While video walls, flat panels, and projectors deliver eye-popping and engaging content in brilliant color and resolutions, they are merely the window dressing to what goes on behind the scenes.

A bevy of hardware and software solutions are needed to transmit and receive the video signal, switch sources, manage content in real-time and securely, and deliver audio to round out the user experience. Here are just a few; 22 to be specific!

22Miles’ Content Manager

22Miles’ Content Manager is an all-inclusive platform that enables efficient management of visual communications for projects of any size. It features over 1,000 customizable templates, AI-powered design suggestions, and fast editing tools, making it an ideal low-code, drag-and-drop solution for content management for systems integrators. With the industry’s most extensive library of enterprise software integrations and one-click widgets for interactive features like room reservation, 22Miles Content Manager is a future-proof solution that evolves with your business. The platform is compatible with most new and existing hardware, making it perfect for new deployments and retrofits. 

Atlona’s OmniStream 2.0

Atlona’s OmniStream 2.0 AV-over-IP firmware adds support for 4K60 video with 4:4:4 color sampling alongside better bitrate efficiency and integrated multiview processing. OmniStream 2.0 features the new VCx codec that delivers less than one frame of latency from encode to decode, enabling 4K60 4:4:4 streams with artifact-free presentation of computer-generated content and fast-motion video. Increases in coding efficiency enable additional HD streams over 1Gb Ethernet networks, multiple 4K streams over 10Gb switch-to-switch uplinks, and simultaneous 4K and HD over Gigabit Ethernet. OmniStream 2.0 also enables simultaneous display of multiple sources from OmniStream Pro encoders onto one screen.

Audio-Technica’s ATND1061

Audio-Technica’s ATND1061 Beamforming Ceiling Array Microphone has received major upgrades with its latest firmware update, including Video System Control Architecture (VISCA)-over-IP and Voice Lift technology. VISCA offers synchronized control of multiple video peripherals, improving interoperability and meeting equality. Using VISCA over IP, you can position the camera to match with the audio captured by the ATND1061. This creates a more natural experience in hybrid calls. The ATND1061 now includes Voice Lift, a technology that improves the communication environment in a space where voices don’t carry (i.e. larger rooms). Voice Lift makes a presenter’s words more intelligible.

BrightSign’s XT5 Digital Signage Players

BrightSign’s XT5 Digital Signage Players elevate and future proof digital signage activations to create captivating experiences for years to come. The XT245 delivers robust 3D motion graphics in 4K and vibrant HDR video, from Full HD to breathtaking 8K, all while being powered over Ethernet for highly efficient deployments. Meanwhile, the XT1145 enables live video playback via an HDMI input and expands engagement options with USB and serial connections. Brands can seamlessly blend broadcasts into signage, including live news and sports, to offer an engaging atmosphere. And finally, the XT2145 can control two screens simultaneously with dual HDMI outputs. This capability has become more critical as brands look for ways to engage consumers with more dynamic visual content. 

Carousel Digital Signage’s Carousel Daily

Carousel Digital Signage’s Carousel Daily is a new feature for Carousel Cloud that extends the reach of traditional digital signage content well beyond the facility walls, enabling seamless communications to thousands of devices. Leveraging Carousel Cloud’s existing content management, scheduling, and multi-platform tools, users can effortlessly push important organizational news and information directly to intended audiences. Bulletins are distributed as links or QR codes to iOS, Mac, AppleTV, and/or Android mobile devices, with external URLs that seamlessly guide viewers to essential destinations such as training completion, video viewing, company messages, and annual enrolment. Carousel Daily ensures the right messages publish on the right mobile devices, desktops, and displays.

Crestron’s AirMedia

Crestron’s AirMedia enables secure wireless collaboration in the modern digital workspace. Easy to deploy and manage, the solution can be used in conference rooms, huddle rooms, lounges, lobbies, or almost any space to establish a productive meeting environment. When integrated with the Appspace digital signage application or other web-based signage providers, AirMedia can display digital signage content when no presentation is being made or when the room is not occupied. This turns every screen into a content hub to display corporate branding, company news, or list the events slated for that day.

[25 AI-Enabled AV Products]

Datapath’s VSNMini 300 Video Wall Controller

Designed for college, sportsbook, and corporate environments, among others, Datapath’s VSNMini 300 Video Wall Controller can be used as either a personal video wall controller/workstation or as a standalone video wall controller. It boasts a slick form factor, with a modern aesthetic and the industrial-grade components that customers require. Ideal for small- to medium-sized applications, the VSNMini 300 supports the latest standards, including 12th Generation Intel Processors (i9, i7, i5) and NVMe (M.2) SSD storage for maximum performance. Graphics and capture capabilities are provided via three PCIe slots that can be configured as required with Datapath’s Image graphics, Vision capture, and ActiveSQX IP decode/encode cards.

DVIGear’s DN-300H 

DVIGear’s DN-300H DisplayNet SDVoE Transmitter/Receiver USB HID is the newest addition to the DisplayNet AVoIP family. Based on the latest SDVoE ASIC technology, the DN-300H supports USB HID device extension and routing with instant switching. It offers innovative software-defined KVM functionality, multi-screen KVM support, and advanced features including hotkey routing and system control. The DN-300H delivers unprecedented functionality and versatility in an ultra-compact, low-profile form. This unit provides switchable transmitter and receiver functionality with 10G copper and fiber network interfaces. A host of cutting-edge features and a low price point ensure high value for system integrators and their customers.

Green Hippo’s Hippotizer

Green Hippo’s Hippotizer Media Server Range provides real-time video playback, manipulation, and 3D mapping for video production in live event, AV, and broadcast applications. With reliable, purpose-built hardware, Hippotizer boasts industry-leading performance with multiple live capture, input, and output options. Hippotizer’s multi-user, network-based architecture and ZooKeeper interface seamlessly mix DMX, Timecode, Timeline, MIDI, OSC control, and API to build and add elements to any production. With Hippotizer’s complete set of intuitive pre-visualization and mapping tools, instant content updates or pixel-perfect video mapping are made easy. 

Haivision’s Command 360

Haivision’s Command 360 enables enterprise, defense, government, and public safety organizations to make real-time, critical decisions fast by centralizing multiple communication sources into a secure, intuitive video wall display that can span any size network and multiple locations. Command 360 can be set up and fully operational quickly, minimizing disruption to mission-critical environments. Upon setup, the next-generation solution—with its secure, browser-based user interface—delivers the advanced functionality needed to coordinate and manage an entire operation or command center. Key features include easy-to-use, intuitive control; enhanced security; multi-site and remote scalability; fast, easy deployment; and real-time visibility.

IHSE’s kvm-tec Scalable Pro Line

IHSE’s kvm-tec Scalable Pro Line supports up to 5K60 video over a 10G network switch. It uniquely features the ability to control and manage up to 16 computer sources on a single display via a single keyboard and mouse. By simply moving the mouse inside the gridded cell and clicking, the operator has full control of the source.

Jupiter Systems’ Zavus XP

Jupiter Systems’ Zavus XP (XP stands for Xtreme Pixels) represents the pinnacle for Jupiter display engineering, as it can handle all typical deployments, but excels in digital signage. Zavus is available in pixel pitches of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.2mm, and is truly built for the modern office. The key technology used for Zavus XP is flip-chip COB, providing an encapsulated pixel area with a smooth black resin coating that provides a cooler surface and delivers 30 percent improved energy efficiency over standard dvLED, superior grayscale, as well as unrivaled image depth and contrast. It is powered in collaboration with Megapixel VR processing for superior performance.

Just Add Power’s MC-QX

Just Add Power’s MC-QX MaxColor 4K60 Tiling and Warping Transmitter combines Just Add Power’s award-winning MaxColor 4K60 features with its innovative tiling and warping technology. It allows 4K60 source devices to be displayed on a single screen instantly, along with Warp Engine’s source rotation capabilities. Users can watch four 4K60 video sources simultaneously in multiple formats, including single-screen, video wall, or tiled video. Further, installers can rotate any source in a Just Add Power system in 0.1-degree increments in real time with incredibly low latency. The rotated image can then be sent to an unlimited number of receivers in the network, allowing for the creation of massive artistic video walls.

Korbyt’s Experiential Signage

Korbyt’s Experiential Signage empowers businesses, universities, and corporate organizations to create truly immersive, interactive digital experiences with a near-endless array of third-party sensors and devices, including touch-interactive tablets, pressure sensors, mechanical and capacitive-sensing buttons, temperature sensors, lift and learn sensors, or even optical sensors. Experiential Signage is the newest addition to Korbyt’s cloud-based CMS that lets administrators engage employees, students, customers, and guests via various channels, including digital signage, desktop, email, and mobile devices. With more than 1 million endpoints, 300 cloud migrations, and more than 100 native integrations to date, Korbyt Anywhere is the most advanced platform to captivate audiences on any screen, anywhere. 

Matrox Video’s Mura DVW

Matrox Video’s Mura DVW, a high-performance IP-based 4K distributed video wall appliance, enables the combination of multiple units in various arrangements to easily create a fully synchronized video surface of any size. Mura DVW integrates advanced computing, networking, video decoding, and graphical processing capabilities to deliver seamless visual experiences with maximum security. Mura DVW video walls are flexible and scalable, enabling you to build fully distributed video walls with performance that improves as more appliances are added. Each Mura DVW appliance supports high-density and flexible decoding—up to one 8K60, four 4K60, eight 4K30, and sixteen 1080p60 streams—all in H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 (AVC).

Mersive’s Solstice Dynamic Digital Signage

A blank screen is wasted space. Mersive’s Solstice Dynamic Digital Signage feature makes it simple and easy to bring new life and functionality to all your screens and spaces. Maximize your display’s potential with engaging visuals between meetings, by serving up content from dynamic web pages or content from Google Slides, PowerPoint, AppSpace, Carousel, Tripleplay, and more. With vibrant digital signage on touchscreens, you can create a rich experience by allowing end users to perform a range of actions. Book rooms, submit IT tickets, play videos, display important information, and more, by simply tapping on the display—all within a customizable environment that matches your organization’s branding for a more connected experience.

Navori Labs’ StiX 3800 Media Player

Navori Labs’ StiX 3800 Media Player supports flawless 4K content playback at 60fps, ensuring your media is displayed with stunning clarity and detail. Ideal for various settings, from retail to corporate environments, the compact device is also equipped with AI-powered footfall tracking, providing valuable insights into audience metrics and engagement. Features like auto-activation allow for effortless installation, while PoE capabilities minimize connectivity requirements. The StiX 3800 also promotes sustainable practices by activating the display only when the audience is detected. This makes the StiX 3800 not only a powerful digital signage solution, but also an environmentally conscious choice.

Realmotion Engine

The Realmotion Engine by Realmotion is a versatile spatial computing software. Realmotion Engine can handle both dynamic, interactive elements in real time and linear video content. Integrated with commercial-grade sensors and content creation platforms, it offers unparalleled flexibility, performance, and reliability for projects of all scales. Realmotion Engine can be leveraged in various scenarios, including interactive digital experiences, projection mapping, digital art installations, broadcast, live event venues, and more. A key strength is its ability to integrate sensor data, media outputs, media playback, lighting management, and content management through one scalable software.

RGB Spectrum’s SuperView IPX

RGB Spectrum’s SuperView IPX is a state-of-the-art multiviewer that consolidates up to eight video images on a single screen, enhancing situational awareness and decision-making workflows. Supporting both HDMI and IP inputs, it allows users to seamlessly display local and remote video sources with complete flexibility. The SuperView IPX features 4K 60Hz input and output resolutions, customizable display layouts, and presets, along with H.264 and H.265 decoding. With an embedded architecture for enhanced security and control via a browser-based GUI, Telnet, and RS-232, it is the ideal solution for mission-critical 24/7 operations.

Ross Video’s XPression Tessera

Ross Video’s XPression Tessera is a multifaceted solution for managing and filling video displays in any studio or venue. The XPression Tessera Distributed Workflow system utilizes a simple region-mapping tool to allow users to slice up a graphic on a large canvas and distribute it across multiple channels or engines for pixel-accurate rendering. A single Take ID can be used to trigger the animation to play out in perfect synchronization across one channel or dozens of them. From simple studios to the largest live event stages, Ross Video can help you engage with viewers.

Vanco’s PAEXEARC

Vanco’s PAEXEARC Digital Audio Extender with eARC transmits HDMI eARC/ARC digital audio signals up to 328 feet and S/PDIF signals up to 656 feet over a single Cat5e/6 cable. It supports bi-directional PoC, allowing power supply from either end, and features simultaneous SPDIF and HDMI outputs for a customized audio solution. With CEC pass-through in eARC/ARC mode, it enables integrated control of multiple devices. Designed for reliable performance and compatibility with various audio systems, the PAEXEARC is ideal for enhancing audio distribution in meeting spaces and classrooms, ensuring high-quality sound and ease of control in large or complex setups.

Vizrt’s Viz Virtual Studio Go

In the age of hybrid working, learning, and connecting, it’s become a key challenge to capture and keep the audience's attention. The Viz Virtual Studio Go by Vizrt was designed to help drive engagement in any instance where video is shared, boosting communication, understanding, and connection. Software and hardware are pre-configured with fully designed and customizable AR graphics and an included virtual set scene. Engineered with award-winning virtual studio capabilities, powered by Viz Engine, and built on the connected workflows of NDI, storytellers are empowered with best-in-class technology to create engaging presentation experiences out of the box.

SCN: How long have you been with this company, and what are your responsibilities?

Jason Tirado: I joined Lightware Visual Engineering over six years ago, and my responsibilities are to manage day-to-day operations for the Americas, including North America and South America. 

SCN: How is Lightware celebrating its 25th anniversary?

JT: We celebrated our 25th anniversary at InfoComm 2023 with a special birthday party. We also hosted a party during ISE 2023, and it was a huge success. 

SCN: What made you decide to open training hubs (Experience Centers) in Las Vegas and London, and how have your customers responded?

JT: We opened the Lightware Discovery Center in Las Vegas because we have a strong presence in the area. Lightware is behind the scenes in many well-known shows, such as Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group, and other experiences, like Illuminarium and Worre Studios. Lightware has a focused presence in the large display industry, and Las Vegas is one of the best places in the world to experience state-of-the-art visual displays. Las Vegas has a concentration of the specific applications that we’re specialists in. We felt Las Vegas was a natural place for individuals to experience Lightware.

Additionally, we opened the Lightware Discovery Center in London because it is a big hub for Lightware. We have a customer base throughout Europe, and it allows us to reach our customers more closely. We have key decision makers in London, so it was a natural fit.  

SCN: What are the short and long-term goals for your company?

JT: Our goal is to take care of employees and our customers. We want to continue to listen, invent, and deliver. Our philosophy is quite unique. We recognize that we have very valuable professionals at Lightware. We want to take care of them and give them the resources to succeed. It gives us the energy to continue listening, inventing, and delivering. 

SCN: Your company has described LARA as future-proof room automation. What makes this software unique?

JT: LARA is unique because it is generic since we’re using JavaScript. JavaScript is a really great thing because it’s a well-known proprietary software language. We’re tapping into a wealth of resources, experienced programmers, modules, and knowledge that’s already been developed. It doesn’t require anyone to learn a proprietary language or method of thinking. We’re harnessing a standardized language to create a simplified experience.

SCN: How important is room control for corporate and/or education spaces?

JT: Simplified room control is incredibly important for corporate and education spaces. The key is that control systems and interfaces used to be quite complex because rooms were more complex and had more devices in them. Today, these rooms include a monitor, a DSP, and a microphone. Whether it’s a corporate or educational environment, the users don’t have to control cameras much anymore because the cameras have developed enough to control themselves. As a result, simplified control is a fundamental part of corporate and education spaces. Users want the displays to operate on a schedule and control the volume. Most rooms will be satisfied with a simplified level of control. 

SCN: While we’re still in the meeting room, how important is USB-C for the future of Pro AV connectivity?

