Restrepo Innovations + Synapse Audio Visual Designs Bergen County Design/Build Partnership
Synapse Audio Visual Designs is The Restrepo Group’s Bergen County peer for entertainment, hospitality, and theatrical AV. a design/build firm co-founded by a former IATSE motion-picture lighting technician and a CTS-D certified acoustic designer. Projects at The Venetian NJ, Crystal Point Yacht Club, One Times Square, and the Jewish Museum NYC. Paramus, NJ, since April 2012.
About Synapse Audio Visual Designs
Two co-founders whose backgrounds do not overlap. and that is the point.
Synapse Audio Visual Designs, LLC was founded in April 2012 at 411 Sette Drive, Suite N3, Paramus, New Jersey. The firm was built around a deliberate co-founder structure: Christopher Obssuth as Managing Partner, bringing client-facing business development depth and industry-level perspective; and Stephen Cannella LC CTS-D as Chief Design Consultant, bringing a career pedigree in theatrical, concert, and motion-picture lighting that is essentially unmatched among NJ commercial AV integrators.
Cannella started in entertainment lighting at age 15. By 18 he was executing lighting designs for national concert tours. He worked as chief lighting technician in the motion picture industry, serving as a former member of IATSE. the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, the entertainment industry’s primary craft union. He then moved into architectural and entertainment lighting system design, accumulating the CTS-D (AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist. Design, the industry’s highest design credential), the CTS, and the LC (Lighting Certified, NCQLP, the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions). He is an invited speaker at LEDucation 2026. the premier lighting design education conference. and has guest lectured at Columbia University, NYU, and The Art Institute of Philadelphia. In Cannella’s own words, per the LEDucation bio he and Obssuth co-authored: their firm is a “multidisciplinary firm specializing in technically demanding audio visual and lighting design integrations that blur the line between traditional lighting design, entertainment lighting design and multimedia integration.”
Project Manager Andrew Russell Thomas joined Synapse in February 2025 and brings a depth that is equally unusual: 6 years as live sound engineer at Blue Man Group NYC; 8 years as Content Producer and Director at Audible Inc. in Newark; ongoing Senior AV technician role at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Dataton Watchout Certified User status. At Synapse he manages themed attractions, interactive museum exhibits, projection mapping installations, and multi-zone performance venues. Christopher Obssuth is an active AVIXA Xchange member. Renardo Cardoza, AV Service Manager since 2016, provides the institutional continuity that keeps complex installations running after commissioning.
What Makes Synapse Different
Theatrical heritage, acoustic engineering, and show control. in the same firm.
- Lighting design depth that most AV firms do not have. Stephen Cannella’s CTS-D plus NCQLP LC credentials, combined with a career background in theatrical, concert, and film lighting, give Synapse a lighting design capability that goes well beyond what a standard AV integrator carries. Most integrators treat lighting as a controls integration problem: run the Lutron circuits, program the scenes, call it done. Cannella treats it as a design discipline with theatrical intent. The difference is visible in the result.
- Documented acoustic engineering at scale. The Venetian project (Garfield, NJ, 2015) is the clearest evidence. The Palazzo at The Venetian is a 100 x 90-foot marble hall with 28-foot ceilings and highly reflective surfaces. one of the most acoustically difficult environments an integrator can encounter in the NJ events market. Synapse specified Renkus-Heinz Iconyx IC Live ICL-FR-DUAL digitally steered arrays plus IC8-R-II side fills and IC215S-FR subwoofers. Result: 109dB coverage with under 3dB variation across the entire hall. Obssuth on the project: “We were able to hit 109dB in this huge room with only about a 3dB variation between any two points in the hall.” That is an acoustic engineering result, not a product installation result.
- Projection mapping and show control via Andrew Russell Thomas. Thomas’s Blue Man Group and Audible Studios background, combined with his Dataton Watchout Certified User credential, gives Synapse active capability in projection mapping, interactive museum exhibit integration, themed attraction show control, and multi-zone performance venue management. The Jewish Museum NYC projection blending installation and the South Street Bridge Philadelphia content development are in-record examples of this capability at institutional scale.
- Preconstruction coordination as a discipline. Synapse’s Instagram documents preconstruction field coordination to a half-inch tolerance: speaker mounting positions spray-painted on floors to align with ceiling placement before framing is closed. That is a discipline that prevents the expensive change orders and acoustic compromises that happen when AV is treated as a retrofit trade rather than a structural one. It also reflects a team that embeds into the construction workflow early. the same discipline that protects budgets on Restrepo Group projects.
Specializations and Coverage
Bergen County to Philadelphia, and from wedding venues to One Times Square.
Synapse operates from Paramus, Bergen County, NJ and maintains an active project record extending across Northern NJ, New York City, and the Philadelphia region. The firm’s commercial and entertainment portfolio spans market types that a residential-only firm would never encounter.
