In today’s fitness industry, versatility is everything. Many gyms and studios run multiple class types in the same space—yoga in the morning, barre in the afternoon, bootcamp at night. While this maximises your square footage, it also creates a challenge: how do you design an audio-visual (AV) system that works equally well for calm, restorative classes and high-energy, sweat-soaked sessions?
The answer lies in programmable AV “scenes.” By creating pre-set combinations of sound and lighting, you can transform the atmosphere of a room with the press of a button. This not only saves time for instructors but also ensures a professional, consistent experience for members across every class style.
Why AV “Scenes” Matter in Multi-Use Studios
Running different class types in the same room without AV presets often leads to compromise:
- Music is too loud for yoga, but too quiet for HIIT.
- Lighting is too harsh for barre, but not dynamic enough for dance.
- Instructors waste valuable time fiddling with dials instead of leading.
Scenes solve these problems by allowing you to program tailored sound and lighting settings for each class type. With one touch, the room shifts instantly from restorative to energising—or anywhere in between.
This consistency makes your classes feel polished and intentional, while freeing instructors to focus on what they do best: motivating and guiding members.
Step 1: Identify Your Core Class Types
Start by mapping out the different experiences you offer in the same room. Common examples include:
- Yoga / Pilates: Calming, quiet, warm-toned environment.
- Barre / Dance: Balanced, clear sound with bright but flattering lighting.
- Bootcamp / HIIT: Loud, bass-heavy audio with dynamic lighting effects.
- Spin / Cycling: Immersive, club-like atmosphere with moving lights.
Each of these requires very different AV conditions. The goal of scenes is to ensure you don’t have to reconfigure everything between classes.
Step 2: Plan Sound Settings
Sound is the heartbeat of any class. By pre-determining audio levels, you can ensure clarity and impact every time.
- Yoga / Pilates: Low music volume, clear instructor mic at the forefront, minimal bass.
- Barre / Dance: Balanced mix—music strong enough to drive rhythm but mic cutting through clearly.
- Bootcamp / HIIT: High-energy music with boosted bass; instructor mic still audible over loud tracks.
- Spin / Cycling: Immersive, bass-forward music with dynamic changes synced to intensity peaks.
Step 3: Program Lighting Presets
Lighting cues help set the mood, reinforce pacing, and elevate the overall experience. Pre-programmed lighting ensures smooth transitions without fumbling for switches.
- Yoga / Pilates: Warm, amber tones at lower brightness. Soft spotlights for instructors.
- Barre / Dance: Bright, even lighting to keep members visible, with optional colour washes for fun.
- Bootcamp / HIIT: Cooler, high-intensity lighting with the option for strobing or dynamic effects during peaks.
- Spin / Cycling: Club-style effects—moving heads, colour changes, and dimmable washes that sync with the beat.
With LED systems, you can easily program these moods into presets, making it effortless to shift between class types.
Step 4: Simplify Control for Instructors
The best system is one instructors can use without technical expertise.
- Touch Panels: Wall-mounted interfaces with labeled buttons (“Yoga,” “HIIT,” etc.).
- App Controls: Tablet or phone apps with intuitive presets.
Ease of use is key. If your presets are complicated, instructors won’t use them—defeating the purpose.
Step 5: Train and Standardise
Once your scenes are set, provide simple training for staff so everyone understands how to switch between them. Consistency is vital: members should know that a yoga class will always feel serene, and a bootcamp will always feel electrifying.
Encourage instructors to stick to the programmed settings rather than improvising. Over time, members will associate those environments with specific class types, reinforcing your studio’s professionalism.
The Business Benefits of AV Scenes
Investing in programmable AV presets offers more than just convenience:
- Time Savings: Instructors spend more time teaching and less time troubleshooting.
- Member Experience: Consistency builds trust and creates memorable class atmospheres.
- Staff Morale: Instructors feel supported by technology that enhances their delivery.
- Future Flexibility: If you add new class types, you can simply program additional scenes.
It’s an investment that pays off daily in smoother operations and stronger brand perception.
Final Word
Multi-use studios shouldn’t mean “one-size-fits-all” AV. By implementing pre-determined sound and lighting scenes, you can tailor each class environment with ease and convenience. That means yoga feels calm, bootcamp feels intense, and spin feels immersive—every time.
At Fitness Audio, we specialise in helping gyms design and install AV systems that adapt to any class format. From easy-to-use control panels to programmable systems, we make it simple to create the perfect scene—whatever your schedule demands. In today’s fitness industry, flexibility isn’t just about movement: it’s about creating experiences that adapt as quickly as your classes do.
