From Show Control to Smart Systems: Roland Hemming Shares Lessons from a Varied Career in AV in Episode 1, Season 8 of the SurroundScapes podcast
In Episode 1, Season 8 of Bluesound Professional’s SurroundScapes podcast, Roland Hemming, Consultant at RH Consulting, chats with host Graeme Harrison about how the AV industry has evolved, the forces shaping it today and what comes next. Among the biggest changes he has witnessed is the shift from a hardware-driven industry to one increasingly shaped by software.
From his early work in live production and show control to major projects including the Millennium Dome and London 2012 Olympics, Roland has spent his career working at the intersection of technology, creativity and large-scale AV. His experience provides a useful lens through which to explore how the industry has changed, and where it could be heading next.
A Career Shaped by Change
Roland’s interest in audio began at the age of 14, when a teaching assistant at his school introduced him to the fundamentals of sound. After recording local bands and volunteering at hospital radio, he joined Theatre Projects, where he developed an interest in MIDI and began writing software to control live shows. Using Max, he went on to develop Theatre Sequencer, an early example of software being used as a creative tool in live production and one that was used in several West End productions.
In 1998, Roland took on the role of Head of Sound at the Millennium Dome. “At the time, this was the world’s largest audio installation: 57 sound systems, 804 network signal processors and a megawatt of power dedicated to audio,” he recalls.
“We developed new ways of distributing audio and communications across the site, including the world’s first networked intercom and networked active loudspeaker.”
In 2011 Roland joined the London 2012 Olympics team as Venue Technology Manager of Audio, overseeing around 400 sound systems across 40 venues, excluding the ceremonies. “We had a spreadsheet for every venue with around 50 items to work through, from system design and cable routes to microphone licences, and we were ticking those off throughout the year to make sure everything was ready.”
Following London 2012, Roland returned to consultancy before moving into product development and AV marketing, founding Copper Leaf Media in 2016.
From Hardware to Software
One of the biggest changes Roland has witnessed is the shift from a hardware-driven industry to one increasingly shaped by software. As AV systems become more connected and dependent on software for control, processing and updates, cybersecurity and product security are becoming increasingly important.
Regulations such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act will bring new requirements around software security, encryption, updates and product lifecycles. Roland believes this could temporarily shift manufacturers’ priorities towards compliance. “They will do the things they have to do legally at the expense of needed new features,” he says.
When AV Becomes Critical Infrastructure
At the same time, AV is taking on a greater role in public safety. With Martyn’s Law introducing new anti-terrorism requirements for qualifying venues and events, sound systems will increasingly need to support emergency communication, including evacuation, invacuation and lockdown procedures. Roland has been closely involved in developing a new standard for designing and managing sound systems during terrorist incidents. With AV becoming more closely tied to safety and security, its responsibilities extend well beyond delivering sound and visuals.
Beyond legislation, Roland is also seeing this shift create new opportunities for AV system design. DSP platforms are becoming more sophisticated, with a growing range of software-only and cloud-based solutions emerging from the broadcast sector. This is creating greater choice and flexibility, while also blurring the boundaries between broadcast and installed AV, particularly in corporate environments and houses of worship. Increasing streaming capabilities can also enhance the live experience, rather than detract from it.
Rethinking the Live Experience
At the same time, Roland believes increasingly complex touring models could encourage a different approach to live entertainment. “Large-scale productions such as ABBA Voyage demonstrate how technology can create new forms of live experience. I think people still want to go to a gig in real life, but in a world where you can buy an artist’s recordings and image, you can potentially reproduce that concert as a virtual experience. You could take bands to venues they wouldn’t normally go to, perhaps using cinemas and big screens to host these events. I think that could be a really interesting direction for live entertainment.”
Roland believes this could lead to more local, experiential venues where audiences gather to experience live shows together through high-quality streamed content, much like sports fan zones.
This shift could also address one of the industry’s biggest challenges: the environmental impact of touring. Roland sees potential in more permanent “festival-as-a-venue” models, where infrastructure remains in place and events are clustered around established locations.
AI and the Future of AV
Roland also sees AI inevitably playing a growing role in AV: “AI is coming, but not as quickly as we expected.” Initiatives such as Open AV Cloud are already exploring how modern protocols, including the Model Context Protocol (MCP), could allow systems and devices to be connected more easily and enable data to be aggregated with less effort. AI could also transform areas such as acoustic modelling, enabling increasingly accurate computer-based models and more sophisticated approaches to audio system design.
Looking back on his career, Roland attributes much of his journey to remaining curious and being willing to pursue opportunities as they arose. He also believes experienced professionals have a responsibility to support the next generation and encourage the curiosity and innovation that will shape the future of AV. “You need mentors, and those of us who are older and more experienced should find people to mentor. This is something I’m very passionate about.”
Listen to Episode 1, Season 8 of the SurroundScapes podcast with AV Consultant, Roland Hemming, here. Follow every episode of the Surroundscapes podcast and dive deeper into the world of commercial AV at surroundscapes.bluesoundprofessional.com.