Bergen County and NJ Venues
Primary operating base. Documented projects include The Venetian (Garfield, NJ), Crystal Point Yacht Club (Jersey Shore), The English Manor (Jersey Shore), and Tillinghouse NJ (ongoing). Bergen County is among the highest-density luxury residential and commercial AV markets in the state.
NYC Entertainment and Cultural Institutions
One Times Square (custom fabrication, 19 stories, elevator shaft AV installation); The Jewish Museum NYC (projection mapping and projection blending); NeueHouse NYC (via Andrew Thomas’s prior work). Active NYC high-rise project execution capability confirmed.
American Dream / Nickelodeon Universe
Custom speaker painting for the Nickelodeon Universe theme park at American Dream mall, executed in collaboration with Diversified NJ. Entertainment environment at scale.
South Street Bridge and PA Convention Center
Digital content development for the South Street Bridge architectural lighting installation. Large-scale lighting and content work at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Both confirm institutional-scale project execution beyond NJ.
Hospitality, Entertainment, and Cultural
Wedding and event venues, theme parks and attractions, cultural institutions and museums, corporate enterprise, education, government, healthcare, houses of worship, broadcast, and retail. Residential is a listed market but not the dominant portfolio sector.
Brands and Certifications
Verified manufacturer relationships from published case studies and trade press.
The following brands are documented through published trade press case studies, manufacturer case studies, and confirmed project records. Synapse’s brand depth reflects a commercial and entertainment AV orientation. high-SPL pro audio, acoustically engineered enclosures, enterprise DSP, and show control platforms. Residential automation dealer tiers are not the primary certification stack for this firm.
- Renkus-Heinz Iconyx. Digitally steered array loudspeakers. Specified and installed at The Venetian NJ (2015). Documented in rAVe PUBS case study. The IC Live ICL-FR-DUAL with IC8-R-II fills and IC215S-FR subwoofers delivered 109dB with under 3dB variation in a 100x90-foot reverberant marble hall.
- Fulcrum Acoustic. Installation loudspeakers. Prophile Series coaxial loudspeakers at Crystal Point Yacht Club and The English Manor (2018). Documented in Fulcrum Acoustic manufacturer case study and AVNetwork feature. Proprietary coaxial design for aesthetically constrained environments.
- Powersoft. Professional amplification. Specified at Crystal Point and English Manor alongside Fulcrum Acoustic. Documented in AVNetwork (2018).
- Symetrix. DSP signal processing. Used at Crystal Point and English Manor for signal management and zone control. Documented in AVNetwork (2018).
- Crestron. Control system front end. Documented at Crystal Point and English Manor (2018, AVNetwork). Used as the user interface and control layer for venue AV systems. Synapse’s independent Crestron dealer tier has not been confirmed in public dealer locator searches; Crestron Elite Pro engineering on Group projects is provided through Restrepo Innovations.
- Color Kinetics. Architectural and entertainment LED lighting. Documented via Synapse Instagram. Philips-owned pro entertainment lighting platform.
- Dataton Watchout. Video show control and projection mapping. Andrew Russell Thomas holds Dataton Watchout Certified User status. Active on projection mapping and themed attraction projects.
- K Array. Pro audio. Referenced in Synapse Instagram as a brand under evaluation for an upcoming project.
Team certifications: Stephen Cannella LC CTS-D (AVIXA CTS-D, CTS; NCQLP LC); Andrew Russell Thomas (AVIXA CTS, OSHA-10, Dataton Watchout Certified User); Christopher Obssuth (AVIXA Xchange member).
Inside The Restrepo Group
Why Restrepo collaborates with Synapse. and why the distinction matters.
Both firms operate from Bergen County, NJ. Both have built their reputations on technical rigor and a willingness to take on projects that demand more than off-the-shelf solutions. That proximity produced a natural working relationship well before The Restrepo Group formalized it. When a project required resources or specialties that one firm could not cover alone, the other was already within reach and already trusted.
The distinction between the two firms is precise and real. Synapse’s documented portfolio is in entertainment, hospitality, and commercial AV. theatrically complex environments, reverberant spaces, themed attractions, architectural lighting as a design discipline, and projection mapping at institutional scale. Restrepo’s primary market is luxury residential. Elite Pro Crestron engineering, white-glove concierge service, and the engineering depth to deploy complex whole-home automation, distributed AV, and structured networks on Bergen County estate projects where the client’s expectations leave no margin for error. Synapse’s theatrical lighting and show control depth is a capability Restrepo does not offer. Restrepo’s Elite Pro residential automation pedigree is a position Synapse does not occupy. They are not competing for the same projects; they are filling different parts of the same regional market.