JT: A lot of sources have adopted USB-C, including phones, so it’s going to be very important for the future of professional AV connectivity. It’s not just laptops anymore. In fact, at a recent Taurus demonstration, a participant used their Android device to plug in their phone using a USB-C source. They didn’t have to bring their laptop. They were able to use the keyboard and mouse function to control their phone through a desktop feature. USB-C is becoming more and more important for BYOM devices. 

SCN: Lightware has an extensive catalog of AVoIP solutions for 1 GigE and 10 GigE networks. How can customers determine which network they need?

JT: Customers can determine the type of network they need based on the signal format they’re trying to send. For users in an environment where every pixel is important—such as esports, movie production, or entertainment—a lot of hours, time, and money have been spent creating vivid colors and wonderful images. Every pixel is important. For environments with static images—PowerPoints, Excel, and documents—not every pixel is important, and it can be easier to get away with a lower bandwidth solution.   

[Executive Q&A: Clarity in Collaboration]

SCN: What’s the next big thing for the Pro AV industry?

JT: The merging of Ethernet and USB topology is going to be the next big thing for the next several years. USB‑C is taking over the topology of phones, and Ethernet is going to be around for a while. The combination of USB and Ethernet is going to be a driving force for the professional AV industry. 

The What: DVIGear is introducing the DNS-20, the latest version of DisplayNet Server, which provides the interface layer required to manage and control a DisplayNet system. Compatible with all current DisplayNet endpoints, the DNS-20 leverages the latest SDVoE technology to manage, control, and distribute uncompressed AV signals with resolutions of up to 4K/60p over a 10GbE Ethernet network.

The What Else: DisplayNet systems consist of multiple transmitter and receiver endpoints, a 10GbE network switch, and a DisplayNet Server, which provides the interface layer required to manage and control the entire system. The new DNS-20 is a Small Form Factor (SFF) embedded Linux server. Equipped with a quad-core Intel processor, the DNS-20 delivers exceptional performance with less energy, less heat, and minimal noise. The LCD display on the front of the DNS-20 displays both system statistics and the IP addresses of the server, making setup simple and straightforward. The unit fits in a 1U rack space, occupying less than a half-rack width, and includes rackmount brackets.

[ The Integration Guide to AVoIP ] 

The DisplayNet API Engine is pre-installed on the DNS-20 and supports the use of DisplayNet Manager, a web-based software application for system setup and configuration. DisplayNet Manager includes powerful tools to route signals, configure device settings, build video wall configurations, construct multiviewer layouts and configurations, perform EDID management, generate and save scripts and presets, as well as view and test DisplayNet API commands. Both DisplayNet Manager and the DisplayNet API include rapid application deployment features that are designed to facilitate the use of third-party control systems and enable DisplayNet to be quickly and easily integrated into a wide range of professional AV applications and workflows.

The Bottom Line: The DNS-20 serves as the cornerstone of the DisplayNet AV-over IP distribution platform by providing system integrators with outstanding value, ease of installation, flexible control options and robust network security.

Other DVIGear News

AV Meets IT • DVIGear’s Matthew Pulsipher shares why integrators need to rid themselves of preconceived notions regarding AVoIP technology

What's the Status of the AV over IP Transition? • Manufacturers discuss the transition to AV over IP networks and their company’s place in the shift.

Moving Forward with the Adoption of AV over IP • Camille Burch outlines principles that are preventing wholesale implementation of an AV and IP merger for converged IP networks.

Installing AVoIP Systems Today Affords Future Expansion Possibilities • As adoption rates for AV over IP increase, the professional AV community has the chance to grow along with it. 

Embracing IT Innovations for AV Applications • As AV and control manufacturers evolve from hardware to software providers, we asked thought leaders about what the evolution might look like, and to give us a peek into their company’s near- and long-term roadmaps.

The What: ClearOne is releasing its new web-based service, Convergence Cloud AV Manager, which empowers integrators and enterprise-level users to remotely manage unlimited ClearOne systems across multiple rooms, multiple buildings and even across continents.

The What Else: Building on ClearOne's existing Convergence management software, the new Convergence Cloud AV Manager gives integrators and system managers full control of any connected systems via a web portal that's accessible from any device, anywhere in the world.

Integrators using Convergence Cloud AV Manager can update the passwords for all of a system's devices at once, back up configuration files, set up push alerts for specific system issues and have immediate insight into all connected installations at a moment's notice. The web portal provides a central dashboard that shows all clients with managed systems and allows quick access to troubleshoot or apply updates.

The Bottom Line: Integration firms can test the new service through a free trial, and then determine the level of use they expect. Pricing from ClearOne is tiered based on the number of clients and systems being monitored, and integrators can determine their own pricing for the monitoring in contracts with clients. This enables integrators to add a new revenue stream, add immense value to their customer support services and contracts, and even reduce operating costs by reducing the number of truck rolls and man hours required to manage clients' systems.

THE WHAT: Kramer’s new VP-427X2 4K receiver/scaler  features dual HDBaseT inputs and a local HDMI to facilitate multiple-device connectivity for automatic signal switching in meeting and conference spaces. The VP-427X2 ensures 4K picture quality is delivered through up/down/cross-scaling to the display’s native resolution, or any resolution up to 18G 4K.

THE WHAT ELSE: The VP-427X2 has been designed to deliver an intuitive user experience by automating meetings to ensure smooth switching between multiple inputs and is ideal for BYOD environments such as meeting rooms, as well as for signal extension in auditoriums and lecture theaters.

Ethernet, RS-232 control, and data tunneling allows simultaneous remote control of the device and display settings. Plug-and-play automation and auto-switching enhance usability and connectivity, and support for an occupancy sensor and CEC controls with a timeout period support sustainability initiatives. 

THE BOTTOM LINE: VP-427X2 is simple to set up and intuitive to use. It features Kramer’s Pix–Perfect Scaling Technology to ensure precise pixel mapping and high–quality scaling. The VP-427X2 is available now via www.Kramerav.com.

The What: Blustream is now shipping the latest addition to its video-over-IP portfolio: the IP250UHD 4K multicast platform featuring Dante integration. Adding to the company's existing IP200UHD family of products, the IP250UHD-TX transmitter and IP250UHD-RX video scaling receiver distribute ultra HD and 4K video with HDCP 2.2 over a single category or fiber cable, while allowing integrators to input two audio channels from the video-over-IP system for playout on Dante-enabled devices and extract two channels from the Dante network for playout across the Blustream system.

The What Else: The IP250UHD video-over-IP platform distributes AV and control signals over a 1Gb network, using visually lossless compression technology to deliver HDMI, Dante, bi-directional IR, RS-232 and USB/KVM signals up to 328 feet over a standard network architecture, or further when using the units' fiber SFP port. The IP250UHD-TX and IP250UHD-RX support independent or combined HDMI and/or Dante signal distribution to work with any network configuration. The IP250UHD-TX includes an HDMI loop-out for integrating local displays or cascading to multiple devices.

The Bottom Line: Both the transmitter and receiver can be powered via PoE from the network switch or locally should the switch not support PoE. With multiple configuration options available--including matrix distribution, video wall presentation, one-to-one HDMI extender and one-to-many HDMI extender--the multicast platform is ideal for both residential and commercial installations.

The What: NewTek is introducing the NewTek NC2 Studio Input/Output Module, delivering connectivity solutions for media production professionals and broadcasters alike. Supporting 12G-SDI and 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections, the NC2 Studio I/O Module unites traditional SDI equipment and infrastructure with the flexibility of IP networks.

The What Else: The turnkey design of the NC2 Studio I/O Module offers up to eight channels of dynamic I/O, including media file playback and recording in a 1 RU chassis, all underpinned by its connectivity with the revolutionary NDI 5.

The all-new module is far more than the conversion of source types, as it connects multiple video and audio formats, including NDI, SDI and other IP formats. The NC2 Studio I/O Module also provides a unified interface including selectable multi-viewers and professional video scopes. This offers users greater control of their signals through built-in precision color correction. The feature set makes the module an ideal drop-in solution for interconnecting video signal types with a complement of audio formats, creating adaptable workflows through Dante, AES-67 and ASIO/WDM software audio drivers. Management of each channel can be harnessed locally through integrated NDI KVM technology, or a web-based API.

The Bottom Line: This new edition offers a module optimized to work with all the latest features of NDI 5. NDI 5 makes it possible to connect to any device, in any location, anywhere in the world. Combined with the NC2 Studio I/O Module, it creates a forward thinking solution for producers seeking to expand their productions. The union removes the restrictions of productions bound to their physical location by offering efficient, secure and reliable workflows on a global scale

The What: Now available from Extron is the DTP3 Series, a 4K/60 HDMI transmitter and receiver pair that join the company’s DTP line of long-distance signal transmitters. New features in the third generation DTP products include compression-free transmission and input loop-through.

The What Else: The DTP3 T 202 transmitter and DTP3 R 201 receiver provide long-distance signal extension of HDMI and bidirectional RS-232 signals up to 330 feet over the new Extron XTP DTP 22 shielded twisted pair cable. The extenders support video resolutions up to 4K/60 at 4:4:4 color sampling and comply with HDCP 2.3. For maximum image quality and minimal latency, video is transported without compression. The transmitter features an HDMI loop-through input to support a local monitor, and the receiver provides stereo audio de-embedding for streamlined integration. Feature-packed and housed in low profile enclosures, the DTP3 T 202 and DTP3 R 201 are ideal for discreet placement within any professional environment.

In addition to enabling uncompressed extension of video data rates up to 18 Gbps, the DTP3 Series supports HDR, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D, and embedded HD lossless audio formats. A few of the DTP3 T 202 transmitter’s integrator-friendly features include simultaneous transmission of bidirectional RS-232 signals from a control system for AV device control, Extron’s EDID Minder technology that ensures connected sources power up properly and reliably output content for display, and flexible remote power capability. Power can be delivered from either the transmitter or receiver, allowing both devices to share one power supply.

The Bottom Line: Extron DTP3 products support uncompressed video up to 18 Gbps and incorporate features such as 4K/60 @ 4:4:4, HDCP 2.3, and HDR video. All extend video, audio, and control up to 330 feet at every video resolution. The DPT3 Series is available now.

The What: Wilson Electronics is introducing weBoost for Business, a new cellular signal booster product line for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With commercial-grade boosters custom-designed to meet the unique needs of the more than 1 million SMBs in North America, weBoost for Business is the ideal solution for indoor businesses and fleets struggling to stay connected due to weak or nonexistent indoor cellular coverage.

The What Else: weBoost for Business will be the new home of weBoost's fleet signal booster offerings, along with new indoor business products now available: weBoost Installed | Office 200, weBoost Office 200 and weBoost Office 100. With a warranty of three years—one year longer than weBoost's standard two-year consumer warranty—and high-performing amplifiers, antennas and cables to provide maximum coverage for any SMB use case, weBoost is providing a commercial-quality solution with the added flexibility needed to support the diverse requirements inherent to SMB operations.

An entry-level booster system for small office and business spaces, weBoost Office 100 takes the strengths of weBoost's leading commercial booster, the WilsonPro Pro70 Plus, and builds it out with an easy-to-install external omnidirectional antenna and high-performing indoor dome antenna that work together to provide an uplink power of 24 dBm.

weBoost Office 200 is Wilson Electronics' top-of-the-line amplifier for small offices and businesses. Building on the functionality of Office 100 and adding a lower-profile indoor dome antenna and the strongest booster in the weBoost for Business lineup, the Office 200 boasts up to twice the coverage area of the Office 100.

The Bottom Line: Certified by the FCC and ISED and pre-approved by carriers, the weBoost for Business product lineup can now be accessed at authorized partner resellers. All weBoost for Business cellular signal boosters feature a three-year manufacturer's warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The What: AJA Video Systems is expanding its lineup of openGear compatible 12G-SDI fiber converters with a pair of new OG-FiDO 12G cards for receiving signals from LC Fiber or ST Fiber and converting those signals to baseband 12G-SDI. OG-FiDO-R-12G-ST is a Fiber receiver that supports single-channel conversion from ST Fiber to 12G-SDI, and OG-FiDO-2R-12G offers dual-channel conversion from LC Fiber to 12G-SDI. Both new models receive 12G-SDI signals from standard Fiber video sources, including AJA FiDO Mini-Converters.

[AJA Releases Mini-Config v2.26.2]

The What Else: AJA’s OG-FiDO 12G cards offer flexibility and cost efficiency for Fiber to 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI conversion, supporting extended cable runs (up to 10km) over standard single-mode Fiber optic cable. The OG-FiDO-R-12G-ST receiver is a single-channel converter for Single Mode ST Fiber to 12G-SDI conversion. For dual-channel conversion, the OG-FiDO-2R-12G receiver offers two independent channels of LC Fiber to 12G-SDI conversion. Both new models feature industry-wide compatibility with OG-X-FR, OG-3-FR, and DFR-8321 openGear frames, with a compact form factor allowing up to 10 cards per frame. 

In addition to the new OG-FiDO 12G cards, AJA has also released a collection of new firmware updates for select AJA openGear card models, including OG-ROI-HDMI, OG-ROI-DVI, OG-ROI-SDI, OG-HA5-4K and OG-12GM. OG-ROI-HDMI v1.3.2, OG-ROI-DVI v1.3.2 and OG-HA5-4K v1.5.3 introduce Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) emulation, enabling the user to specify the desired video format to the connected HDMI source.

The Bottom Line: AJA’s OG-FiDO 12G cards are hot-swappable, support HDR video, and feature automatic detection and reclocking. Support for Ross DashBoard software enables convenient remote status monitoring on a Windows, macOS or Linux computer on a local network. All models are backed by AJA’s support and a five-year warranty.

The What:Extron has announced the immediate availability of the DTP2 T 201 D, a one-gang decorator-style transmitter for sending HDMI signals up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a shielded Cat-x cable to an Extron DTP-enabled product. 

The WHat Else: The DTP2 T 201 D facilitates the reliable transmission of HDMI signals, supporting CEC pass-through and embedded HD lossless audio formats. Enabling direct compatibility and optimal signal transmission between devices, DDC communication of EDID and HDCP is continuously maintained between a source and display. This wallplate transmitter also provides integrator-friendly features designed to help simplify installation and can be remotely powered over the shielded twisted pair cable. The DTP2 T 201 D wallplate transmitter can be used in point-to-point applications or integrated with an Extron IN1800 Series presentation switcher or other DTP-enabled products to support sources at remote locations.

[Extron Launches SoundField Ceiling Tile Speaker]

“Providing AV connections in tight places and extending those signals over long distances continue to be a challenge for integrators,” said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. “The wall-mountable form factor of the DTP2 T 201 D addresses this challenge and enables remote transmission of 4K/60 signals within our complete line of DTP2 products.”

The Bottom Line: The DTP2 T 201 D supports video resolutions up to 4K60 at 4:4:4 color sampling and complies with HDCP 2.3. The one-gang wall-mountable form factor of the DTP2 T 201 D provides the convenience of placing AV connectivity precisely where it is needed.

The What:DVIGear has released DisplayNet 3.1 with upgrades including a new scripting engine that enables code-free system programming, as well as enhancements to DisplayNet’s EDID Management functionality.

The What Else: DisplayNet 3.1 introduces two types of recallable Presets: Scripts and Snapshots. Snapshots capture the state of an entire system and allow for single-click restoration of system configurations. Scripts store sequences of specific commands that can be recalled on demand. Scripts can be recorded from sequences of actions performed in DisplayNet Manager and edited manually as needed. System programmers can leverage DisplayNet’s Script recording functionality to create and run complex sequences of API commands, without editing a single line of code. 

[DVIGear Expands HyperLight AOC Line]

Also included in the DisplayNet 3.1 update are major enhancements to EDID Management. Users can now view information about EDIDs stored in the library, as well as detailed information about connected displays. DisplayNet 3.1 also allows users to quickly change the active EDID on a transmitter directly from the device configuration panel, making device configuration and system setup easy and straightforward.

