick out the months you’ll be away and let your system know the thermostat can be turned off or set to a higher temperature during that time.
  • With smart shading, you can use photo sensors to close shades as soon as they’re hit by direct sunlight to help cool down your home.
• Reducing the Impact of Your Lighting
  
  • Adjust your default settings with a smart lighting control
    • Reduce the default settings on all your lights from 100 percent to 90 percent. Play with your Lutron dimmers to see which could go even lower.
  • Eliminate Excess Use
    
    • Use your tablet or touchpad to see if lights were left on in other rooms and turn them off at the press of a button.
    • Use motion sensors to ensure lights and appliances turn off as soon as a room has been unoccupied for a length of time.
    • You can also incorporate scenes that help you manage your lighting.
      
      • Away Scene: Turns all your lights off when you leave the house.
      • Goodnight Scene: Turns all your lights off at a given time every night.

Pacific Audio Communications Inc. crafts a home monitoring system that helps you keep tabs on your energy usage and lets you create effective solutions. Contact us today to set up a consultation!