The referral logic is natural on both sides. A Bergen County luxury homeowner who also builds or operates an event venue, hotel ballroom, or commercial entertainment space can engage Restrepo for the residence and be referred to Synapse for the venue. A Synapse client whose residential property needs a Crestron-anchored whole-home automation system can be referred to Restrepo. The Group framework means that referral is warm, pre-vetted, and carries a shared standard for what the project outcome should look like. The client does not manage a cold referral to an unknown integrator. They receive an introduction to a firm the other already trusts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Restrepo Innovations and Synapse Audio Visual Designs.
What kind of firm is Synapse Audio Visual Designs?
Synapse is a design/build AV, lighting, and acoustics firm based in Paramus, NJ, founded in April 2012. The firm specializes in technically and artistically demanding projects across commercial, industrial, entertainment, and residential markets. Co-founder Stephen Cannella holds a CTS-D, CTS, and LC. and brings a career background in theatrical, concert, and motion-picture lighting that gives Synapse a lighting design capability most AV firms do not carry. Co-founder Christopher Obssuth is the managing partner with active AVIXA Xchange membership. Together they operate a multidisciplinary firm that blurs the line between architectural lighting, entertainment lighting design, and multimedia integration.
What is The Restrepo Group and how does Synapse fit within it?
The Restrepo Group is a peer network of six trusted integration firms. Restrepo Innovations, HomeTronix, Island Media Systems, Simplicity KC, Synapse Audio Visual Designs, and Techmenity. who share engineering, resources, and expertise across regions. Synapse and Restrepo are Bergen County neighbors with complementary specialties. Synapse is the entertainment, hospitality, and theatrical AV specialist. Restrepo is the luxury residential and government/federal specialist with Elite Pro Crestron engineering. The two firms are not competing; they are filling different parts of the same regional market.
What documented projects has Synapse completed?
The Venetian (Garfield, NJ, 2015). Renkus-Heinz Iconyx arrays, 109dB with under 3dB variation in a 100x90-foot marble hall; Crystal Point Yacht Club and The English Manor (Jersey Shore, NJ, 2018). Fulcrum Acoustic Prophile Series with Powersoft, Symetrix, and Crestron control; American Dream/Nickelodeon Universe (East Rutherford, NJ); One Times Square (New York City); The Jewish Museum NYC (projection mapping); South Street Bridge Philadelphia (content development for architectural lighting); Pennsylvania Convention Center. Trade press: rAVe PUBS 2015, AVNetwork 2018, Fulcrum Acoustic case study 2021.
Why do two Bergen County NJ firms collaborate rather than compete?
Synapse and Restrepo have genuinely different core specialties. Synapse’s strength is in entertainment, hospitality, and commercial AV. acoustic engineering, theatrical lighting, projection mapping, and show control. Restrepo’s anchor is Crestron Elite Pro engineering and luxury residential. On large NJ projects where both specialties are relevant, having both firms in the Group is a direct client advantage. The referral logic is natural in both directions.
What makes Stephen Cannella’s lighting background significant?
Cannella started in entertainment lighting at 15 and was executing national concert tour lighting designs by 18. He worked as chief lighting technician in the motion picture industry and was a former IATSE member. He holds a CTS-D, CTS, and NCQLP LC. and is an invited speaker at LEDucation 2026. Most AV integrators treat lighting as a controls problem. Cannella treats it as a design discipline with theatrical heritage. The difference is visible in the result.
What does Restrepo’s Elite Pro Crestron status mean for a Synapse project?
Elite Pro is Crestron’s highest dealer certification. When Synapse and Restrepo collaborate on a project requiring sophisticated Crestron automation, the programming and control system architecture is built to Elite Pro standards. For clients who want the full Crestron platform. NVX AV-over-IP, Crestron Home, or custom dealer programming. Restrepo’s certification level ensures the platform is deployed correctly.
How do I engage with Synapse and Restrepo for a Bergen County project?
The simplest starting point is Restrepo Innovations at 201.405.2022 or office@restrepoinnovations.com. Describe the project and the system scope, and the right firm. or both. will be part of the conversation. Synapse can also be reached directly at (201) 576-9200 at 411 Sette Drive, Suite N3, Paramus NJ 07652. For projects where both firms’ specialties are clearly relevant, both teams can be in the room together early.
Bergen County AV project. residential or commercial?
Restrepo Innovations and Synapse Audio Visual Designs are Bergen County peers with complementary depth: Crestron Elite Pro residential engineering from Restrepo, theatrical lighting and entertainment AV from Synapse. Both firms are part of The Restrepo Group. For NJ and Bergen County projects, reach Restrepo Innovations at 201.405.2022 or office@restrepoinnovations.com. For design/build AV and lighting work, Synapse can be reached at (201) 576-9200 at 411 Sette Drive, Suite N3, Paramus NJ 07652.
Engineering and design by Restrepo Innovations • Design/build delivery in Bergen County via Synapse Audio Visual Designs • office@restrepoinnovations.com