Lighting Design Insights

Ethan Durand from SoundVision

On this episode of “SoundVision Tech Talks,” Andrew and Eric sit down with SoundVision's "Utility Knife," Ethan Durand. What makes Ethan’s story stand out is how quickly he embraced every opportunity in front of him. Ethan’s journey at SoundVision is a great example of what growth looks like when hard work, adaptability, and the right team all come together. Starting in the warehouse managing inventory and preparing equipment for the field, Ethan quickly became someone eager to learn every part of the business. With little industry experience at the start, he embraced each opportunity to grow, eventually stepping into installation work and developing hands-on skills that earned the trust of the team.  Eric shares why Ethan has become known as the team’s “utility knife,” someone who can jump into almost any role, adapt quickly, and help move projects forward wherever needed. Through mentorship, hands-on experience, and a genuine drive to improve, Ethan grew from supporting projects behind the scenes to becoming a trusted leader capable of stepping into almost any role the company needs. His journey reflects SoundVision’s “Can Do, Will Do” mentality.  The conversation explores Ethan’s transition from installer to service technician and now into project management, where he helps coordinate builders, schedules, clients, and project logistics. Throughout every role, Ethan’s willingness to step up and learn has made a major impact on the company and the people around him. This episode offers an inside look at Ethan’s journey through SoundVision and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From warehouse to project management, it’s a conversation about mentorship, teamwork, and embracing every opportunity that comes your way.  To learn more about SoundVision: https://www.svavnc.com/ [https://www.svavnc.com/] Check out our Instagram to see our recent projects: https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/] To listen to more “Simplifying Life Through Technology” podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ] Contact Us Today:  (704) 696-2792 Ext. 1 | Info@svavnc.com | soundvisionlkn.com [https://www.svavnc.com/]

Bloopers Episode

In this special bloopers episode of “SoundVision Tech Talks,” we’re pulling back the curtain on the moments you don’t usually hear. From opinionated takes that went a little further than planned to tangents that took us completely off course, this episode is filled with the real, unfiltered, unedited moments that happen when the mics are rolling. Not everything makes the final cut, and honestly, some of it probably should have. You’ll hear the restarts, our side conversations, and plenty of laughs that usually get edited out. It’s the in-between conversations, the off-script reactions, and the candid interactions that show a different side of how each episode comes together. While our goal is always to deliver thoughtful conversations around technology, design, and the spaces we live in, this episode is a reminder that there’s a lot of personality, humor, and spontaneity behind the scenes that you don’t always get to experience. It’s a lighter side of SoundVision and a closer look at the people behind the microphones. We hope you enjoy this special episode! To learn more about SoundVision: https://www.svavnc.com/ [https://www.svavnc.com/] Check out our Instagram to see our recent projects: https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/] To listen to more “Simplifying Life Through Technology” podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ] Contact Us Today:  (704) 696-2792 Ext. 1 | Info@svavnc.com | soundvisionlkn.com [https://www.svavnc.com/]

Lighting Design Insights

On this episode of “SoundVision Tech Talks,” Andrew sits down with our Lighting Designers, Eric and Sydney, to discuss Lighting Design Insights. At the core of the conversation is a simple principle: layered lighting. By combining recessed fixtures with wall washing, linear cove lighting, decorative fixtures, under-cabinet illumination, and subtle toe-kick lighting, you create a space that offers comfort, depth, and flexibility rather than relying on a single, harsh overhead source. We explore what “good lighting” actually means in the context of everyday living: how you cook, clean, relax, and move through your home after dark. We also take a practical look at retrofit opportunities. If your home still follows the traditional “four cans and a fan” layout, you’re not limited. We discuss how modern LED modules and trims can enhance color quality, beam control, and fixture scale with minimal disruption to drywall. We challenge the assumption that ceilings must remain perfectly symmetrical, emphasizing that effective task lighting often requires breaking the grid to eliminate shadows in key areas like sinks, cooktops, and countertops. We finish the conversation with the full lighting design process, respecting architectural elements like beams and coffered ceilings, selecting the right color temperature to maintain a home’s intended aesthetic, and simplifying control through scene-based keypads that replace walls cluttered with switches. If you’re looking to better understand how lighting can transform your home, this episode offers a clear and thoughtful perspective on what it takes to get it right with the abundance of options to choose from.  To learn more about SoundVision: https://www.svavnc.com/ [https://www.svavnc.com/] Check out our Instagram to see our recent projects: https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/] To listen to more “Simplifying Life Through Technology” podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ] Contact Us Today:  (704) 696-2792 Ext. 1 | Info@svavnc.com | soundvisionlkn.com [https://www.svavnc.com/]