In addition to these features, DisplayNet 3.1 delivers various bugfixes, as well as user interface improvements, such as an improved Console font and the ability to set custom colors for the Console and Preset Editor features. These improvements come alongside updates to core backend frameworks for improved application performance. 

The Bottom Line: DisplayNet 3.1 includes numerous features to improve the SDVoE-based AV Distribution product line. The update is available now for free to all existing DisplayNet customers.

Making its debut at the Pabellón de la Navegación (Navigation Pavilion) in Seville, Spain, the touring media exhibition Impressionistsis immersing visitors in the works of Renoir, Van Gogh, and others via projected floor-to-ceiling digital masterpieces. With Matrox QuadHead2Go multi-monitor controllers’ powering the images across the sprawling canvases, Ukrainian multimedia company Front Pictures was able to provide a mesmerizing, twenty-first century take on the works of Europe’s most renowned Impressionist masters.

The Matrox PowerWall software included with QuadHead2Go allows Front Pictures to install and customize configurations, making deployment easier. The installation behind the Impressionistsexhibition comprises 14 screens—each 4.4 meters in height—spanning 116 meters in total. Content for the exhibition created by Front Pictures is hosted on the company’s Screenberry media server. From there, the content is routed to six QuadHead2Go Q155 appliances, each capturing an HDMI video signal from the media server for display across four HDMI-equipped projectors. 

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Projectors and Screens]

QuadHead2Go devices connect to a total of 21 BenQ TH671ST projectors that cast the video onto the screens across 40,320x1080 pixels for a total resolution of 43.5 megapixels. The result is a monumental display of Van Gogh’s flower still life collections with petals that appear to float gently across the screens, among many other revitalized versions of impressionist masterworks. When set to music, the moving paintings delivered by the QuadHead2Go video controllers and Screenberry media server transport viewers to the imaginations of impressionist virtuosos.

According to Yuri Kostenko, Front Pictures CEO, Kostenko, QuadHead2Go has enabled the company to push the boundaries of what a visual experience can be with the convenience of a flexible multi-screen appliance. “With its ability to capture and display superior-quality video content, Matrox QuadHead2Go video wall controllers have enabled us to deliver a truly sublime art viewing experience,” he said. “Furthermore, the compact, low-power appliance takes up very little space, is easy to transport and re-install, and keeps hardware and maintenance costs low.” 

The What:Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) has announced VisionXS, a new line of high-performance KVM extenders with a bandwidth of 10Gb and video transmission for resolutions up to 4K. 

The What Else: Previous devices from the manufacturer support a data transfer rate of 1Gb per line. Thanks to G&D's self-developed compression method, full 4K video over 1Gb could already be transmitted. However, with a bandwidth of 10Gb, VisionXS opens up new possibilities for high-resolution and high-frame-rate video extension. Initially, the German manufacturer will provide extender modules for KVM over IP, followed by solutions for classic KVM systems for direct transmission. 

[Product Review: G&D KVM-over-IP System]

VisionXS extenders can be combined with G&D's matrix systems. For customers, this means even more flexibility, because VisionXS products can either be operated in pairs as an extender line or be integrated into matrix installations. The new devices are fully compatible with existing models, making it easier for technology professionals to plan and expand installations, even at a later date.

In a first step, a high-end system for DisplayPort UHR with a transmission bandwidth of 10G will be launched, followed by devices for HDMI and DVI. For the VisionXS series, the manufacturer also relies on its lossless compression High Dynamic Image Processing, which enables accurate video experiences. In addition, dual-head modules allow the transmission of two video signals via one transmission cable. These modules offer significant advantages: Two video signals transmitted over one line saves 50 percent of cabling or KVM modules.

The new VisionXS-IP-DP-UHR system is compatible with the central ControlCenter-IP appliance. Combined, these units form a matrix for KVM over IP. This means that each connected workstation can be granted access to any computer connected to the KVM system. While the network infrastructure takes over the transport of KVM over IP using network switches and routers, the ControlCenter-IP contributes the logic. Both the dynamic access and the use of KVM over IP make the application even more flexible. Secure and reliable operation is ensured by AES-128 encryption and the regular exchange of security keys. 

The console modules of the VisionXS series are now significantly smaller and thus require less space. In addition, the manufacturer now also provides new and efficient mounting options that require fewer screws. For the new VisionXS modules, G&D relies on a new click mechanism making it much easier to install the devices. 

The Bottom Line: VisionXS KVMs is designed to extend fast videos and frequently changing image content with significantly less compression than previous models, and its compact size makes it well suited for applications where space is a critical factor.

The What: Vanco International is expanding its Evolution line with four new products designed to simplify HDMI signal distribution in both commercial and residential contexts.

The What Else: The EVSP24VW Expandable 4K 2x4 HDMI Video Wall Processor can support a 16x16 array of displays in any video wall configuration. This video wall processor supports 180-degree screen rotation and output resolution scaling. It also includes customizable options for bezel adjustment. The EVSP24VW has two HDMI loop-outs, which can be used for local monitoring or to cascade into other units for even larger video walls. It also features dual HDMI inputs, enabling multiple source content configurations or switching between sources. The EVSP24W passes 4K display signals at 60Hz and is HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 compliant.

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Inspired Video Walls]

The Evolution line of scalers and splitters is expanding to include a 1x8 model, the EVSP18SC Splitter with EDID and Scaling. The EVSP18SC transmits audio from a single source to up to eight HMDI outputs at up to 4K2K (2160p) UHD resolution with no loss of quality. For applications with a variety of display devices, the EVSP18SC supports 4K and 1080p resolutions simultaneously; the source will be downscaled to 1080 for lower resolution displays and kept at 4K on all other outputs. This splitter supports 4K60 with 8-bit color and 4:4:4 color sampling, or 10-bit color with 4:2:0 sampling and High Dynamic Range (HDR).

The EVSP24VW Expandable 4K 2x4 HDMI video wall processor can support a 16x16 array of displays in any video wall configuration. This video wall processor supports 180-degree screen rotation and output resolution scaling. It also includes customizable options for bezel adjustment. The EVSP24VW has two HDMI loop-outs, which can be used for local monitoring or to cascade into other units for even larger video walls. It also features dual HDMI inputs, enabling multiple source content configurations or switching between sources. The EVSP24W passes 4K display signals at 60Hz and is HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 compliant.

The EV4K2004 4K HDMI Extender over single coax cable with bi-directional IR allows HDMI audio and video signals to be extended over a single coaxial cable. In projects where new cable runs are not possible, the EV4K2004 enables the distribution of 4K video over legacy infrastructure. This extender supports uncompressed two channel HDMI over RG6 coax. It can transmit 4K60 video with 8-bit color and 4:4:4 sampling, or 10-bit 4:2:0 HDR. The EV4K2004 allows bi-directional IR signal passthrough for source or display control. It is also HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2/1.4 compliant, and features automated signal equalization and dynamic EDID.

EVSW41KVM 4x1 HDMI Switch with Quad-View and KVM USB control connects and controls multiple computers or security network video recorders (NVRs) using a single keyboard and mouse. The EVSW41KVM accepts up to four HDMI inputs at up to 1080p60, which can be displayed one at a time or simultaneously in a Quad-View mode showing one input in each corner. The EVSW41KVM’s built-in USB switcher automatically pairs KVM control with the selected source; in Quad View, it is possible to control all four sources at once with a single keyboard and mouse without switching sources. The EVSW41KVM has two additional USB 2.0 ports, allowing the input devices to share two additional resources such as a printer or hard drive.

The Bottom Line: Vanco International’s goal with the Evolution line has been to curate devices that solve irritating audio and video distribution challenges. These four new additions are designed to address issues on projects ranging from brand-new video walls to retrofits of historic buildings.

The What: Extron has announced the PowerCage 411, a compact 1U rack-mountable, four-slot enclosure that supports the FOX3 T 201 PC, FOX3 T 301 PC, and FOX3 T 311 PC fiber optic transmitters. 

[Can Emergency Communications Hubs Survive COVID-19?]

The What Else: The compact FOX3 Series extender modules all feature support for HDMI, audio, and control. The FOX3 301 PC and FOX3 311 PC also feature support for USB or USB HID, respectively. Engineered for high-resolution image performance, these modules use Extron all-digital technology to deliver pixel-for-pixel, uncompressed transmission of images up to 4K60 at 4:4:4 over two fibers or mathematically lossless 4K60 video over one fiber. These features and capabilities make the PowerCage 411 enclosure and modular fiber optic extenders suited for mission-critical environments where continuous, 24/7 operation is essential.

The PowerCage 411 enclosure is designed for dependable performance in mission-critical applications. Thermal management and a variable speed fan provide optimal cooling, while dual redundant and hot-swappable power supplies ensure system reliability. The enclosure also includes dual AC power connectors for continuous primary and back-up power. The Ethernet port on the enclosure allows insertion of RS-232, enabling system-level control of the endpoints and attached devices without needing additional cabling. 

The FOX3 T 201 PC, FOX3 T 301 PC, and FOX3 T 311 PC fiber optic transmitters offer many integrator and user-friendly features, including Key Minder, EDID Minder, audio embedding, internal test patterns, and real-time system monitoring. The modules are available in multi-mode and single-mode models, providing signal extension for moderate distances of up to 500m (1,640 feet) over multi-mode fiber optic cable and extreme distances up to 20km (12.4 miles) when using single-mode cable.

"We realize that space is always a concern when our customers are installing multiple extenders in equipment racks," said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Extron. "This new, compact enclosure for our popular FOX3 product line provides superior thermal management, allowing you to accommodate up to four independent HDMI extenders into a single 1U rack space. In addition, the Ethernet connection on the enclosure provides centralized configuration, management, and control for each extender."

The Bottom Line: The compact PowerCage enclosure is designed to power, manage, and mount up to four extender modules to meet system needs, making it well suited for larger systems that need to support remote devices. Exceptional thermal management, variable speed fans, and dual redundant hot-swappable power supplies ensure system reliability.

With the early 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Clara University, California’s oldest higher education, institution was faced with the challenge of making a complete shift to remote learning. Thankfully, SCU’s existing Matrox Maevex 6020 Remote Recorder appliance and Panopto video management system (VMS) lecture capture solution enabled the university to integrate Maevex 6020 devices and deploy them quickly across all buildings, allowing SCU students and faculty to transition seamlessly from the classroom to the remote learning platform.

A Sustainable Solution

In 2016, SCU started using the Panopto VMS in combination with a Windows-based, computer-and-capture card solution that was built, imaged, and maintained by the university’s media systems team. Not only did this solution require a tremendous amount of time to build and maintain in-house, it was also far too labor-intensive to manage with a small staff. Furthermore, unexpected updates and shutdowns of the systems made it particularly difficult for the team to maintain uniformity across devices. Lacking configuration for mass deployment software, the Windows-based solution required security and software updates that forced staff to manually update each system one at a time. 

[How NYU Equipped Campus for HyFlex Education]

Three years later, the team began to realize that this solution was unsustainable in the long term and began to look for alternatives in order to save on time, resources, and cost. A turnkey solution that comes fully integrated with the university’s existing preferred VMS, Maevex 6020 turned out to be the perfect fit. Between the standalone appliance’s ability to function without unexpected operating system updates, its configuration and firmware utility for centralized control of the devices, and its highly competitive price point with no reoccurring licensing fees, Maevex 6020 was a clear choice. 

According to Joel Bennett, manager of media systems at SCU, Maevex 6020 made a vast difference right away—from integration to deployment. “It is so much simpler,” he said. “Once the AV installers install the unit, I can do everything from my desk. Before, I would have had staff here, working, building, and installing. Maevex 6020 has significantly reduced our workload.”

Seamless Transition

While Maevex 6020 was the ideal match for SCU’s streaming and recording needs since it first arrived on campus, its reliability and ease of integration became paramount to the university’s remote learning transition in early 2020. Just after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., the university was able to deploy 60 Maevex 6020 units for a current total of over 100 appliances in just 30 days. Using the intuitive configuration and firmware utility, Maevex 6020 made mass deployment easier, allowing for the configuration and simultaneous setup of multiple units in record time. Now, every common classroom across all five academic colleges on campus is equipped with a Maevex 6020 device, providing access to streamed classes and lecture capture recordings for the university’s nearly 10,000 students.

[How USC's Joe Way Anticipated the HyFlex Campus Revolution] 

“Maevex 6020 was helpful when we first acquired it, but when the pandemic hit, it became irreplaceable,” Bennett said. “We were able to deploy several recorders in just a small amount of time. I do not think that we could have built and supported that many of our previous solutions in that time period. Matrox allowed us to focus our time and resources on other tasks because everything from the installation to deployment was so simple.”  

California Streamin’

SCU leverages Maevex 6020’s dual Full HD streaming and recording functionality by simultaneously streaming and recording all lecture videos and content in 1080p30 in order to match the setting on the hardware devices. The Maevex 6020 device and Panopto platform are capable of streaming up to 1080p60 on one channel, and 1080p30 on the second if desired.

Stream and record operations are securely controlled by the Panopto Cloud VMS and scheduled ahead of time with the full capabilities of the Panopto software scheduler. Additionally, all Zoom meetings are streamed as a backup in the event that the Zoom live stream fails. 

Each classroom is equipped with a single camera in the back of the room as well as a ceiling microphone that picks up audio from both the students and faculty. Course content is provided by an in-room Mac or PC, or a faculty member’s personal laptop, which is fed into a switcher device. On the Maevex 6020, the camera is fed into HDMI 1, the switcher is fed into HDMI 2, and the audio is fed into the analog input. SCU is also leveraging the Maevex 6020’s HDMI zero-latency pass-through output to connect an HDMI-to-USB bridge to convert the audio and video into USB for Zoom calls.

Grade-A Support

Instances where Bennett and his team needed to contact Matrox technical support were met with Matrox speed, efficiency, and attention to detail. According to Bennett, the service he received allowed him to quickly feel supported and at ease with the equipment. “From the beginning, Matrox was incredibly responsive,” Bennett said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of technical support groups and I’ve never experienced one like Matrox. It was very clear that they were taking our inquiries seriously, wanted to understand them, and they were a high-priority to address.”

Distance Learning

For now, Maevex 6020 remains an integral part of SCU’s remote learning strategy, but it will not be going anywhere when students come back to campus. With plans to add over 40 new units to its lecture capture setup, including one unit for each classroom and conference room in its new academic building, Bennett and his team at SCU could not be happier with Maevex 6020. According to Bennett, the multi-site control and maintenance of Maevex 6020 has made everyone’s workdays significantly easier. “For any school in need of a remote learning system, I highly recommend the Maevex 6020 and Panopto combination,” he said. “The difference this solution has made compared to our previous one is like night and day.” 

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM), located in Meridian, ID, recently upgraded the technology in its 94,000-square-foot facility with Extron signal processing, distribution, and control products at the heart of the AV.  

LightWerks Communication Systems worked closely with ICOM to design and deploy appropriate AV systems for each type of room in the three-story building. Campus rooms include DTP presentation systems, and class sessions are enhanced and captured for live distribution and archival purposes using a selection of Extron annotation, audio, bridging, and streaming/recording products. System control is designed to be intuitive and also support remote management.

Related: Columbia University’s Jonathan Kornberg on the Future of Instructional AV

As an Apple Distinguished School, the installation needed to support a huge number of Apple devices, such as Apple TV and Mac mini computers over USB. Other resources would include Amazon Fire TV, Blu ray players, document cameras, PTZ cameras, and assistive learning systems, as well as provide AV connectivity and wireless communication. For display, each room would offer a combination of Epson professional 4K projectors and Sharp 60- to 90-inch 4K displays, along with Planar 22-inch LCD monitors with touch control. Due to construction delays, all AV systems had to be installed and commissioned in only three months.

“Becoming a physician is a complex process that is mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging,” said Brian Atkinson, director of information technology at ICOM. “ICOM is designed to help each student achieve a solid understanding of osteopathic diagnostics and techniques, and the Extron technologies used throughout the campus are instrumental in this endeavor.”

