Home Theater Process Checklist

I. Discovery
Meet with clients to determine their goals, timeline and budget

• Parameters to discuss:
  
  • Has the space been selected?
  • What are the neighboring spaces used for?
  • Is the space existing or unfinished?
  • How many seats does the client want?
  • How important is noise isolation?
  • What level of audio and video performance is desired, Good, Better, Best, Outrageous?
  • Who will use this system?
  • What level of fit and finish does the client want?
  • What level of acoustical treatment will be required?
  • How will lighting be controlled?
  • Will the system support gaming?
  • What is the time frame for this project?
  • What is the budget?

After this meeting and assembling the "Team" the design process can begin.

II. Assemble Professional Team
Theater Designer/AV Specialist (Bravo AV Consulting)
Architect
General Contractor or Builder
Interior Designer
Acoustical Engineer
Subcontractors
      HVAC Specialist
      Electrician
      Rough Constructions
      Finish carpenter
      Wall/Ceiling Covering
      Painters
      Flooring

III. Functional Design
Dimensional analysis
      Site visit to field measure and assess site conditions
      With Architect create fully dimensioned shell plan. At this point you know how much interior space
      you have to work with.
      Select projector and screen
      Determine screen placement. Create screen wall layout elevation.
      Determine projector placement give throw distance capabilities of the projector.
      Determine speaker location
      Determine chair type then layout seating and risers
      Complete sight-line analysis.
      Determine equipment rack type and location.
      Layout equipment in the rack including heat management (cooling) for the equipment
      Create lighting design, determine power requirements, locate switches and outlets with electrician
      Create HVAC design with HVAC specialist. Should be dedicated to this room and very quite
      during operation (<15dB).
      Create engineering documents detailing above. These documents are to be signed off on
      by the customer.
Meeting with client to approve Functional design.

IV. Interior Design
Acoustical and Aesthetics Analysis
      Design acoustical system for theater (Good, Better, Best or Outraeous)
            Room Isolation. (Consider both structure borne and air borne sound)
            In Room performance. (Music and soundtracks are crystal clear)
With interior decorator, and architect determine fit and finishes in the room (molding, wall coverings, rugs etc)
With Electrician document all outlet locations
Create interior design documents detailing the above. These documents are to be signed off on by the customer.
      Plan view
      Elevation of all walls
      Reflected ceiling plan
      All color choices and finishes
Meeting with client to approve Interior design

V. Electronic System Design
      Design and specify control system
      Select system electronics
      Design and specify sonic transducer system for seating
      Create theater low voltage wiring schematic
      Perform electricity load analysis and recommend circuit layouts
      Design and specify subsystem interfaces
Create System Design documents detailing above. These documents are to be signed off on by the customer.
Meeting with client to approve electronic system design

After the functional, interior and electronic system designs have been approved installation can be scheduled

VI. Installation
If the theater is in an unfinished space then the following will be required:
      Apply for necessary permits
      Framing
      HVAC rough
      Electrical rough
      Insulation
      Necessary inspections
Prewire - Install all wiring and speaker brackets
Drywall
Flooring
Trim and Finish work
Painting

Where new construction took place:
      HVAC Final
      Electrical Final
Install Acoustical treatments
Assemble and install screen
Install Front Speakers
Install Subwoofers
Install Side and Rear Surround Speakers
Assemble and install theater seating
Assemble and install seating motion actuation system
Install projector
Install game/PC jack interface
Assemble Rack
Wire the rack into the system
Integrate power into the rack and all low voltage subsystems
Install all necessary communication interfaces between control system and existing house sub-systems
Calibrate projector video image to ISF video calibration standards
Install necessary acoustical treatment systems for proper sound
Calibrate processor and audio system for best acoustic results
Test all electronics and connections to ensure system is 100% up and functioning
Setup all components for communications, compatibility and highest formats of both audio and video
Integrate rack and control system with existing house network
Where new construction took place:

Final Certificate of Occupancy