Thinking about automating your home? It's never too early to start planning your custom solution! Check out these crucial steps involved today!

<p>Have you ever wondered what having a smart home would look like? Not just the day-to-day aspect of it, but what goes into creating a smart home? There's more to it than simply picking out smart devices.</p>
<p>A custom solution provides intuitive control of all the technology in your home, from lights to entertainment to security to climate control. So, if you're wondering when is a good time to start thinking about your smart home, the answer is always! The more you know what you want, the more your smart home system can do!</p>
<p>And that's where we come in. As your custom installers, we'll guide you through each step!</p>
<h2>1. Begin with a Consult</h2>
<p><img alt="Couple smiling during a consultation" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_1.jpg" title="CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_1.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>The first step towards your custom solution is a consult outlining the scope of your project. This is where you discuss what you want out of your smart home. Do you want the lights to be location or motion activated? Do you want never to have to worry about locking your front door?</p>
<p>During this process, you'll figure out how many rooms to include in your custom solution, what technology you'll need, and which smart home solution is ideal for your family and budget.</p>
<h2>2. Designing the System</h2>
<p>Once your custom installers have an idea of what you want out of your smart home, that's when the real work starts with professional designers and engineers. They come together to formulate a system that includes the technology you want with budget and time frames.</p>
<p>Every custom solution needs a well-thought-out design and plan as it makes the rest of the process easier. This plan includes the wiring infrastructure, hardware location, user interface management, and how to blend the equipment with your home design.</p>
<h2>3. Managing the Project</h2>
<p><img alt="People creating plans and blueprints" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_2.jpg" title="CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_2.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>With the initial plan in place, the next step is probably one of the more important ones: managing the project. This involves setting clearly defined parameters for all those involved in your custom solution, such as architects, engineers, designers, and contractors. That's a lot of people and components to keep track of!</p>
<p>Luckily, custom installers are experts and understand each aspect of the required work, including which electronics brands will suit your needs best.</p>
<h2>4. Installation</h2>
<p><img alt="Person installing smart home hardware" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_3.jpg" title="CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_3.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>After getting all your ducks in the row and approving all the final plans, the real magic starts&nbsp;&mdash; installation! Since every department has thorough documentation of the project, communicating with each other to make your custom solution happen is as smooth as butter.</p>
<p>Not only that, but every part of the installation is optimized with the latest standards and best practices, so everything is set to run perfectly. And they make sure to provide your home with a smooth, seamless look, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about the tech messing with your home&rsquo;s design style.</p>
<h2>5. Programming</h2>
<p><img alt="Service tech programming smart solution" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_4.jpg" title="CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_4.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>Of course, after everything is installed, there's still one more step to go &mdash; the programming. Having all the gadgets and doodads is no use without the proper programming. Every aspect of your custom solution needs to be able to connect and communicate with the smart home system to enact their automation. And the programming needs to be simple enough to maneuver, so you can make adjustments as needed.</p>
<p>But that&rsquo;s where your professional installers come in. They will make sure the program is easy for you to understand and adjust from whichever smart device you wish to use.</p>
<h2>6. Maintenance</h2>
<p>Having a smart home is incredibly convenient, but it also requires a bit of maintenance to make sure everything runs smoothly. And since technology is constantly changing and improving, some installers offer to update your system if need be.</p>
<p>So long as your system is optimized, you'll never have to worry about technological snafus!</p>
<h2>Get Started</h2>
<p><img alt="Connected smart home" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_5.jpg" title="CI_Plan-Your-Smart-Home-Custom-Solution_5.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>Now that you know more about what's involved in a custom solution, it's time to start thinking about yours! Do you want precise control over your home's climate? Do you want a security system that thinks for you? There are many aspects to consider when it comes to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.missionaudiovideo.com/catalog/electronics-automation-control/" target="_blank">smart home automation</a></span>. But if you're not sure what you want your smart home to look like, don't worry; Mission Audio Video has you covered!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.missionaudiovideo.com/contacts/" target="_blank">Contact us</a></span> today to get your consultation started! Our experts can't wait to help you achieve your dream home.</p>

Start Planning Your Custom Smart Home Solution in 5 Easy Steps [+1 Bonus!]

Wave your geek flag proudly because it’s Geek Pride Day! Our resident geeks have some fun tips on how to celebrate! 