Switching

The installation includes classroom, lab, lecture hall, and meeting room designs. Learning spaces incorporate an Extron DTP CrossPoint 4K Series presentation matrix switcher that provides seamless video scaling and signal routing. For remote sources, DTP transmitters and receivers extend AV and control signals up to 330 feet (100 meters) between the endpoints and the matrix switcher. For example, the Glassroom is a 1,325-square-foot classroom with three glass walls and configurable seating for up to 67 students. Installed in the credenza on the non-glass back wall is a DTP CrossPoint 108 4K IPCP MA 70 10x8 presentation matrix switcher, along with the standardized resources. Built-in features such as Extron Vector 4K scaling technology and selectable seamless transitions help the faculty and staff produce highly detailed presentations that keep students engaged during lessons on anatomy and nerve pathways. RS-232 inserted through the matrix switcher’s Ethernet port enables remote device control. 

At the instructor station, a DTP T SW4 HD 4K four-input switcher provides switching among connected devices. Its integrated DTP transmitter saves space within the tight instructor station compartment by extending signals over the twisted-pair infrastructure to the matrix switcher. 

An Extron SMP 351 H.264 processor creates files for archive. The recordings allow individual students and study groups to review lessons and medical procedures for deeper understanding. The streaming media processor's internal solid-state storage drive and network storage enable lecture capture and recording for live streaming and video on demand. It also simultaneously captures AV source content of different resolutions and scales these images. Locally stored content is later transferred to the network directory for archive.

Annotation, Bridging, and Scaling at the Lectern

To clarify lesson points and stimulate conversation, the instructor can make notations on a document or slide image using the Annotator 300 annotation processor. It receives AV transmissions over HDMI from the matrix switcher and KVM signals via an Extron USB Extender Plus pair. This same USB model supports the Planar touchscreen. Also sharing the compartment is the Extron MediaPort 200 HDMI and Audio to USB Scaling Bridge. It works as a soft codec interface to convert classroom AV signals to a USB source, dovetailing the videoconferencing, sound reinforcement, and video archive systems. 

Related: Extron on Designing AV Systems for Esports

The MediaPort scaling bridge was selected to enhance audio and video quality because it supported professional-grade videoconferencing PTZ cameras, boundary microphones, and sound reinforcement systems. Video processing technology specifically engineered for optimized image scaling and frame rate conversion preserves detail and legibility of source content. The USB connection supports the classroom's Mac mini. DTP HDMI 4K 230 Rx low-profile receivers support the Planar touchscreen, the ceiling-mounted projector, and the 80-inch confidence display on the back wall. Four relays on the DTP CrossPoint presentation matrix switcher facilitate operation of the projector lift and screen.

Hands-On Instruction

The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) lab has a similar design, using a DTP CrossPoint 108 4K MA 70 installed in the much larger instructor station. There is no credenza. The lab features 40 hydraulic treatment tables in a room flooded with natural light from the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows. The AV system includes multiple PTZ cameras and seven 60-inch displays mounted to the walls and suspended from the ceiling. The application provides the same capabilities as the classroom design, but with an emphasis of hands-on instructions. Students can easily see the instructor teaching from any treatment table within the lab. Instructors often employ PIP using the SMP 351 streaming media processor to show multiple angles of a certain technique.

Clear Audio

The sound systems in the Glassroom and OMM Lab are based on the DMP 128 Plus C AT, a 12x8 audio DSP processor with ProDSP, which provides mixing and audio adjustments such as ducking, filtering, and gain. AEC reduces echoes during audio conferencing, ensuring high-quality sound and clarity at each seat and treatment table. Using the AEC output reference signal from the MediaPort bridge, the DMP 128 Plus C AT provides distributed AEC processing for the fixed and wireless microphones. The bridge also scales HDMI video content, sending it and audio over USB to the local Mac mini. For the Glassroom, the DTP CrossPoint matrix switcher’s S/PDIF output supports the Extron SSP 7.1 surround sound processor. The DMP 128 model includes Dante, enabling distribution of high-quality live and programmed sound over the ICOM network.

Versatile Control

Leveraging technology for education is a large focus for ICOM. Ease of use and consistency across learning spaces were critical, ensuring the user experience was the same or similar in every space. Extron Pro Series control products enable local DTP system operation. The TLP Pro 725T 7-inch Tabletop TouchLink Pro Touchpanel at the instructor station offers a customized interface to provide room-to-room operational familiarity. Using a standard network infrastructure, the touchpanel is connected to the IPCP Pro control processor built into the matrix switcher. This streamlined the design and saved space. 

Related: Extron Releases Its First Ultra-Wide Touchpanel

The AV network runs through one of the matrix switcher's three dedicated AV LAN ports, and the LAN connection provides access to the facility’s network. The four relays on an Extron IPA T RLY4 are connected to the matrix switcher’s four digital I/O ports, augmenting control of the Extron XPA two-channel and four-channel audio amplifiers. Authorized iPad tablets running the free Extron Control app enable remote system monitoring and operation. Its interface conveniently matches the touchpanel screen.

Divisible Lecture Hall

The two 250-seat lecture halls provide resources and AV capabilities similar to the classroom and lab designs. System control is through a TLP Pro 725T 7-inch tabletop touchpanel at the instructor station or from the touchpanel in the adjacent control room. When combined into a single, large auditorium, support staff operate the system from the control room. To tie the DTP systems together, an Extron XTP II CrossPoint 3200 matrix switcher is rack-mounted in the control room. Its modular 32x32 frame is configured as 12x26, providing local HDMI distribution and routing between remote endpoints. 

Extron XTP SR HD 4K scaling receivers deliver optimal quality images to the four professional projection systems and two 90-inch confidence monitors within Lecture Halls A and B. Rack-mounted with the XTP II CrossPoint matrix switcher is an Extron IPCP Pro 555 control processor with LinkLicense, which makes it possible to use a laptop or other mobile device to control AV system operations from within the auditorium as well as from a remote location. When the halls are configured as an auditorium, the support staff uses the Extron TLP Pro 1720TG 17-inch tabletop touchpanel at the control room workstation to monitor and operate the XTP system.

Result

From conception to operational, the project took 12 months to complete. LightWerks delivered the AV system designs to ICOM on schedule, with installation and commissioning accomplished in three months. All teaching and meeting spaces were available in time for the inaugural class of medical students. According to Dr. Thomas Mohr, dean and chief academic officer at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, ICOM was conceived and established to attract a well-qualified faculty and student body. With its technology-driven curriculum, ICOM provides all that is required to effectively train tomorrow’s doctors of osteopathy today.

The What: RGB Spectrum has announced CAT-Linx 2 Plus, a new model of 4K extender with integrated USB control. 

The What Else: CAT-Linx 2 Plus extenders transmit high-resolution signals up to 100 meters using conventional Cat-6/7 cable. CAT-Linx 2 Plus also provides transparent USB extension for KVM control of remote devices. New technology delivers visually lossless compression when transmitting a 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 signal.

Related: RGB's QuadView Helps Harvard Business School Tackle Hybrid Education

For installation ease and convenience, CAT-Linx 2 Plus extenders have integrated power to supply endpoints over THEsame Cat-x cable that carries the video and data signals. This eliminates the need for external power connections. A CAT-Linx 2 pair needs only one power supply connected to the transmitter to power both devices.

The Bottom Line: CAT-Linx 2 Plus extenders support HDCP 2.2, HDR, and multi-channel audio. In addition to built-in KVM control of remote devices, the signal extenders can control display devices using IR pass-through and bidirectional RS-232 signal transmission.

As every business owner knows, time is money. Needlessly inefficient tasks hurt the bottom line. Because of this, having a network-distributed KVM system can help you stop wasting money by having to physically send a technician, or by hiring more technicians just for onsite support. It is expensive, and thanks to network-distributed KVM, completely unnecessary. 

Before the invention of KVM over IP, if you wanted to solve these problems, you had to install physical wire, a costly and inflexible solution. With a G&D KVM-over-IP system, you can use the existing network infrastructure already installed in most buildings, saving large amounts of time and money. With the flexibility of the system, you can even move your control room to another building without much trouble. Scenario switching allows you to set up multiple scripts that completely reconfigure the system in seconds. No longer will the day and night shifts have to compromise with each other on the most efficient configuration. Simply save one for every possible scenario and load them when needed. 

G&D offers endpoints available with DP1.1, DP1.2, DVI, and DL-DVI video signals. The system also supports bi-directional stereo audio, PS/2, and USB 2.0 devices and is completely RS-232 transparent for control. But the true power of the system lies in the ControlCenter-IP software, which includes the basic administration with extensive user and rights management. It has many helpful and popular control room features such as monitoring, scenario switching, and push-get for optimal cooperation and incorporation of video walls to cross-display switching. 

Cross-display switching and push-get are features deserving of special note, as it would be quite difficult to achieve either without KVM over IP. These powerful and flexible features allow you to set up a multimonitor station and have each display be a different computer while allowing your keyboard and mouse to control them all, simply by dragging the cursor into the window you need, just like a normal desktop with multiple displays. This creates a fast, powerful, and intuitive way to control multiple computers simultaneously. Similarly, the push-get feature allows a user to either push a video feed to a user’s screen or get a video feed from one, making collaboration quick and simple. 

G&D did not cut corners on security, either. The system forms what is known as a trusted computing platform to help guard against third-party intrusion. Each device has on it a Trusted Platform Module with an RSA encryption length of 2048 bits. This allows rapid response to security threats and high-level data protection. The ControlCenter-IP system can also be configured to be redundant for maximum uptime. 

In short, this system is essential for network administrators with computer systems spread over a wide area. The expenses saved in travel more than justify the cost of upgrading to this system. Clunky solutions like remote desktop—which can introduce security concerns and can be difficult to set up and use—do not compare.

Jeremy Caldera, CTS-D, CTS-I is the CEO and chief design engineer of audiovisual systems at IAS Technology, and is a member of the AVIXA University senior faculty. 

The What: NewTek has announced the Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI, which encodes and decodes 12G-SDI sources to and from IP-friendly NDI at up to 2160p ultra high-definition for greater resolution, frame rates, and color fidelity catering to the most demanding of media workflows.

The What Else: The Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI connects to 12G-SDI cameras or devices, converts the video signal to NDI, and shares it with any compatible system, device, or application anywhere on the network including UHD screens, monitors, projectors, or video walls. It can also turn any legacy 12G-SDI-enabled output device like a screen or monitor into an NDI signal on the network by using the decode functionality. Setup requires just one Ethernet cable. A web-based interface allows easy configuration and monitoring from a desktop or mobile browser as well as tally support via NDI and the option to mount onto cameras.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the State of AV Over IP

The Spark family of converters are compatible with hundreds of systems, devices, and applications that support NDI technology. Sparks pair with the TriCaster Mini 4K and TriCaster TC1 for a configuration-free NDI experience and the flexibility to route NDI to screens.

“With Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI we are able to support the full spectrum of video production needs with the groundbreaking benefits of NDI to save producers time and money while opening up new creative possibilities,” said Barbara Spicek, president of NewTek. “This new product serves to cement the NewTek and Vizrt Group commitment to build products that allow our customers to make more stories, better told.”

The Bottom Line: NewTek Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI offers video and media production professionals a quick and easy solution to convert 12G-SDI UHD video into an IP-based media production workflow. NewTek Spark Plus IO 12G-SDI converters are available now and are priced at $1,095 USMSRP. 

Situated in the central business district of Lujiazui, the 2,073-foot-tall Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest building in the world. Its centerpiece is the newly opened J Hotel, an ultra-luxury accommodation with 240 guest rooms spanning many of the skyscraper’s highest floors. No detail was overlooked in the design of the J Hotel, including technology integration. 

PCI China was selected to design, engineer, and integrate technology throughout the J Hotel's various gathering and community spaces. "Because the Shanghai Tower is a monumental, exquisite piece of architecture in Shanghai, it was necessary to design a state-of-the-art audio and video system to meet our client's expectations," said Norman Hu, marketing manager for PCI China. "We designed three boardrooms, two ballrooms, and other public areas. The Shanghai Tower had an existing gigabit network infrastructure; therefore we needed a flexible video solution able to operate with standard network wiring. We selected Visionary's PacketAV Matrix Series because of the product's resilience, reliability and price-point. The solution fit our client's specific needs." 

Related: Emergency Operations Center Upgrades with Visionary Solutions

Each ballroom was designed as a large room with the ability to divide the room into two smaller, independent, multifunctional spaces for business meetings, conferences, weddings, and other activities. "The J Hotel's ballrooms are designed to be leased for various activities,” Hu said. “A flexible, high-quality video matrix with ultra-low latency was a necessary solution. We incorporated Visionary's PacketAV Matrix Series Encoders and Decoders to provide a solution that is scalable based on changing room designs for different event functions. Each LED video wall features four PacketAV D4100 Decoders that enable up to four separate images or a single large image. An additional D4100 Decoder was provided to ensure the banquet space can be flexibly extended with a video display output."

The J Hotel’s boardrooms also required a simple-to-use BYOD solution that didn’t take up unnecessary space within the room. “We included six PacketAV E4100 Encoders and three D4100 Decoders to provide an easy-to-use BYOD solution,” Hu said. “The small yet powerful design of the PacketAV Matrix Series enabled PCI China to install the PacketAV Matrix Series behind the video display and underneath desks to save on installation space. With the PacketAV Matrix Series’ PoE power supply, there’s no complex wiring to consume additional space, only a cable connected to the switcher. The integrated audio port connection is also convenient for streamlining video and audio transmissions.”

Visionary's PacketAV Series is designed for standard network infrastructure, which allowed PCI China to create a scalable solution for the J Hotel. "Visionary's PacketAV Series lays the foundation for future system upgrades because of its ability to utilize an existing network," Hu said. "Additionally, the PacketAV Series integrates seamlessly with other solutions to eliminate unnecessary downtime for programming and control. We paired Visionary's PacketAV Matrix Series alongside QSC's Q-SYS system for a seamless audio solution. Visionary's PacketAV Matrix Series supports HDMI audio and transmits the audio directly to the Q-SYS system for processing through the network. The end user has a simple-to-use video and audio solution by utilizing a single output to an HDMI and, meanwhile, eliminating unnecessary audio cables."

Visionary's 4K UHD over IP PacketAV Matrix Series encoders and decoders are designed to provide a flexible, scalable, cinema-quality solution for IP networks. The PacketAV endpoints offer ultra-low latency with unlimited distribution capabilities. Utilizing existing network resources, the encoders and decoders can be rapidly deployed enabling cost-effective distribution of multi-channel Dante/AES67 Audio and Video over IP. 

The What: Key Digital has begun shipping the KD-X3x1WUTx 4K 18G HDBaseT transmitter wall plate, which offers presentation switching with one HDMI, one VGA+L/R, one Display Port by push-button or IP control.

The What Else: Transmitting up to 328ft (100m), the KD-X3x1WUTx enables videoconferencing with popular platforms, auto switching, HDMI, Display Port and VGA inputs, USB 2.0, LAN, CEC control keypad, audio de-embedding, IR and RS-232 Pass-Thru, IP control, and Power over HDBaseT. The KD-X3x1WUTx fits in a standard US three-gang wall box or table and wall AV boxes. With Power over HDBaseT, the KD-X3x1WUTx is powered by the receiver unit or presentation switcher for convenient installation.

Related: Key Digital Ships 4K Wireless Presentation System for Educators

KD-X3x1WUTx is HDCP 2.2 compliant and supports up to 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 24/25/30/60Hz at 4:4:4 (signals up to 18Gbps bandwidth). 4K/UHD signals are extended up to 328ft (100m) and 1080p up to 492ft (150m) via single Cat-5e/6 cable. In addition to AV signals, KD-X3x1WUTx extends IR, RS-232, and LAN for controlling remotely located equipment. With Key Digital’s Auto-Sensing, KD-X3x1WUTx automatically selects newly detected sources and switches from newly disconnected sources via Hot Plug Detection voltage when enabled.