Sydney Stricklin from SoundVision

On this episode of “SoundVision Tech Talks,” Mark and Andrew sit down with Sydney Stricklin, SoundVision's new Lighting Design Assistant. Not long ago, Sydney had no idea what AV integration was. Now, she’s diving headfirst into the world of lighting design, drawn in by the details that often go unnoticed, like how a keypad is labeled or how a lighting scene actually fits into everyday life. Coming from Partner Technology in Athens, GA, Sydney first connected with the SoundVision team at Lightapalooza last year. After staying in touch and relocating to the Charlotte area, the opportunity to join the team felt like the perfect fit.  With a background in advertising and fashion merchandising, Sydney brings a design-first mindset to everything she touches. Since joining the team, she’s already refining how we present lighting and automation to clients: introducing a more polished, visual approach using Canva, helping clients better visualize the experience without getting lost in the technical details.  We also explore one of the more unique project trends we’re seeing: barndominiums. From functional shop lighting to accent lighting designed to highlight cars or personal collections, Sydney brings fresh ideas to these evolving spaces. Plus, we touch on keypad design in traditional homes and why offering curated, vetted options can make all the difference when working alongside architects and interior designers.  Sydney’s fresh perspective and creative eye are already elevating how we approach lighting design. This episode is about more than just a new role, it’s about what happens when a fresh set of eyes meets an industry built on experience, and how that combination continues to push our design process forward. To learn more about SoundVision: https://www.svavnc.com/ [https://www.svavnc.com/] Check out our Instagram to see our recent projects: https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/] To listen to more “Simplifying Life Through Technology” podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ] Contact Us Today:  (704) 696-2792 Ext. 1 | Info@svavnc.com | soundvisionlkn.com [https://www.svavnc.com/]

ADI | Snap One: Greg Simmons & Kayla Steinberg

On this episode of “Simplifying Life Through Technology,” Mark, Michelle, and Andrew sit down with Greg Simmons and Kayla Steinberg from ADI | Snap One. Greg brings decades of industry experience to the conversation. He began his career as a central station operator before eventually running and scaling a UL-listed monitoring operation that supported more than 16,000 monitored accounts. From there, he expanded into the integration world, working with builders, developing distributed audio, home theater, and automation systems. Later he co-founded Parasol, the remote support platform built specifically for integrators. Today, Greg serves as Vice President of Industry Partnerships at ADI | Snap One, helping strengthen relationships between manufacturers, distributors, and the integration community.  Kayla brings a marketing and partner-development perspective to the conversation, helping bridge the gap between technology, integrators, and the end-user experience. As a strategic marketing leader at ADI | Snap One, she works closely with dealers, manufacturers, and industry partners to develop programs that help integrators grow their businesses while elevating how smart technology is presented to homeowners.  We explore how a brand rooted in distribution and integrator support is redefining what service means for today’s technology integration professionals. We also dive into the ADI | Snap One merger and what it means for the integration industry. With expanded storefronts across the country, strengthened logistics, and knowledgeable teams serving security, pro AV, and residential AV alike, their vision is clear: to become a true one-stop partner for integrators who need speed, reliability, and design credibility. Kayla highlights Control4’s latest evolution with X4, bringing deeper customization and a more refined user experience, alongside design-forward innovations like Control4 LUX keypads. The conversation also touches on a major industry shift, the growing demand for lighting design. As lighting becomes a core part of the smart home experience, many integration companies are now bringing lighting designers in-house to properly coordinate architecture, controls, and wellness-focused lighting scenes. At SoundVision, ADI | Snap One is one of our greatly trusted partners. Many of the products we deploy in our clients’ homes are supported by the infrastructure, logistics, and service ecosystem they’ve built. This episode explores how partnerships like these are helping raise the standard for the entire integration industry. To learn more about ADI | Snap One: https://www.snapav.com/shop/en/snapav/adiandsnapone [https://www.snapav.com/shop/en/snapav/adiandsnapone] To learn more about SoundVision: https://www.svavnc.com/ [https://www.svavnc.com/] Check out our Instagram to see our recent projects: https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundvisionllc/] To listen to more “Simplifying Life Through Technology” podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/7fIkJuLZ7lZ8xbafz62muQ] Contact Us Today:  (704) 696-2792 Ext. 1 | Info@svavnc.com | soundvisionlkn.com [https://www.svavnc.com/]