<p>The term &ldquo;geek&rdquo; has developed significantly through time and now refers to someone who is captivated with a complex subject &mdash; be it mathematics, video games, fantasy literature, science fiction films, or any number of others &mdash; and knows practically everything there is to know about it. They may even be like our experts and know about making a custom smart home. So, on this Geek Pride Day, why not honor all of the world&rsquo;s geeks? Check out some fun ideas we came up with!</p>
<h2>Have a Geek Meet</h2>
<p>If you&rsquo;re more on the anti-social side, maybe going out to a geek-fest isn&rsquo;t your thing. But that doesn&rsquo;t mean you can&rsquo;t still have fun! Play nerdy games with your fellow geeks or online. This might be a perfect day to go back to a good old game of &ldquo;Dungeons and Dragons.&rdquo; Or join the relevant Watch party on Facebook or any other nerdy event you are interested in. You could also join an online discussion about your latest movie or show obsession with your fellow geeks.</p>
<p><img alt="woman in unicorn costume in bedroom" height="400" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_%20geek-pride-day_1.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>And if you want an in-person meet-up with some friends, you can do that too. Maybe you&rsquo;ll binge-watch your favorite anime or watch a marathon of Marvel films. Alternatively, you might spend the entire day playing your favorite video game. And if you can&rsquo;t spend the whole day geeking, you can still take some time to show off your new projector or your home audio system you just added.</p>
<h2><br />Geekify Your Home</h2>
<p>Don&rsquo;t feel like your home really showcases your inner or outer geek? Take the chance on this Geek Pride day to rectify that. So if you&rsquo;ve been thinking your video game setup needs some work, it&rsquo;s time to go for an upgrade! And while you&rsquo;re at it, you can completely transform your home theater experience with a custom solution that matches your geeky soul. You can even take the opportunity to geekify your backyard patio with an outdoor theater setup&mdash;the choice is yours!</p>
<p>Perhaps you&rsquo;d want to use your creativity and set up some home automation lights to recreate Harry Potter scenes or as the backdrop for your next cosplay. It is Geek Pride Day, so why not get techy with it!</p>
<p><img alt="teen boy playing games in room" height="400" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_%20geek-pride-day_2.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<h2>Get Creative</h2>
<p>If you&rsquo;re a sci-fi lover, you know what a tricorder is, but did you know that with home automation, you can almost have the real thing? The tricorder was the pinnacle of efficiency and simplicity. It was a small machine that allowed access to an almost infinite amount of sensor data and automation. Like how a smart home hub or app is, nifty isn't it?</p>
<p>Motion sensors, light sensors, contact sensors, and a slew of other tricorder-like devices now power our smart homes&rsquo; automation. It&rsquo;s an amazing experience that only fellow geeks can truly enjoy. And you can celebrate Geek Pride Day by simply creating the home automation of your geeky dreams! The options are endless from speakers, audio, lights, and security! You get brownie points if you can create your own personal home automation app.</p>
<p><img alt="woman with phone in living room surrounded with lights" height="400" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_ci/Q2_2022/CI_%20geek-pride-day_3.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>This national holiday is in honor of all the unique and wonderful things technology can do. So if you know any geeks, it&rsquo;s time to celebrate them (and yourself). We hope you have loads of fun!</p>
<p>And if you&rsquo;re ready to have your version of a tricorder at home, start with us! If you have questions about your home automation solutions, the geeks at Mission Audio Video can help! Just <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.missionaudiovideo.com/contacts/" target="_blank">give us a call</a></span> or come in today!</p>

Release Your Inner Geek for Geek Pride Day!

<h3>From racquetball to state of the art home theater</h3>

<p class="fs-14"><em>Article from Food & Home Winter 2009</em></p>

<p>By Kevin McFadden<br/>
Photos by Bill Boyd</p>

<p>When Santa Barbara residents John and Virginia Markel decided to build their dream home in picturesque Hope Ranch over two decades ago, the site plan for the home was centered around a spacious 20-by-40-by-20 foot indoor hardwood racquetball court. Upon the home's completion, Markel, an avid racquetball enthusiast at the time, boasted one of the few private residential courts in the area, and his domestic utopia seemed to be complete.</p>

<p>However, as the years passed, and the racquetball fervor of the 1980's cooled off, Markel rediscovered a love of tennis, and his beautiful court began to suffer from disuse. Later, when photography was added to Markel's long list of hobbies, he decided it was time to give his beloved racquetball court a modern make-over.</p>

<img src="https://cdn.avbportal.com/magento-media/members-hes/vmis1-mission/Food_home2_bg_sm.jpg?w=700" alt="ALT-TEXT-HERE"/>