This wall plate is HDR10 (High Dynamic Range) capable, allowing for pristine image quality through a greater range of luminance levels. Deep Color is supported with ranges up to UHD/4K 30Hz 4:4:4/12 bits or 60Hz 4:4:4/8 bit. Supported lossless compressed digital audio formats include Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, and DTS-HD Master Audio.

The KD-X3x1WUTx uses advanced EDID controls, and comes with a built-in internal library of 15 EDID handshakes including 4K with HDR, and also contains native EDID data copied from the receiver display/device. Key Digital’s proprietary Full Buffer System manages TMDS re-clocking / signal re-generation, HDCP authentication to source and display, EDID control handshake, and Hot Plug Detection Voltage. 

Point-to-point extension is achieved by integrating KD-X3x1WUTx with KD-X100MRx HDBaseT receiver. The resultant systems have a variety of video plugin options and offer audio de-embedding of the selected video source at the receiver unit. Power, volume, and muting buttons on the wall plate enable users to control the display or monitor connected to the receiver unit via CEC control over HDMI. With LAN connectivity at the transmitter or receiver unit, the KD-X3x1WUTx system can be scanned and detected with Key Digital’s free KD-App for switching video source selection and also provides buttons for controlling the display/projector.

Adding Key Digital’s PTZ controllable professional USB camera enables the use of videoconferencing software systems such as such as Skype, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, RingCentral, Google Hangouts, and more. KD-CAMUSB can connect into the receiver unit’s USB port at the display to enable a large view of all participants in the room.

Alternatively, KD-X3x1WUTx may be integrated with the KD-UPS52U universal presentation switcher. This presentation solution adds three inputs on a wall plate interface, bringing the system total to an impressive three HDMI, two display port, and one VGA+L/R inputs.

The KD-X3x1WUTx is fully controllable by all TCP/IP and RS-232 supported control systems via open API including Compass Control Pro, AMX, Crestron, RTI, Savant, URC, etc.

“Although VGA technology is undoubtedly legacy, it sticks around as a requirement for so many projects because organizations still have laptops distributed among their staff and faculty with that simple and common connection,” said Jonathon Ferry, national training manager for Key Digital. “With the release of KD-X3x1WUTx, Key Digital provides end-users with a new sleek and sophisticated wall plate option that still meets their need for the mature VGA connectivity.”

The Bottom Line: The KD-X3x1WUTx is the latest in Key Digital’s new family of Presentation Solutions and is well suited for professional video installations in conference rooms, class rooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, and more.

The What: AJA Video Systems has released two new 12G-SDI openGear solutions, AJA OG-12GM and AJA OG-FiDO-TR-12G. Featuring support for up to 4K/Ultra HD content, OG-12GM is a 12G-SDI to/from quad-link 3G-SDI Muxer/DeMuxer, and OG-FiDO-TR-12G is a 12G-SDI/Fiber transceiver.

The What Else: OG-12GM is an openGear-compatible SDI transport converter that supports single-link 12G-SDI to/from quad-link 3G-SDI, two Sample Interleave (2SI) to/from Square Division (Quadrant) pixel mapping, and selectable Distribution Amplifier (1x4). It provides detailed timing analysis for validating alignment of quad-link SDI inputs via a unique timing analyzer that quickly helps to identify possible timing issues for quad-link signals. OG-12GM features openGear’s high-density architecture and DashBoard support on Windows, macOS, or Linux for monitoring and control over a local network or remotely.

Related: AJA Releases 12G-AM 12G-SDI Audio Embedder/Disembedder

OG-FiDO-TR-12G offers flexibility and cost-efficiency for 12G-SDI to Fiber conversion and Fiber to 12G-SDI conversion with single-link LC connectivity, enabling long cable runs up to 10km for single mode. OG-FiDO-TR-12G is compatible with all certified openGear products and supports Ross DashBoard software for convenient remote control and monitoring over a PC or local network to further simplify production workflows.

"As demand for high raster 4K/UltraHD content increases, convenient 12G-SDI solutions are critical to simplifying cabling and transport of high bandwidth content,” said Nick Rashby, president, AJA Video Systems. “In response to industry demand, we’re bolstering our lineup of 12G-SDI workflow tools with the new OG-12GM card and OG-FiDO-TR-12G transceiver, which feature industry-wide compatibility in openGear frames.”

The Bottom Line: Well suited for critical broadcast applications where high-quality conversion and reliability are required, both solutions are designed for use in high-density openGear 2RU frames and compatible with Ross DashBoard software for flexible device control and monitoring.

The What: RTI has announced a new video over IP (VIP) platform that allows integrators to distribute 4K UHD video over a 1Gb network switch. 

The What Else: At the heart of the RTI Video over IP platform is the VIP-UHD-CTRL Control Module, which combines simplified APEX integration with IR, RS-232, or TCP/IP control, and a wizard-based interface for fast and automated system configuration. Advanced signal management provides independent routing of IR, RS-232, USB/KVM, audio, and video signals, while two RJ45 LAN connections bridge the main and VIP networks to increase performance and eliminate the need for a VLAN. Multiple displays can easily be combined into video walls, up to 16x16, using the video wall function.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the Evolution of AV over IP

With a 60Hz refresh rate and support for 4K resolution, the platform's VIP-UHD-TX transmitter and VIP-UHD-RX receiver provide high-quality video, using visually lossless compression technology to deliver signals up to 328 feet/100 meters. HDCP 2.2 compliance with advanced EDID management eliminates copy-protected black screens when connecting HDMI sources, while built-in scaling lets each screen in a network display its full resolution instead of being limited by the lower resolution of legacy displays. The transmitter and receiver feature analog audio embedding and breakout, and support all known HDMI audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio transmission.

To minimize cable clutter, the VIP-UHD-CTRL, VIP-UHD-TX, and VIP-UHD-RX can be powered by power over Ethernet (PoE), while up to four transmitters or receivers can be mounted using the 2RU RM-4VIP2 rack-mount adaptor shelf, which includes all necessary mounting hardware.

"Our new VIP platform allows integrators to take advantage of existing network infrastructure to cost-effectively distribute crystal-clear video to displays across installations of any size," said Neal Ellsworth, RTI director of AV product management. "We've designed it so that integrators can deliver the benefits of video over IP without the need for a deep understanding of networking or the need to manually assign IP addresses. It's fully integrated into the RTI Integration Designer APEX programming and configuration platform, so all endpoints auto-discover and configure. This saves time on every installation."

The Bottom Line: The system is designed to be capable of being installed in minutes, scaled to a virtually unlimited number of endpoints, and controlled natively within the RTI control environment. For the user, everything in the system is conveniently displayed on an RTI touchpanel, remote, or mobile device with video preview, making it easy to align any source with any display.

From natural disasters to NASA happenings, the city of Houston is no stranger to newsworthy events. And as with most major metropolitan areas, emergency preparedness is something the Harris County government takes seriously. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is among the nation’s most connected and technologically sophisticated.

Recently the facility’s audio and video systems were given an update, courtesy of AV integration specialists CCS Presentation Systems. The new system integrated a complex matrix of sources, multiple video walls and flat panel displays, distribution and control, with connections via Visionary Solutions PacketAV DUET endpoints.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Command and Control

The facility’s north and south walls are outfitted with large 2x8 video walls comprised of 55-inch LG VH Series .88mm combined bezel displays. Each video wall is flanked with smaller 2x2 arrays of LG 55-inch displays. Additional screens are located at individual workstations, a briefing room, a conference room, and a couple of private offices. A total of 62 DUET encoders and 68 DUET decoders provide maximum flexibility in routing multiple sources and destinations. A TVOne CorioMaster handles scaling, mirroring, and windowing, with multiple Cisco network switches routing communication from a Crestron control processor.

“Anything can be routed to anywhere, anytime, and have breakaway audio,” said CCS account executive Kevin Salmon. “Instead of a central touchpanel, the system is controlled via multiple iPads in the EOC and briefing room. There is one person that typically drives the entire system. As a hard-wired back, we did load a Crestron XPanel on the dedicated PC in the control room office.”

Audio in the EOC was updated with multiple Biamp DSPs allowing the customer to listen to multiple audio sources from their telephone system. In the briefing room, a ClearOne PTZ camera and additional Biamp DSP equip the room for web-based videoconferencing.

While the project went smoothly in the end user’s eyes, it was not without a few hiccups, Salmon said. “As with all very large complex systems that have been modified over the years, the documentation we received did not always match what was in the field. Our designer engineers spent extensive time doing onsite discovery and made recommendations on ways to improve the proposed system. There were several meetings with the end user to identify certain functional requirements that were not spelled out in the bid package. In the end, CCS provided a system that exceeded the customer’s expectations, and we met our original estimate of four weeks, start to finish.”

The What: Magewell has begun shipping the newest decoder models in its Pro Convert family of low-latency video-over-IP converters. Available immediately, the Pro Convert for NDI to SDI and Pro Convert H.26x to SDI transform live, IP media streams into high-quality SDI outputs for connection to monitors, projectors, and legacy production equipment.

The What Else: The Pro Convert H.26x to SDI decodes live H.264 (AVC) or H.265 (HEVC) compressed video streams up to 1080p60 for output via a 3G-SDI interface. The low-latency device supports a wide range of input streaming protocols for maximum source compatibility, including SRT (Secure Reliable Transport)—developed and open-sourced by Haivision—as well as RTSP, RTMP, UDP, RTP, and HLS. The Pro Convert for NDI to SDI offers all of the same functionality plus support for Newtek's NDI technology for production-grade media transport, including both full-bandwidth NDI and the high-efficiency, lower-bitrate NDI|HX mode.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the State of AV Over IP

The plug-and-play decoders feature DHCP-based network configuration and high-quality, FPGA-based video processing. The compact devices measure 3.97 by 2.4 inches (100.9 by 60.2mm) with a height of 0.92 inches (23.3mm), and can be powered via external adapter or Power over Ethernet (PoE). Users can specify source streams and control the decoder's advanced settings through a browser-based interface, connected keyboard or mouse, or using on-device buttons that overlay an intuitive menu on the output.

With the release of the new models, Magewell now has three Pro Convert decoders available with SDI output. The third, the Pro Convert for NDI to AIO, offers NDI, H.264, and H.265 decoding with simultaneous HDMI and 3G-SDI outputs. The decoders can be paired with Magewell's intuitive Ultra Stream live streaming encoders, Pro Convert NDI encoders, or third-party encoding products.

"The use of video over IP and streaming media for remote production, live media transport, and mass communications has accelerated significantly as the world adapts to new ways of working, learning, and sharing information," said James Liu, VP of engineering at Magewell. "Our Pro Convert family lets users easily and reliably leverage popular IP media protocols over LANs, WANs, and the public internet, and we're pleased to be shipping our newest decoder models into customers' hands."

The Bottom Line: Magewell's Pro Convert products are designed to bridge traditional video signals with IP-based production, distribution, and streaming workflows. Pro Convert decoders are well suited for applications including remote production, multi-site video distribution, video walls, digital signage, image magnification (IMAG), surveillance monitoring, or bridging legacy and next-generation media infrastructures.

The What: IHSE has launched its Draco tera flex series of matrix switches, designed to deliver increased performance with enhanced flexibility, modularity, scalability, and functionality. 

The What Else: The Draco tera flex family incorporates features from the Draco tera enterprise series of switches, including SNMPv3, LDAPS, multilingual on-screen display, encrypted communication for maximum security (for API, Draco tera configuration tool and Matrix Grid), and fast booting. Draco tera flex devices can now be interconnected in a decentralized matrix system using matrix grid technology.

Related: IHSE KVM Solution Streamlines Control for Berlin Brandenburg Airport

The Draco tera flex is available in three housing variants (1, 2, and 4U) with between 16 and 160 ports. All ports can be used flexibly as inputs or outputs. Eight-port expansion modules can be mixed between category and fiber optic types, with either 1Gb or 3Gb bandwidth; thus almost all customer-specific requirements can be achieved. The Draco tera flex is equipped with integrated power supply and redundant network connection as standard.

The new Draco tera flex matrix switch series offers a higher number of ports and performance at almost the same cost and replaces the existing Draco tera compact range; however, the eight-port compact switch will still be available as an entry-level variant for smaller KVM installations.

The Bottom Line: The modular structure permits simple interchange of individual components and prepares for future expansion. The Draco tera flex series is fully compatible with all Draco extenders and Draco tera KVM switches. It is well suited for cost-effective expansion of an existing Draco tera enterprise system or as an upgrade to existing Draco tera compact installations.

Freely-configurable 24- and 40-port models housed in 1U 19-inch racks will be available from the end of November 2020. Larger models in 2U and 4U racks with up to 160 ports will follow at the end of the year.

The What: ARISTA Corporation has announced the ARS-200-HD HDMI Audio to Dante Audio converter and the ARS-200-DH Dante Audio Stream to HDMI Audio converter.

The What Else: The ARS-200-HD extracts audio from devices like DVD players and converts the audio stream to Dante format. This enables the audio signals to be transmitted over long distance and used with public address (PA) systems—ensuring that everyone can hear the sound that accompanies the visuals. The converter/interface uses an HDMI Type A female connector for HDMI input and an HDMI Type A female connector for video loopback output. The HDMI input and loopback output maximum supported video resolution is 4096x2160 / 3840x2160 at 60Hz (4:4:4).

Related: The Integration Guide to Dante-Enabled AV

ARISTA’s ARS-200-DH Dante Audio Stream to HDMI converter is well suited for presentation environments where audio is being handled via Dante in order to cover long distances, such as in a large hall while audio and video is desired in the most outlying areas. In such cases, Dante audio is being received by the ARS-200-DH while it is also receiving video input via HDMI. In this case, the ARS-200-DH merges the audio with the HDMI signal so that it can feed external displays. The ARS-200-DH outputs stereo audio (20Hz–20kHz) with a frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz. Maximum video resolution is 4096 x 2160 / 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz (4:4:4) and both the video input and the video loopback ports are HDMI Type A female connectors.

Power for both the ARS-200-HD and the ARS-200-DH can be handled via either a DC 12V feed or PoE (Power over Ethernet). Both units are housed in a rugged metal housing, and the dimensions for both units are 3.3 x 3.9 x 1.1 inch.

“The ARS-200-HD and ARS-200-DH are two new building blocks adding to Arista’s Pro Audio products baseline and filling the products gap in the audio installation market,” said Paul Shu, ARISTA’s president of sales and marketing. “The ARS-200-HD enables the integrator to add HDMI audio into a Dante audio network and the ARS-200-HD enables integrators to add Dante audio to HDMI audio output in a very quick and easy installation. I believe these two new products can help integrators streamline their installations, saving time and effort in the process.”

The Bottom Line: The ARISTA ARS-200-HD and ARS-200-DH are designed for presentation environments where audio needs to be converted from one format to the other and where long-distance transmission is involved.

The What: Extron has announced the immediate availability of its XTP II CP HD 8K I/O Boards, which the company touts as the first pro AV 8K switching and distribution system. They accept HDMI 2.1 data rates up to 40.1 Gbps, enabling support of uncompressed 8K video with HDR. 

The What Else: These HDCP 2.3-compliant boards provide input equalization and output reclocking and feature connections for powering active, ultra-high-speed HDMI cables. The XTP II CP HD 8K I/O Boards leverage the 50 Gbps backplane of XTP II CrossPoint Series matrix switchers to deliver a future-proof AV infrastructure that supports convenient growth and upgrade without needing to replace equipment.

Related: Product Review: Extron SMP 351 Streaming Media Processor

“We are excited to be first to the market with uncompressed 8K switching and distribution products,” said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Extron. “XTP II CrossPoint matrix switchers have always supported the high data rate of HDMI 2.1. Now with the introduction of our new 8K HDMI I/O boards, existing systems and new designs will now support 8K and other combinations of high resolutions, refresh rates, and color bit depths for unmatched performance.”

The Bottom Line: The XTP II CrossPoint Series matrix switchers provide high-performance routing of video, audio, bidirectional control, and Ethernet in a future-ready integrated solution. The 50 Gbps backplane accommodates the combination of resolutions, frame rates, and color bit depths supported within the HDMI 2.1 specification, ensuring infrastructure that will last for years.

