AV Case Study: Dave & Busters

NETWORKED AV BACKBONE

At the heart of the installation is a comprehensive Q-SYS ecosystem serving as the central nervous system. Aaron Sopolinski, AV Integration Manager at CCA Productions in Perth, puts it this way: “We’ve gone with a Q-SYS backbone, which is controlling everything.”

This choice builds on CCA’s deep experience with Q-SYS from previous NightOwl projects and large-scale audio work. The platform handles all audio routing, zoning, processing, and control logic, while integrating seamlessly with Visionary Solutions video distribution.

VIDEO DISTRIBUTION: VISIONARY SOLUTIONS

With dozens of screens – including a substantial ‘Wow Wall’ LED display – reliable, low-latency video routing was non-negotiable. Visionary Solutions PacketAV Duet Series 5 encoders and decoders form the backbone, distributing 4K60 content (with embedded Dante audio) over the IP network.

Aaron: “The Visionary Solutions gear is super reliable on the matrixing – it’s been seamless.”

The modular nature shines in a high-expansion environment. Aaron’s team deployed extra decoders anticipating growth, which proved prescient when a 2×2 video wall was added shortly after opening. Control integrates deeply with Q-SYS via Visionary’s API, allowing custom UCI pages that simplify source selection for managers.

Aaron designed the custom interface himself, focusing on bite-sized, logical pages: a source overview with thumbnails, zone-specific routing, and presets for common scenarios. Audio control is naturally less granular, but video and audio follow independently for maximum operational flexibility – staff choose what audio accompanies which visual feed based on the day’s events.

Sean: “It just gives you more versatility being able to pick and choose what you want, where you want it.”

Synchronisation between video and audio receives careful attention, with delays aligned across the system (typically around 42ms, imperceptible in context).

NETWORK & CONTROL

Two Netgear AV Line managed PoE+ switches keep everything humming with minimal configuration headaches. Aaron appreciates the plug-and-play reliability: “Pick the setting and you’re off – no network switch headaches at all on this one.”

Extensive Cat cabling to every display and social bay, plus spare ports, positions the venue for easy expansions – such as additional inputs in the VIP room – without major rework. Q-SYS Reflect enables remote monitoring and adjustments, while more custom requirements such as power-cycling of PoE ports for troubleshooting is handled directly from the control system using Lua coding.

LESSONS FROM THE FRONT LINE

This project builds on prior NightOwl collaborations, refining approaches to switches, matrixing, and control simplicity. Aaron, who transitioned from construction into AV integration, brings a pragmatic installer’s eye to the work, augmented by CCA’s strong live production heritage.

The venue’s success – busy from opening and growing in popularity, especially for major sporting events – validates the technical choices. It delivers the high-energy atmosphere Dave & Buster’s is known for while remaining manageable for staff and maintainable long-term.

CCA Productions: ccaproductions.com.au
NightOwl Entertainment: nightowlentertainment.au
Corsair Solutions (Visionary Solutions): corsairsolutions.com.au
TAG (Q-SYS, Martin Audio): tag.com.au