Top CAD Plugins That Simplify AV Drawing Creation

In the world of professional AV design, precision and clarity are everything. Whether you're mapping out a high-end conference room, a university lecture hall, or a multi-floor digital signage system, the success of your project depends heavily on the quality of your technical drawings. But creating these drawings manually can be time-consuming, complex, and prone to errors. This is where powerful CAD plugins come into play—especially for generating accurate and professional AV CAD Drawings.

Among the top platforms that streamline this process is XTEN-AV, a next-generation AV design and documentation solution built specifically for audiovisual professionals. XTEN-AV offers direct integration with popular CAD software, allowing you to generate clean, scalable, and standards-compliant AV CAD Drawings with ease. From symbol libraries to automated cable labeling, XTEN-AV helps AV teams work faster and smarter.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the top CAD plugins and extensions that make drawing creation for AV systems more efficient. Whether you are using AutoCAD, Revit, or a cloud-based solution, these tools will transform how you design and document AV installations.



Why CAD Plugins Matter for AV Projects
Traditional CAD platforms are designed for architects, engineers, and general-purpose technical draftsmen. While they are incredibly powerful, they’re not built specifically for the needs of AV professionals. That’s where CAD plugins come in.

AV-specific plugins and add-ons enhance your CAD software by:

Adding AV device symbol libraries
Automating cable routing and labeling
Simplifying layout duplication and scaling
Generating legends and equipment lists
Speeding up revisions and version control
These capabilities save hours of manual work, reduce the risk of design errors, and improve the overall quality of documentation shared with clients, installers, and consultants.



XTEN-AV: Leading the Pack in AV CAD Automation
At the top of the list is XTEN-AV, a cloud-based AV design platform that offers seamless integration with AutoCAD and Revit. XTEN-AV is not just a plugin—it’s a full solution that automates the entire drawing and documentation process.

Key features:

Drag-and-drop AV components into layouts
Automatically generate signal flow diagrams
Export AV CAD Drawings in DWG, DXF, and PDF formats
Create bill of materials, cable schedules, and legends instantly
Cloud-based collaboration for teams working remotely
XTEN-AV ensures you maintain consistency across all your project files and drawings. It’s especially useful for integrators who handle multiple large-scale AV installations and need to manage complex documentation efficiently.



1. Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical – With AV Extensions
AutoCAD Electrical is traditionally used for electrical schematics, but when combined with AV-specific symbol libraries and templates, it becomes a powerful tool for AV system designers.

Why it’s useful:

Supports custom device tagging and connection labeling
Integrates well with XTEN-AV outputs
Enables cross-referencing for multi-sheet projects
Supports layer management for complex AV layouts
You can also import device schedules created in XTEN-AV and sync them with the AutoCAD environment for refined adjustments.



2. AViCAD
AViCAD is an AutoCAD-based platform that includes Mechanical, Electrical, and AV-specific tools.

Highlights:

Built-in AV device symbol libraries
Integrated 2D and 3D views for AV layouts
Auto-routing of AV cabling and wiring paths
Built-in schematic tools for flow diagrams
For those who want a one-stop AutoCAD-like platform with AV functionality built-in, AViCAD is a solid choice.



3. Revit AV Tools and Families
Revit is widely used for Building Information Modeling (BIM), and many AV consultants are now required to submit AV designs in Revit format. Using AV-specific families and plugins can enhance Revit’s usefulness for AV documentation.

Popular AV Revit families and tools:

Device libraries from manufacturers
XTEN-AV’s export to Revit with AV block families
Plug-ins like RTV Tools or BIM 360 Docs for project coordination
Revit plugins help AV professionals map devices, cabling, and mounting hardware in coordination with architects and engineers, minimizing conflicts in the construction phase.



4. DraftSight with Custom AV Tool Palettes
DraftSight is a 2D CAD solution with similar functionality to AutoCAD but at a lower cost. It can be enhanced with AV symbol palettes and layer templates for fast drafting.

Strengths:

Lightweight and fast for small to mid-sized projects
AV-specific tool palettes available from third parties
Compatible with DWG files created in XTEN-AV
It’s a great tool for consultants or designers who need CAD capabilities without the complexity or expense of full-scale AutoCAD licenses.



5. Visio with AV Symbol Libraries (for simple AV plans)
While not a CAD platform in the traditional sense, Microsoft Visio can be an effective tool for simplified AV layouts, particularly for conceptual designs and quick diagrams.

Why use it:

Easily drag and drop symbols into floor plans
AV-specific symbol sets available online
Great for communicating early-stage concepts with clients
XTEN-AV diagrams can also be exported into formats that complement Visio for high-level planning presentations.



6. D-Tools System Integrator (SI) AutoCAD Plugin
D-Tools SI is another well-known AV project management tool that includes CAD drawing capabilities via an AutoCAD plugin.

Features:

Syncs with project BOM and proposal tools
Uses symbols from a connected product database
Generates plan views and riser diagrams
While D-Tools focuses more on business and proposal workflows, its AutoCAD plugin is powerful for drawing generation when paired with other planning features.



What Makes a Good CAD Plugin for AV Drawing Creation
When evaluating CAD plugins for AV drawing tasks, consider these features:

Symbol Standardization: Pre-built AV device libraries that follow industry conventions
Cable Management: Auto-routing, labeling, and scheduling of cables and connectors
Template Flexibility: Ability to apply standard templates for floor plans, elevations, and risers
BOM Integration: Syncing with your equipment list to avoid discrepancies
Cloud Collaboration: Support for team-based workflows and remote access
Export Options: Compatibility with DWG, DXF, and PDF for easy sharing
XTEN-AV delivers all of these in one streamlined platform, saving you from juggling multiple software tools and plugins.



Final Thoughts
Creating accurate and easy-to-understand AV CAD Drawings is a vital part of any AV project. With the right CAD plugins and platforms, designers and integrators can work more efficiently, reduce errors, and improve collaboration with stakeholders.

XTEN-AV leads the way with its cloud-based automation, symbol-rich environment, and seamless CAD integration. But other tools like AutoCAD Electrical, AViCAD, and Revit AV plugins also offer valuable features for specific needs.

If you’re looking to simplify your AV drawing process and elevate the professionalism of your documentation, start by exploring these tools—and let XTEN-AV be the core of your AV design workflow.



Read more: https://repurtech.com/how-av-cad-drawings-improve-communication-across-av-project-teams/