The What: Atlona has begun shipping the AT-OME-MS52W 5x2 matrix switcher, designed to streamlining BYOD collaboration in today’s AV environments. 

The What Else: The OME-MS52W features HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C inputs alongside mirrored or matrixed HDBaseT and HDMI outputs with selectable switching modes. All wired AV inputs and the local HDMI output support High Dynamic Range (HDR) formats and 4K60 4:4:4 video at HDMI data rates up to 18Gbps. Native, platform-based wireless interfacing enables screen mirroring for iOS, Android, Mac, Chromebook, and Windows devices without the need for a separate app, while moderator functionality, accessible through the OME-MS52W’s web interface enables an authorized user to preview, allow or block content from up to 16 wirelessly connected devices.

Related: Atlona Reveals New Two-Input 4K/UHD Switcher with USB Hub

The OME-MS52W supports HDBaseT transport of video up to 4K60 with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling alongside embedded audio, control, Ethernet and—when paired with a USB-capable Omega Series receiver such as the AT-OME-EX-RX or AT-OME-SR21—USB data. Combined with USB 2.0 and USB-C interfaces for up to three host PCs and two peripheral devices, this USB extension capability makes the OME-MS52W well suited for software videoconferencing and unified communications applications including Zoom, Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, BlueJeans, and GoToMeeting.

This new switcher offers a rich array of convenience and automation features. The OME-MS52W can automatically switch between inputs when sources are connected or removed, while automatic display control turns compatible monitors and projectors on or off without user intervention. Other integration features include audio embedding and de-embedding; motorized screen or display lift activation; and trigger I/O ports to power the system up or down based on occupancy sensing. The switcher can be remotely managed through the Atlona Management System or Atlona’s innovative Velocity IP-enabled AV control platform, while TCP/IP and RS-232 support enable integration with third-party control systems.

“The OME-MS52W is a wired and wireless AV gateway plus so much more, providing a robust switching and USB extension solution for collaborative meeting spaces that is full-featured and flexible, yet easy to use and integrate,” said David Shamir, vice president of product management, Atlona. “We’re excited to now be delivering its powerful benefits to our customers.”

The Bottom Line: The new switcher combines wired and wireless AV input support, integrated USB extension, and rich integration features to empower applications ranging from videoconferencing to multi-participant presentations.

The Las Vegas gaming and entertainment scene is constantly evolving, with new casinos joining the action and existing casinos stepping up their game to lure visitors with the latest on-site experiences. The Westgate Resort & Casino is home to the world’s largest sports book, the “Super Book,” featuring the gaming industry’s largest 4K video wall, measuring 260 feet wide by18.8 feet high. Earlier this year, taking coincidental advantage of the COVID-19 business lull, it underwent a full AV system upgrade to achieve next-generation “wow” performance.

Back in December 2019, Westgate vice president, Race and Sports Operations Jay Kornegay and video systems manager Kelly Hall met with their integrator partners from NMR Events, headquartered in Monroe Township, NJ and with offices in Las Vegas. In the meeting, NMR’s Doug Whelan, director of systems integration, and Mike Campbell, vice president, sales, learned about Westgate’s upgrade goals: a system truly worthy of Las Vegas scale. The casino wanted to outshine its own video wall with a fully new SDVoE AV-over-IP infrastructure, while enhancing the RF modulation system that feeds monitors throughout the cavernous venue and improving overall system control and back room maintenance.

Related: Sportsbook Informs and Entertains at Circa Resort & Casino Las Vegas with Daktronics Video Wall

Commencing in April 2020, the project was completed in just two and a half months—aided in part by the COVID-19 shut down that closed the venue to the public, so work could be expedited without interrupting the normal operations of the casino.

Biggest, Better

The massive video wall is comprised of 1,428 Daktronics LED tiles for a dazzling total of 26,000 x 2,200 pixels. To teach it some new tricks, the decision was made to transition from a traditional AV switching system to AV-over-IP signal distribution. The original backend was replaced by ZeeVee ZyPer4K SDVoE encoders and decoders, which run through Netgear M4500 switches to provide advanced routing, flexibility, and multi-matrix switching for a wide array of content. 

As a result of the upgrade, NMR’s Whelan was able to engineer 175 different multiviews—equaling a dozen multiviews per screen—that displays a seemingly endless combination of images simultaneously. The SDVoE/AV-over-IP platform enabled this to be accomplished with fewer devices, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in multiview processing alone and taking up a significantly smaller footprint.  

“We are very proud of the enhancements we made to the Super Book video wall in particular,” Whelan said. “It’s an awesome display that captivates viewers’ attention with more multiviews than any other project we know of in Vegas—or anywhere else, for that matter.” 

Updated and Expanded

Overall, the system handles more than 100 video sources including DirecTV, Dish Network, and Contemporary Research ATSC receivers, as well as COX Cable TV tuners and additional PC feeds, via 142 inputs. In turn, it feeds 61 monitors throughout the sports book. The ZyPer4K AV-over-IP gear works in conjunction with ZeeVee HDbridge 3000 RF encoders and decoders that feed over a hundred TVs scattered at seats throughout the sports book, at the betting windows and in multiple locations throughout the casino floor.

Crisper Control

Samsung and Dell monitors placed atop each of the racks in the control room enable Westgate’s IT team to see what content is being shown on the video wall and individual screens. System vulnerability is minimized since there’s no need to reboot the entire system to address a problem in one specific area. The advanced Netgear 10G network configuration that Whelan designed, with a high level of built-in flexibility and complete redundancy, further guards against system failure.

Another advantage of the AV-over-IP solution is that far fewer cables were used in the new system—three one-inch bundles of quarter-inch fiber cables versus the usual sea of 3-inch wide Cat-5 and audio cables (in the old system, cables occupied a third of the raised floor in the computer room). The decentralized design spreads the workload around so that the endpoints are the “glue” and do most of the heavy lifting. 

“We are extremely happy with the outcome of this project on several fronts,” said Westgate’s Kornegay. “Our video wall’s eye-popping dynamic content is helping to draw in bettors. Add that to the user experience we offer at each Super Book kiosk and the improved control and maintenance capabilities. Combined, this upgrade helps keep us stand out among a field of fierce competitors in the number-one gaming market in the world.”

NCSOFT is an international leader in the multiplayer online gaming industry. As an e‑game developer, video is one of the most important aspects of their business. The AV systems at their corporate headquarters in the Bundang district of Seoul, South Korea, were aging. They needed to be upgraded to keep pace with the high-performance scene switching and color depths integral to advanced game development and presentation.

The project included the auditorium and the convention hall. These rooms are used for a wide variety of activities, such as stockholder meetings, conferences, live performances, and new video game testing, and exhibition. The installation would support HDMI and SDI signals with 4K60 routing and include an integrated control system. Expandability and absolute reliability with built‑in system redundancy were mandatory. Also, there needed to be a clear AV upgrade path.

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The Solution

YOUNGJUN TNC worked closely with NCSOFT to design a single AV system with the power to support both rooms. They chose Extron’s XTP Systems operated with Pro Series control products.

NCSOFT’s auditorium seats 200 and the convention hall can seat up to 420, depending on the event. At the front of each room is a Basictech LED display system, and displays mounted on the side walls augment viewing. Content is sourced from Apple and Windows laptops and connected mobile devices. Some events, such as gamer conventions, also use integrated Sony Pro BRC‑H700 high-definition robotic video cameras. For security reasons, each room has its own control room and sources are not shared.

Rack-mounted in the control room is an Extron XTP II CrossPoint 3200 32x32 modular matrix switcher. The XTP line was chosen for its flexibility, robust integration features, modular frame, and redundant power supplies. The previous AV system took a few seconds to perform switches because of EDID and HDCP communication issues. Technologies built into the XTP II CrossPoint Series streamline these exchanges. Its 50Gbps backplane provides the bandwidth for 4K60 at 4:4:4, as well as the 48Gbps data rate of 8K video.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the State of AV Over IP

The XTP II CrossPoint matrix switcher is populated with a mix of XTP input and output boards that support local signal distribution as well as extension of AV and control to remote endpoints. XTP II CP HD 4K PLUS HDMI input and output boards and 3G‑SDI input boards provide local signal distribution, and an XTP CP 4o SA output board routes audio signals to the sound system. To support the endpoints, XTP CP 4K twisted pair I/O boards enable signal extension from the matrix switcher in the control room. They also provide remote powering of the twisted pair transmitters and receivers, reducing need for additional power drops and freeing outlets at the remote locations. While the XTP frame stays in place, the boards can be upgraded as technology evolves. These features and capabilities ensure consistent and reliable display of the vibrant colors and fast switching requirements for dynamic game play.

XTP T HD 4K transmitters extend AV and control signals between the matrix switcher and the sources connected at the lectern. Extron decora-style wallplate transmitters provide additional AV connectivity within the hall. An XTP SR HD 4K receiver mounted with each display scales video to the display’s native resolution for optimal image quality.

Other Extron signal processing and distribution components consist of Extron DSC 3G‑HD A scalers, DA4 12G HD‑SDI distribution amplifiers, and DA6 HD 4K HDMI distribution amplifiers. This careful product selection enables the AV system to provide the best possible picture quality, high-performance switching, and flexible signal distribution. XTP fully accommodates system requirements during the most color-saturated and action-packed multiplayer online game demos and exhibitions.

The control systems are built with Extron IP Link Pro processors including the IPL Pro CR88 and the IPCP Pro 550 with the LinkLicense for User Interfaces upgrade. The eight contact closure inputs and eight relays on the IPL Pro CR88 are used to control screens and the environment, such as lighting. Extron LinkLicense for User Interfaces extends the graphical interface to an NCSOFT-authorized Apple iPad 10 or iPad Pro 12.9 running the Extron Control app. The processors translate user selections into commands for the XTP II CrossPoint matrix switcher, displays, and other AV hardware. YOUNGJUN TNC appreciated that the app loaded the custom user interface automatically, saving setup time and costs. NCSOFT is currently investigating use of iOS VoiceOver with the Extron Control app to easily convert text to speech for touch-free activation of buttons and commands.

Results

NCSOFT staff and visitors alike are happy and impressed with the presentation capabilities in the auditorium and the convention hall. “Based on our long experience in the AV industry, we were confident proposing Extron products to NCSOFT for their international headquarters,” said Kim Jin Kook, deputy head DIF department at YOUNGJUN TNC. “We have been integrating Extron solutions for many years and have come to trust the quality and reliability of the products and the excellent support provided before, during, and even after the project is complete.”

The What: Crestron has introduced five new HDMI Switchers covering a broad range of sizes and applications, including 4x1, 4x2, 4x4, 8x4, and 8x8, with support for 4K60 4:4:4 at 18Gbps. 

The What Else: The switchers feature enterprise-class security features, including 802.1x, Active Directory credential management integration, PKI Authentication, SSH, SFTP, HTTPS, and TLS. 

Related: Product Review: Crestron 70 Series Touch Screen

Crestron’s switchers also deliver the features and capabilities demanded by IT professionals who are tasked with managing dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of rooms. With Crestron’s XiO Cloud management platform, Crestron is delivering the features needed to efficiently manage these assets at scale. 

Other features include HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, integrated display control via CEC (no programming or control system needed), audio de-embedding, and auto-route and priority routing (HD-MD4X1-4KZ-E, HD-MD4X2-4KZ-E).

The lineup includes: 

• 4x1 4K60 4:4:4 HDR AV Switcher (MSRP $800)
• 4x2 4K60 4:4:4 HDR AV Switcher (MSRP $1,400)
• 4x4 4K60 4:4:4 HDR AV Switcher (Shipping in December)
• 8x4 4K60 4:4:4 HDR AV Switcher (MSRP $5,000)
• 8x8 4K60 4:4:4 HDR AV Switcher (MSRP $6,000)

The Bottom Line: Crestron’s new line of HDMI Switchers are designed to deliver the latest video standards and bring peace of mind to IT and InfoSec professionals with enterprise-class security features and XiO Cloud Service integration.

The What: VuWall has released TRx 3.0 powered with VuTrex technology, a new solution offering a single software platform for AV-over-IP content distribution and advanced video wall management. 

The What Else: TRx 3.0 introduces a redesigned architecture with hybrid VuTrex technology, allowing for users to manage multiple sources in any source format and route them to single displays or multiple video walls, without any programming. VuTrex bridges AV, IT, and IP systems allowing TRx to manage and control any visual content across any type of display, multiviewer, or video wall with drag-and-drop operation.

Related: VuWall Introduces VuTrex for Multi-Video Wall Control, AV Distribution

The software release of TRx 3.0 features integrated advanced video wall management, extended audio support, enhanced user rights management, and advanced KVM support.

• Advanced Video Wall Management: Enhances the usability and facilitates video wall deployments in corporate workspaces, control rooms, and crisis rooms. This new release brings advanced multi-display and multi-resolution management with the TRx Display Server. Operators can drive a mix of video walls with standard and nonstandard aspect ratios—whether LCD, LED, or projector—all from a single controller.
• Extended Audio Support: Users can manage audio sources on video walls from the TRx user interface or control panels.
• User Rights Management: Secures content with granular multi-user access control that includes endpoint permissions, service permissions, Active Directory support, user rights, and group rights.
• Advanced KVM Support: The TRx Capture Server allows operators to convert any PC on the network into a KVM source for soft-KVM control. It provides real-time KVM control of IHSE Draco KVM Switches from the TRx interface for seamless KVM control, increasing situational awareness and response times, with a bird's-eye view for each operator.

"As integrators struggle with a plethora of technology and organizations are challenged with handling the ever-increasing amounts of visual information, we were determined to simplify both the integration and management of video walls with a standards-based, interoperable approach," said Mark Schmidt, CTO of VuWall. "Our latest TRx release allows our customers to remain autonomous after deployments with the ability to change and fine-tune their video wall and routing configurations easily without any programming."

The Bottom Line: TRx provides organizations with a centralized management platform to configure and operate display surfaces and video walls within corporate workspaces and mission-critical control rooms. TRx is well suited for seamless multi-video-wall and single-display control and visualization throughout multiple rooms, floors, and campuses. TRx, powered by VuTrex technology, is designed to simplify the deployment of complex AV-over-IP projects to configure and operate video walls, multiviewers, control panels, encoders, and decoders—all from a single centralized platform.

Game Creek Video, a provider of advanced mobile television production facilities, has launched four new mobile units in the last year—with a fifth nearing completion—relying on Riedel Communications' ultra-dense IP gateway solutions for intertruck connectivity. Riedel's MediorNet FusioN standalone IP converters drive full SMPTE ST 2110-based signal processing in the five mobile production systems—all of which represent the state of the art in 4K/HDR production.

All five of the new Game Creek mobile facilities are 53-foot expandable systems and deploy an entire remote IP facility into a single truck, therefore eliminating the need for a secondary B unit for onsite support. Bravo and Columbia, the first two Game Creek Video mobile facilities to feature the Riedel IP infrastructure solutions, were launched in late 2019, with Gridiron A, Gridiron B, and Celtic following earlier this year.

Related: Riedel’s Intercom Systems Provide Communications Inside NBA Bubble

Bravo and Gridiron are dedicated to FOX Sports' NFL and college football coverage, while CBS Sports has reserved Columbia and Celtic for its NFL and college basketball broadcasts. Gotham, the truck currently in development, will enable MSG Networks' coverage of New York Rangers hockey and New York Knicks basketball games.

"With Bravo, we were taking a significant new direction in our facility design by trying to achieve full IP workflows within the footprint of a single mobile unit,” said Keith Martin, engineering project manager, Game Creek Video. “Naturally, that meant finding robust and effective solutions that could also run as cool as possible and meet the space constraints and weight restrictions of a 53-foot truck. Not only do the Riedel MediorNet devices check all of those boxes, but, as native IP and 2110 solutions, they allow us to maximize all of the benefits of IP operations including lower cost per path, reduced setup time, connectivity with our legacy assets, and overall simplicity of deployment.”

