AV
Also called: Audiovisual, Audio-visual, AudioVisual, A/V
AV (audiovisual) refers to content, technology or systems that work with sound, visual media or both. In media technology, AV includes the equipment, software and infrastructure used to capture, process, store, manage, transmit and present audio and images.
Detailed definition
What does AV mean?
AV is the standard abbreviation for audiovisual. The term has two closely related meanings:
Audiovisual content: Time-based media containing images and sound, such as television programmes, films, streamed video, recorded presentations and social media videos. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defines audiovisual content as time-based content consisting of images and sounds.
AV technology or systems: The hardware, software, networks and operational processes used to create, process, transport, manage or reproduce audio and visual information.
AV is therefore an umbrella term, not a particular file format, connector or technical standard. A conference-room AV system, for example, serves a different purpose from a television production facility, even though both may use cameras, microphones, displays, speakers, signal processing and network infrastructure.
How does an AV system work?
An AV system moves audio and visual information through a signal or content chain. A typical workflow includes:
Capture or source: Cameras, microphones, media players, computers or stored media files provide pictures and sound.
Processing: Mixers, production switchers, encoders, digital signal processors, editing software or cloud services modify, combine or convert the signals.
Transport: Cables, broadcast infrastructure or Internet Protocol (IP) networks carry the audio, video and related data.
Management and storage: Media Asset Management (MAM) platforms, storage systems and metadata services organise and track audiovisual assets.
Presentation or distribution: Displays, projectors, speakers, broadcast channels, streaming services or digital platforms deliver the result to an audience.
Control and monitoring: Software and control systems route sources, operate devices, monitor quality and automate repeatable processes.
AV vs. Video vs. Broadcast vs. IT
AV and video are not synonymous. Video principally concerns moving images, although a video file commonly contains one or more audio tracks. AV explicitly covers the wider relationship between audio and visual elements and the systems that handle them.
AV is broader than broadcast. Broadcast technology is designed for producing and distributing television or radio services to audiences. Professional AV also includes corporate communications, education, live events, venues, control rooms, digital signage and collaboration systems.
AV increasingly converges with IT. Network switches, IP addressing, cloud services, software-defined processing, cybersecurity and APIs now play important roles in many AV environments.
AV is not necessarily a single combined signal. In some professional systems, audio, video and data travel separately and are synchronised at another point in the workflow.