<p>Enter Mission Audio Video of Santa Barbara.</p>

<p>Led by president William Janka, Mission Audio Video has been one of Santa Barbara's most trusted and innovative audio/video companies for over twenty years. Therefore, when Markle contacted Janka and consulted with him on his idea to convert the court into a separate, complete home theater and professional photography studio, Janka's response was, "No problem."</p>

<p>After a thorough scouting of the huge space, Janka brought in architect William Wolf of Pacific Architects, and over the course of the next ten months, the two of them made Markle's vision a reality. Janka also brought in an interior designer to put the finishing touches (including a private art gallery) on the massive project. The final product was...well let's just say Markel doesn't miss his racquetball court.</p>

<p>The 40-foot high court was split into two levels, with the home theater situated directly atop the photo studio. The private theater-for-two features a 96 inch diagonal high definition screen, twin black Japanese leather massage chairs, a 7.2 Meridian all digital sound system, a gaming console, Blu-ray player, and a cutting edge computer system so that Markel can view all of his digital photography in style. The whole room is controlled by a single remote, also designed and installed by Mission Audio Video. All the wiring was built into the walls, giving the room a very sleek, clean look, and when Bill and his crew were finished putting in all the toys, they soundproofed the entire room by fitting it with a special fiberglass dampening material, and then covering that with acoustically treated cloth. The downstairs studio received the same soundproofing treatment.</p>

<p>As a result of that treatment, standing inside the theater with the door closed, one experiences an ethereal, vacuum like silence, almost like being in a sensory deprivation chamber. That is, of course, until John cranks up the volume on his Meridian digital speakers, at which point one's senses are anything but deprived! With four ceiling speakers, one center speaker below the screen, two floor-standing loudspeakers and two amplified standing sub-woofers, the sound experience is literally earth-shaking.</p>

<p>"Unlike traditional speakers, the Meridian speaker actually has the amplifier built-in, and the speaker itself has a digital processor, which keeps the signal integrity all digital," explains Janka. "With traditional speakers, the amplifier $27,500.00 is separate, and a lot of the signal gets lost in circuitry and along the wires before it gets to the speaker, consequently, the sound quality suffers."</p>

<p>Meridian is the most advanced digital system in residential use today with a limited distribution to a select group of audio visual installation professionals. Janka says Mission Audio Video is privileged to be a part of that select group. "We actually had to be chosen by Meridian to represent their products," said Janka. They chose us based on our technical prowess and long-term service track record. It is really quite an honor."</p>

<p>For John and Virginia Markel, the room is much more than just a home-theater. "We've renamed it our fun-room," said John. "It's really a multi-media room. I do all my PC work in here, I listen to music, watch movies, watch television...it's an all-purpose sanctuary!"</p>

<p>It's all just in a day's work for Janka and his knowledgeable staff...well technically it's all in a year's work. But Janka wasn't always the AV guru that he is today. In high school, the Santa Barbara native became a music junkie, and began buying up everything he could get his hands on at the local hi-fi store. After becoming a regular face at the store, he was offered a job by the manager, which he initially refused...until he was told that he would get an employee discount on all his purchases. He took the job, and began to learn everything he could about the world of audio/video, attending every manufacturer's training course that was offered, and even spending several weeks learning abroad in the UK.</p>

<p>Janka has put all that hard-earned knowledge to good use in the form of Mission Audio. Since then, the home-grown company has been one of the foremost local leaders in everything from basic HD televisions to complete home automation systems that can allow home-owners to control their entire property from their I-phones. After two decades in business, Janka still has the same passion for audio/video that he had as a young man. "Twenty years later, we still go to three or four major trade-shows each year to stay abreast of the latest technology," said Janka. "We've just continued to raise the bar in terms of everything audio/video." Janka maintains that Mission Audio video is a collaborative effort of over a dozen highly trained professionals that are at the top in their field. "We work well as a team and learn from each other," says Janka proudly. Every job we do brings a wealth of experience...some of the staff have been installing local systems for 20 years."</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.avbportal.com/magento-media/members-hes/vmis1-mission/Food_home_sm.jpg" alt="ALT-TEXT-HERE" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;" width="205" /></p>
<p>When Santa Barbara residents John and Virginia Markel decided to build their dream home in picturesque Hope Ranch over two decades ago, the site plan for the home was centered around a spacious 20-by-40-by-20 foot indoor hardwood racquetball court.  &hellip;</p>

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Start Planning Your Custom Smart Home Solution in 5 Easy Steps [+1 Bonus!]

Release Your Inner Geek for Geek Pride Day!

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