Deployed on board each truck are 16 high-density Riedel MediorNet FusioN 6 gateways and two 2-RU MediorNet MBR 18 chassis, which work in combination to create a pair of truck-to-truck interfaces, known as Game Creek Video's T2T, each enabling support of up to 32x32 optical video paths. This Riedel equipment effectively reduces up to 128 strands of fiber cable to only eight—greatly simplifying each production and reducing points of failure.

The MediorNet-based T2T interface also creates vendor-agnostic connectivity between the five new trucks and Game Creek Video's fleet of legacy, SDI baseband facilities, eliminating the need to convert SDI signals from electrical copper to optical fiber and then back again. Using a 25-gigabit Ethernet interface, the FusioN gateways can transport signals on the SMPTE ST 2110 network and then output them as CWDM-wavelength SDI directly to legacy equipment in a baseband truck.

"The ability to not only interconnect any of our 2110-based facilities with each other, but with any of our traditional baseband SDI mobile facilities, brings incredible flexibility to each production and allows us to maximize the investment in our entire fleet of vehicles," Martin said. "But the main reason we leaned heavily into Riedel for the T2T interface is the incredible versatility of the solution. In a single box, we have a complete solution for handling SDI, CWDM wavelength, and the other complexities of the deployment. Plus, the Riedel team was outstanding to work with, helping us conceptualize and then realize a new approach that replaced products we had been relying on for a very long time. Riedel is an important partner now."

The What: Barix is now shipping its IP Former for transforming analog loudspeakers into networked IP speakers. 

The What Else: Replacing the 70/100V transformer traditionally used with analog loudspeakers, IP Former adds IP networking capabilities to new or existing speakers. It provides an IP network interface, audio stream decoder, and amplifier front-end for a 2- to 8-ohm speaker, with power supplied over PoE for streamlined cabling and installation. Current analog speaker installations can be retrofitted by simply switching their transformers with IP Former units, maximizing the lifecycle of customers’ existing investments.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Networked Audio

IP Former is well suited for bringing IP capabilities to applications ranging from background music and in-venue announcements to paging and emergency warning systems. The flexible device decodes audio streams delivered via HTTPS, RTP or UDP in codec formats including PCM, AACplus, MP3, Opus, G.711, and G.722. SIP negotiation provides compatibility with VoIP phone systems and enables each speaker to be addressed individually, while pre-recorded messages can be stored within the device for fast playout. Native support for the Singlewire’s InformaCast and Syn-Apps’ Revolution platforms enables speakers equipped with IP Former to integrate as endpoints for the popular mass notification solutions.

Built on Barix’s programmable and secure IPAM 400 IP audio module, IP Former can be extended with new or custom functionality, providing future-proof flexibility. The solution's standards-friendly, open architecture enables it to integrate into multi-vendor environments.

“Many end-customer projects include advanced IP audio features among their requirements, but they already have perfectly good analog loudspeakers in their facilities,” said Davide Nossa, product manager, Barix. “IP Former lets integrators and systems designers simply upgrade those existing speakers with powerful IP functionality, saving the customer significant money compared to new speakers while avoiding the environmental impact of discarding the old ones.”

The Bottom Line: Enabling upgrades of existing audio deployments to support advanced IP functionality, the new module lets systems integrators and installers offer customers a digital audio environment without jettisoning their current speakers.

The State of AV over IP

Whether AV over IP, SDVoE, or another flavor, the shift to AV on the network has had a slower uptake than the industry had expected. By some accounts, not even 30 percent of businesses, organizations, government, or higher education have made a full transition.

Walk the InfoComm trade show floor (when we used to be able to do that), and you won’t find a company without a full suite of networked AV/IT solutions. Is there a disconnect, or are barriers to entry such as existing infrastructure, or major AV equipment that hasn’t reached the end of its lifecycle, and limited resources holding this back?

Or, is the that IT department still not having it because there’s not an agreed-upon standard, and interoperability between different vendors can be dicey?

We know this topic is full of strong convictions, so we asked thought leaders from several of the industry’s top AV companies to share their perspective on the state of AV over IP and provide a glimpse of their roadmap. 

AJA Video Systems: Bryce Button, Director of Product Marketing

Parallel to broadcast, the professional AV industry is experiencing a period of transition from traditional cable transport to AV over IP or hybrid workflows. While compelling AV-over-IP benefits include denser routing opportunities, remote control, and the ability to transport signals almost anywhere within a network, critical new concerns like reliability and security arise. 

AV over IP and other trends in 2020

A range of competing methodologies for optimal AV-over-IP transport also present a challenge for integrators seeking to overhaul legacy environments. In response to the continual widespread use of traditional audio and video connectivity, new technologies are being developed to bridge conventional modes of transit with AV over IP.

Adoption of NewTek’s NDI open protocol for IP production workflows has proven successful, which supports AJA’s KONA, Io, and Corvid product families. In the audio sphere, companies like Audinate have achieved success with the emergence of Dante as a leading networking system for high-density, low-latency, high-resolution audio transport. AV-over-IP benefits of simpler cabling and remote control of feeds has also spurred an uptick in IP-driven video signals fed to multichannel displays in AV environments.

While the adoption of hybrid approaches advances, and discussions on traditional SDI or HDMI cable transport versus AV over IP continues, it’s critical for AV professionals to stay informed on the latest industry protocols, including NDI, HDBaseT, SRT, and ST2110 with AV considerations in mind and consider integrating agnostic products that support a range of standards, or choose a path that best suits the choices presented by each particular project and its attendant priorities—do you need uncompressed vs. compressed video, how important is latency, is security paramount or unnecessary? During this transition, AJA will remain at the forefront of pioneering versatile production technologies that bridge traditional workflows with the latest IP protocols.

Arista Corp.: Paul Shu, President

The shift to AV on the network is, indeed, taking longer than many of us in the industry expected, and this is the result of several factors. Presently, there are numerous codecs—among them SDVoE, H.264/H.265, JPEG2000, TICO, and others. For the clients and their technical managers, this creates confusion and the prospect of choosing a codec that falls out of favor is enough to cause many people to take a wait-and-see approach.

Secondly, the cost of the products and their implementation can be another prohibitive factor. This leads to yet another concern that routinely arises: “How much better is a networked AV approach going to be than our present setup, and does this justify incurring the necessary expense?” Education is important in this regard, and presently, I believe that aspect of the overall sales process still requires fine tuning. As a result, the process of making the transition to networked AV has been slower than expected and we really cannot expect users to adapt faster than they are comfortable with.

Embracing IT innovations for AV applications

Ultimately, the process of merging one’s IT network with their AV network will prove beneficial—and more cost effective. Arista Corp. offers a full suite of networked AV solutions capable of addressing a wide range of projects. In due time, I believe the benefits of networked AV will become more apparent and the pace of the transition will accelerate.

ATEN Technology: YT Liang, Senior Product Manager

With AV over IP and HDBaseT, each has its own set of benefits/advantages depending on the application. To decide which is best, look at the main phases (design, installation, service) of your project and ask yourself these questions:

Design phase—which technology is best? What’s the project scale? If smaller (within eight sources/displays), a 1U video matrix can work. For 25 displays, AV over IP is better. What are your compression and latency considerations? If no compression is accepted (e.g. medical review), HDBaseT is recommended. If visually lossless compression is required (e.g. digital signage), AV over IP is better suited. How comfortable are you with network-based solutions? Are you up to date with the most relevant network knowledge (multi-case, IGMP, jumbo frames)? Ideally, go with a manufacturer that offers both types of solutions; they will have a technical team in place to provide recommendations and can assist with installation and support.

Installation phase—How can I reduce installation times? Easy configuration is key. Extender solutions with IDs and push buttons allow for switching without knowing the IP addresses. Additionally, extenders with built-in web servers allow configuration of all extenders at once.

Service phase—How to troubleshoot? With HDBaseT, it’s easier; but with AV over IP, data goes through the network switch, which means you’ll need help in showing the direction to do the troubleshooting. For example, ATEN has LED lights on our extenders that show if there’s a network, power, or HDMI issue.

AtlasIED: Gina Sansivero, VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications

The sheer number of competing protocols is having a direct impact on the networked AV market. With so many options to explore, manufacturers often play a game of “wait and see.” They wisely watch standards shake out before committing, consequently resulting in a slower than anticipated adoption rate. At AtlasIED. we base our decisions on the deployment of networked AV solutions—not on the latest buzz and technological developments, but what our dealers tell us they need to drive business. Case in point: our IP Endpoints. To our dealers, the functionality of the AV network is more important than the technology behind the signal distribution, so we focus our energy on developing and delivering products that enhance their networked AV projects with tangible end-user benefits that are simple to configure and install. While we understand the importance of protocols, our stance has been to base our decisions both on the maturity of the technology and our dealers’ input.

Atlona: David Shamir, Director of Product Management

Although adoption rates have quite accelerated to initial industry forecasts, rates have consistently increased. The speed of that adoption varies with each quarter, but there is no doubt that the AV-over-IP transition will continue.

The majority of AV consultants, system integrators, and AV/IT administrators understand the benefits of AV over IP for the pro AV market. There are several factors that have slowed AV over IP from complete “domination” when it comes to AV distribution.

In some cases, AV over IP can be overkill based on the venue’s realistic requirements. Smaller meeting rooms and huddle spaces, for example, do not require the infinite scalability and powerful feature set of AV-over-IP solutions. Instead, they require intelligent solutions that are easy to use, and move audio and video to a limited number of destinations. A smaller matrixed solution with a dedicated set of inputs and outputs will suffice in these spaces, and require a minimal investment to get the job done.

AV-over-IP installations also require IP networking knowledge. While an increasing number of systems integrators and tech managers have acquired this knowledge, the learning curve continues for the global AV industry. Many still prefer to stick with the technology they can take full advantage of today as they continue to learn everything that AV over IP offers.

Read more about how AV and IT must collaborate for successful IP network convergence.

A price comparison between circuit-based and IP systems can be significant, and that often influences integrators to develop hybrid systems that reduce overall costs. This is often a useful approach, as AV within a meeting space can be driven through circuit-based technology and switching, while AV over IP is embraced for exporting and importing content to and from external locations.

Audinate: Brad Price, Senior Product Marketing Manager

Audinate has seen consistently rapid growth of audio over IP for 14 years, and expects that trend to continue for the foreseeable future. From our perspective, much of the growth in Dante has been a direct result of design decisions that provide extensive automation and easy-to-use toolsets that allow the widest range of people to use the product effectively.

We have seen barriers to adoption of AV over IP steadily coming down and product counts increasing. But it would be fair to say that this growth has not been evenly distributed, particularly in the area of video distribution (the V in AV). Much of the reason for that lies with our moment in time: as of 2020, 1Gbps networks are ubiquitous for reasons other than AV. In contrast, networks running 10Gbps or higher that might support large amounts of video are relatively rare and relatively expensive. The requirement for video codecs is in marked contrast to the world of audio, which requires no compression and is hence agnostic to a wide range of devices and uses.

For that reason, we elected to design our new video offering (Dante AV) to work on 1Gbps networks using compression. This allows a Dante-based video system to provide excellent quality on existing networks. We anticipate that over time, networks will become inevitably faster and video codecs will be winnowed down to the most suitable for IP transport. At that point, legacy AV technologies will take their final bow.

Advantages of a 1Gb Ethernet network backbone.

Aurora Multimedia: Paul Harris, CEO, CTO

Aurora has been solving this issue two ways. First, we created a system called Simplify, a preconfigured AV-over-IP solution. The way it works is the customer sends us the spreadsheet with the encoders’ and decoders’ location labeling and IP address. They will also send a diagram of how the network switch will be connected and which units are located on which switch. From this, we will preprogram and label all the units from our factory including the network switch, as we are a platinum distributor for Netgear (which also makes us into a one-stop-shop). When the package arrives, it is all plug and play and ready to go. This in turn speeds up the installation and assures a higher probably of success. Second, we are working on hybrid solutions combining familiar technologies like HDBaseT with SDVoE, so there is more plug and play, smaller port count switches, and less IP addresses utilized. The HT Pro Series by Aurora is the start of this new age of hybrid technologies.

When it comes to AV over IP, the main issue with transition is there was no transition. With the way the systems are designed, it is a total typology change compared to what the typical AV integrator is used to. Especially when it comes to the network switch, it can require a certain level of expertise at times and can become especially complicated when there is more than one switch or multiple IP technologies that want different methods to propagate correctly through the switch.

Barco: Christopher Klepacz, Strategic Alliance Manager, Control Rooms

At first glance, the control rooms market may appear static, but the market has continued to evolve in recent years. The increase in available data sources is one example of this evolution. As is so often the case, change is the source of innovation, and the critical control rooms market is positioned to grow. Technological change, new solutions, and the experience and expertise of market leading companies are driving the change.

Technology innovations are driving change in the growth of critical control rooms. In the pro AV segment, AV over IP is experiencing significant growth with increased video quality and bandwidth. Other enablers such as the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) offer additional data sources from sensors and other devices, providing key insights to end users. Software solutions are improving control room operator experience by improving operations and reducing stress through intuitive, ergonomic design principles. Public and private clouds are creating new economic models for hardware deployment adding flexibility and cost savings to traditional on-premise computing environments. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are driving business insights and visualization technologies improve awareness and understand across the enterprise. Taken together, critical control rooms are well positioned to take advantage of these and other investments being made in organizations augmenting and improving situational awareness.

Bringing all of this together requires a partner that understands how to design and implement critical control room solutions that take advantage of the available technology. It starts with an in-depth understanding of the end customer requirements, and the knowledge and experience to deliver. This often includes having the right technology alliance to bring a “whole solution” and a robust ecosystem of channel partners to deliver. This requires advanced skill sets and a knowledge base that can be leveraged globally and delivered consistently and at scale.

Biamp: Joe Andrulis, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development

For a long time, the adoption of networked AV was slowed by the natural tendency of people to stick with familiar solutions and the learning curve faced by both AV integrators and IT departments as they transitioned AV to the network. As an industry, we’ve made a lot of progress overcoming these barriers. At this point, networked AV is a comfortable option for most deployments, but networked AV isn’t always the best approach—at least not networked AV as many of us originally envisioned.

Not all AV needs to be on the corporate network. AV that is local to single rooms or other small areas is often much easier and cheaper to design and install using traditional point-to-point connections or small matrix switchers. Sometimes even these small spaces will use networked AV, as Biamp does with its TesiraCONNECT TC-5D, which simplifies conferencing installations by providing power and media over a single category cable and connects range of AVB and Dante devices, including Tesira DSPs, USB extenders, PoE+ amplifiers, and microphones. In these instances, the TesiraCONNECT TC-5D may connect in a local AV network without connecting to the corporate network, so people may not consider it as “AV over the network”—but that’s simply a deployment choice. There’s also plenty of networked AV that looks a little different than we might have originally expected. Systems like unified communications, streaming media hosts like YouTube and Vimeo, and digital signage are all non-traditional approaches to creating AV outcomes that are all network-based. Overall, the uptake of networked AV is quite healthy and growing quickly.

Black Box: Jonathan McCune, Director of Product Management, AV and Infrastructure

The matrix switch is dead—the industry has reached a tipping point where technologies like SDVoE in our MCX platform really do kill the matrix switch. SDVoE is the only technology platform that provides all of the matrix switch capabilities, like ultra-fast switch time and 4K60 video, plus advanced video processing like scaling, video walls, and multiview.

IT administrators can configure, deploy, manage, and monitor systems enterprise wide, creating predictable performance in technology-transparent environments that are fully scalable and replicable. Unlimited number of inputs and outputs means no longer limiting the total count of connected devices. For modular solutions, MCX/SDVoE is plug and play once configured, and what’s more, all SDVoE-enabled solutions auto discover for simplified setup.

