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Using Your Rental Gear

Renting professional AV gear isn’t just about what shows up — it’s about knowing how to use it with confidence. At Eagle AV, we believe the gear you rent should set you up for success, not surprises.

This guide covers key areas to help you get the most out of your rental equipment, minimize setup stress, and protect your show from technical hiccups.


Setup Best Practices

Proper setup is the foundation of smooth execution. Whether you're handling audio, video, lighting, or power, these universal principles apply:

  • Start with a plan. Know your signal flow, power distribution, and control layout before opening cases.

  • Lay out your cable paths early. Avoid trip hazards by taping down or ramping cables before final gear placement.

  • Verify power availability. Know your amperage needs, plug types, and whether you'll need adapters, distro, or extension.

  • Allow time for testing. Don’t assume a projector, speaker, or switcher will work right out of the case — give yourself buffer time to verify everything.


Troubleshooting Tips

Even well-maintained gear can hit snags, especially in unfamiliar venues. Knowing where to start when things go wrong is critical:

  • No audio output? Start by checking signal flow — mic > mixer > processor > amplifier > speaker. Confirm gain settings, cabling, and output routing.

  • Wireless dropouts? Check line of sight, battery levels, antenna placement, and frequency conflicts.

  • Poor projector image? Confirm resolution and aspect ratio from your source. Check cabling and input settings.

  • LED wall issues? Ensure proper cabling between panels, confirm processor settings, and verify content source and scaling.

Always start with the simplest explanation first — loose cables and incorrect inputs are common culprits.


General Gear Guidelines

Here are usage tips tied to your most commonly rented equipment categories:

Audio

  • Match speaker coverage to your room — avoid hotspots and dead zones.

  • Don’t run mics too hot — gain before feedback is key.

  • Use stands or mounts for consistent mic placement.

  • Secure cable ends to avoid disconnections during movement.

Video

  • Use proper cabling distances — HDMI and SDI behave differently over long runs.

  • Avoid mixing resolutions and formats across gear (720p/1080p/4K) without converters.

  • For cameras, stabilize on tripods or mounts. PTZs require careful address and orientation setup.

Lighting

  • Position lights for clean angles — avoid lens flare on cameras.

  • Understand DMX addressing to control multiple fixtures.

  • Always check your power draw when combining fixtures into a single circuit.

Power & Rigging

  • Never daisy-chain more than rated load.

  • Cable ramps protect your lines from foot and cart traffic.

  • Use proper hardware for rigging — clamps, spansets, safeties — not makeshift solutions.


Protecting the Equipment

Eagle AV invests heavily in high-end, road-ready gear. You can help ensure it stays show-ready by following these protection best practices:

  • Keep equipment away from food, drinks, and high-traffic zones.

  • Coil and pack cables properly — don’t knot or over-tighten.

  • Avoid dragging gear across floors, especially speakers, racks, or cases with exposed panels.

  • Return all accessories, adapters, and protective foam exactly as they arrived.

Proper handling not only avoids damage fees — it ensures the next show (maybe yours!) goes just as smoothly.


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