Live event providers can offer zero-latency video that is fully interoperable with projectors and sources enabled with the solution and no longer need to invest in very expensive matrix switches and additional extensions for those solutions. In applications like medical, MCX/SDVoE is the perfect solution providing both video and audio as well as USB connectivity over fiber with truly best-in-class image replication.

Bose Professional: Adam Shulman, Market Category Lead, Installed Systems

The adoption of protocols like Dante vary by the application type, the level of benefits gained from using an AV-over-IP solution (versus a more traditional infrastructure), and whether it is isolated or part of a larger network. In an audio system for a live venue, it is often on its own network. Here, adopting a protocol such as Dante is beneficial as it reduces the amount of infrastructure needed to build the system while increasing reliability as well as routing flexibility. In these situations, we see the adoption of AV-over-IP accelerating as more audio teams become familiar with various protocols and the associated benefits.

An audio system found in hotel event spaces may not be on an isolated network but instead reside on the hotel or hotel chain’s network, which is managed by the in-house IT team. Most likely the network is required to support much more than just the room’s audio system. These are the types of applications that are slower to adopt AV over IP.

Our industry needs to continue to understand the IT manager’s needs and how to play by the larger IT industry’s rules. This means we need to continue to improve how AV devices impact a network’s performance and management. We need to be less AV-centric in our thinking and demonstrate increased awareness that our products are used alongside non-AV products, and thus must obey certain conventions and rules—often where audio is not the highest priority. The term “AV over IT” may be more appropriate and demonstrate that we understand that, as an AV industry, we do not always own the infrastructure we are riding on. Improving this will improve more widespread adoption of AV-over-IP technologies and their applications.

Crestron: Alex Peras, Technology Manager, DigitalMedia

In the past, AV solution providers and IT professionals have not always communicated with each other, which has been a challenge in shifting AV on the network. Understanding the application, deciding what needs to be accomplished, and delegating roles in these projects are essential to having a successful infrastructure. Crestron encourages these conversations with IT professionals and leads the market by offering education and training that helps them understand information and anticipate their questions. Crestron has trained our dealers in AV-over-IP and DigitalMedia HDBaseT courses, while continuously providing updated materials.

Crestron recognizes that AV rooms of the past are now changing to become unified communications (UC) enabled, and AV will be the piece that ties the room together. Matrix routing technologies are now AV over IP, providing solutions that are fully flexible, scalable, and manageable. Crestron ensures all devices support out-of-the-box functionality, meet the network and security requirements of IT professionals, and work on existing Cat 5e infrastructure. Crestron XiO Cloud is driving this next wave of the transition. With all devices on the network, organizations can easily monitor and manage them. In addition, AV over IP allows organizations to tie audio, video, and USB together on the network.

As trends continue around touchless and socially distanced spaces, having a flexible and scalable infrastructure will be important in accommodating an organization’s needs. Solutions like XiO Cloud give organizations more control over their devices, allowing them to view their entire ecosystem through a single interface at any time, from anywhere.

DVIGear: Matthew Pulsipher, Product Manager

The AV-over-IP market is in a state of coalescence. From the many competing platforms, a few have begun to take leadership as they mature and proliferate. Like many new things, much of the fear regarding AV-over-IP solutions is about the risk of the unknown, especially the fear of proprietary products that are “walled gardens.” No one wants to risk being an early adopter of a platform that isn’t fully mature or is at risk of being dropped by its manufacturer a few years after purchase.

As the AV market converges with the IT world, it will benefit from the more standardized approach that has enabled new platforms to gain universal acceptance for decades. In the IT world, the proliferation of interoperable standards is what drives adoption of a new technology. USB and Ethernet are excellent examples of this: if you buy a device with USB, it is a given that it will be compatible with a standard PC, regardless of the manufacturer. Further, this standards-based approach helps ensure a clear, orderly progression of the technology over time. For example, consider how USB and Ethernet have evolved over the last 20 years.

Of the AV-over-IP platforms currently available, SDVoE is the only solution to provide a completely interoperable full-stack solution. Competing platforms are either vendor-proprietary, or fail to define the entire stack, which leads to interoperability issues down the line as vendors implement their own technologies to fill the missing layers. This isn’t to say that interoperable platforms cannot foster vendor-specific innovation. Of the SDVoE solutions available, DisplayNet is by far the most dynamic, as it deeply embraces the software-defined approach of the SDVoE platform. In the five years since it was launched, DisplayNet has added a multitude of innovative features to our platform, all while maintaining full cross-vendor interoperability.

Extron: Joe da Silva, Director of Product Marketing

AV-over-IP systems are becoming more commonplace and we continue to see lots of interest in the technology from our customers. One of the challenges to the adoption of AV over IP is education. Most solutions rely on multicast streaming, which is a somewhat specialized skillset among IT professionals. We knew that education and support would be vital to the success of AV-over-IP technology, so we created a team within Extron called the Network Technology Support Group that is staffed with network engineers who are skilled in designing, deploying, and commissioning networks. This team is focused on supporting our AV-over-IP deployments to ensure the end user has the best experience possible with Extron NAV Pro AV-over-IP products.

Another aspect that is influencing the adoption of AV-over-IP technology is the debate between 1Gb and 10Gb networks. Many end users want to leverage their existing network infrastructure. This typically means deploying on a 1Gb network that is also supporting additional business-critical services. Other end users require pristine image quality and deploy a 10Gb network to minimize or eliminate compression, but this usually means standing up a separate network infrastructure. Through the use of the patented PURE3 compression technology, Extron is uniquely positioned with our NAV Pro AV-over-IP products to have the features needed for deployment on enterprise-class networks as well as solutions to deliver pixel-perfect video on discrete 10Gb networks while delivering complete interoperability between the two architectures. We look forward to what the future holds!

Hall Research: Josh Petru, Business Development Manager, Central Region

Adoption of AV over IP has been slower than initially forecasted. One likely reason may be the learning curve for a lot of AV dealers. That being said, not every application needs a large networked solution. Take the K-12 classroom or small to medium conference room as an example: the users don’t need to switch from room to room, but just within the room’s input sources themselves. So, a dedicated video switching and extension solution may be all that they need. But even in those situations, it makes sense to control and manage the AV system over the network. At Hall Research the products that we target for small venues integrate embedded Web GUI or include GUI software for configuration and control. A nice benefit of control-over-IP is that AV managers are able to assist instructors or users from outside the classroom, if required.

Education and corporate customers are also per-room price sensitive and typical AV-over-IP systems and associated network switches are costlier than point-to-point direct implementations. In the future as the price and usability improves, that may change.

For now, the best use of AV-over-IP technology is in large digital signage installations found in hotels or other hospitality venues. AV-over-IP systems also work well in municipalities or courtrooms.

The network is the future of AV and as manufacturers start bridging the gap between the learning curve, ease of install, and system control, we expect the adoption rate for AV-over-IP within the pro AV channel to accelerate.

HDBaseT Alliance: Gabi Shriki, Senior Vice President, Audio-Video, Valens

While AV over IP marketing is in full swing, the technology has not gained much traction so far and we don’t see AV over IP getting considerable traction even over the next five years. There are several key reasons for that.

One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of a single, unified standardized technology. AV over IP is implemented differently depending on the CODEC technology (H.264, H.265, JPEG2000, VC-2, proprietary, etc.), and the actual IP network bandwidth available (100Mbps/1Gbps or 10Gbps).

AV over IP is not solving the small-scale and point-to-point use cases as well as alternative technologies such as HDBaseT in terms of cost, power consumption, video quality, latency, etc.

The wide-distribution, multiuser AV distribution is often solved using WAN-based technologies, such as cloud collaboration systems, making the need for high quality AV-over-IP solutions limited to specific use cases.

It is important to understand what the customer problem is that we are trying to solve. Different technologies bring different benefits/values—there is no single technology that solves all customer issues. Often, combining several technologies brings about the best results. HDBaseT and HDMI are and will remain the main technology used in small-scale installations, as they deliver uncompressed distribution, lower cost, and simplicity. (In fact, the trend toward smaller meeting rooms is going to further limit the deployment of AV-over-IP solutions in the corporate market.) AV over IP will be used for very large-scale networks or to interconnect between “HDBaseT rooms.”

When considering AV over IP, integrators must understand customer requirements, IP network limitations, specific use cases the customer is aiming to solve with AV over IP, etc. For example, when considering a campus-level distribution or in-between-cities distribution, an H.264/H.265 solution is suitable. It will be impossible to use SDVoE-like technology (as the requirement for 10Gbps network is impractical in this case) and even the typical 1Gbps-based AV-over-IP solution with JPEG2000 like CODEC consumes 70-80 percent of the bandwidth for one AV stream.

Just Add Power: Taft Stricklin, CEO and Founder

From our perspective, the state of AV over IP is quite strong. There are a lot of other companies in the space now, but we’ve been leading the way for 11 years. We’ve distinguished ourselves from the crowd by listening to our dealers and introducing new features and hardware based on their needs. So that puts us ahead of the curve and we’re doing things others aren’t, like adding compatibility with Dante and AES67 audio networks. We can also beat other manufacturers on price. For example, our Warp Engine isn’t the only product on the market that allows installers to rotate HDMI, but you won’t find a more cost-effective one. We’re also well known for building robust products that last for decades. So instead of constantly creating new products that will be obsolete in a year, we give new features through firmware updates. Furthermore, all models in the Just Add Power lineup integrate seamlessly with any generation of our products. What this all means is that we aren’t seeing any barriers at all to entry. Year after year, all we see is a steady uptick in the adoption of AV over IP across all markets—from retail and hospitality to entertainment complexes and airports.

Kramer: Chris Kopin, Executive Vice President of Technology

People are slow to change. At Kramer, however, we know that AV over IP has the staying power and versatility to win people over—as long as everyone is willing to participate.

When considering a transition to AV over IP, it’s not just a matter of training the person who creates the drawing; it’s the engineer, it’s the installer, it’s the end user. Controlling AV over IP from a control system is not the same as controlling the network switch as you would in a matrix environment.

As a whole-solutions manufacturer, Kramer can facilitate standard AV over IP, but it can also create a hybrid system which may employ HDBaseT in a room, and then an encoder will grab a piece of the signal and send it to another room for distance or time-delay learning. When all invested parties are on the same page, AV over IP is far from a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead a flexible and invaluable tool for keeping organizations connected in a world where we are increasingly encouraged to stay distanced.

When it comes to 1Gb and 10Gb, companies are usually in one camp or the other, but Kramer is in both. We have a couple of SDVoE installations, but 1Gb is where we are selling.

We’re a whole solutions manufacturer, so we don’t have just one piece of the puzzle. We don’t have to be just AV over IP and we don’t have to be traditional; we can be one or the other or give you a hybrid.

Matrox: Sam Recine, Vice President of Sales, Americas and Asia Pacific, AV/IT Group

When you look at HDMI, a product from vendor one works with a different product from vendor two. Perhaps there are exceptions with versioning, but, by and large, there is a published standard that multiple vendors put into products that do many different things.

Right now, the benefits of AV over IP are so strong, that already 30 percent of the market is willing to bite the bullet even if they have to stuff everything from a single vendor into their infrastructure.

Customers are tapping into longer distances, more nodes on managed infrastructure, better asset management, and new applications of converged data, live multi-party communications, and performance audio-visual content of a common media.

It is normal that organizations that can afford to hold back for more open and more interoperable stuff are going to delay while they can. Meanwhile, they are putting extreme pressure on prices for baseband stuff they know they intend to replace shortly. And they are buying their first round of AV-over-IP products for real immediate needs, not adding the next 10 years’ worth of capacity, because they know there is a fair to good chance they will see next-generation AV-over-IP products that are less invasive and far, far less proprietary.

AV over IP will see two more stages in the very near term that will add significant flexibility to end users and systems integrators: hardware and software products based on open standards that work across different brands and different product types, and a new software economy for AV-over-IP software applications that strictly focus on adding value to existing hardware from many disparate brands in the market and improve features such as setup, live operation, security, and far richer ecosystem capabilities.

Meyer Sound: Richard Bugg, Digital Products Solutions Architect Pro AV Segment Chair, Avnu Alliance

We at Meyer Sound believe that there is a significant advantage to delivering audio and control over standard network infrastructures. Audiences are expecting more from their AV experiences and while AV over IP has been possible for a long time by the technically astute, today’s industry needs to focus on delivering a solution that is easy to use, scalable, and can adapt to future needs.

Connecting computers used to require proprietary solutions from each manufacturer. This was an impediment to innovation that was removed by the development of a common network standard. It was with the realization that an open Ethernet standard for a high-quality, high-reliability, and low-latency transport protocol for moving media and control would similarly benefit everyone connecting professional AV equipment that resulted in the formation of the Avnu Alliance to promote the use of the IEEE AVB/TSN standards. Further work was done by a group of professional AV equipment manufactures within Avnu to further optimize AVB for interoperability between pro AV devices. The result was “Milan.”

Milan was created to provide a deterministic network protocol for professional quality media transport that is easy to use, future proof, scalable, and capable of delivering a convergence between audio, video, control, and non-time sensitive data on one network.

Avnu Alliance certification guarantees any certified device will interoperate with all other Milan devices. Interoperability is assured. Milan devices will work together at new levels of convenience, reliability, and functionality. The network transportation of audio and control should not be a bottleneck to innovation; it should just work.

MuxLab: Peter Justiz, Canadian Sales Manager

AV over IP was designed as a flexible, expandable, and inexpensive solution to provide data connectivity through an ethernet LAN network (1Gb version) with the use of encoders (transmitters) and decoders (receivers). However, the market has become so crowded with many AV manufacturers having families of products to complement different formats—Motion JPEG, JPEG 2000, H.264/H.265, etc. What are the right manufacturers, products, and formats to choose from?

With AV-over-IP equipment in the pro AV 1Gb space, there are limited equipment standards in that you can’t mix and match encoder, decoder, and controller products from the different manufacturers to gain maximum results. Some compatibility exists with H.264/H.265 encoders and decoders, but again, not with the controllers to manage these devices. With the SDVoE Alliance standard, the encoders and decoders designed by different manufacturers can be mixed and matched. Also, in the broadcast industry, AV-over-IP encoders and decoders follow a well-documented ST-2110 standard, which supports interoperability and other enhanced features. However, the LAN switches required for SDVoE and ST-2110 based products are 10Gb, which adds significant costs to the infrastructure. Also, PoE (power over Ethernet) ability is negated versus a 1Gb structure due to the system design.

With the current work- and learn-from-home environment, two key elements have captured the AV segment: videoconferencing and live streaming. Live streaming possesses a clear advantage in reaching more people at once. It enables you to reach hundreds, thousands, or more potential recipients quickly with just a few clicks. AV-over-IP becomes an inexpensive proposition for this. Houses of worship are now utilizing this concept to live stream services over YouTube and Facebook in lieu of social/physical distancing.

Business has now changed since March 2020. MuxLab and others in the AV segment are adapting and innovating to remain at the forefront in the new current format. AV-over-IP will be a proponent for inexpensive change and information sharing.

NewTek: Will Waters, Head of Global Product Management

When AV over IP was introduced, it was quickly seen that connecting devices more easily would enhance and expand capability and accelerate efficiency. Efficiency alone, however, cannot move an industry. Even as we promoted the benefits of infinite connections, the adoption seemed a bit slow. At least until the onset of global forces—such as a pandemic.

What is most familiar to us is always easier to continue with than wholesale change, even if the benefits are staring us in the face. The move to IP must be more than changing the type of wire. It may be that the signals flow across networks using packets instead of dedicated cabling, but many AV systems still require dedicated chipset and proprietary hardware devices to sit at the edges of networks. This slows adoption because, fundamentally, workflows and use cases are similar to what has been familiar.

At NewTek, we see this very differently. The AV world is ready for those edge devices to move to software. That software runs on commoditized hardware that is easy to maintain and not dependent on formats, frame rates, and circuits designed for a single purpose. We believe in this so strongly that we developed a free protocol called NDI to realize that future.

The next phase will see integrated software products that take advantage of bi-directional communication on a network, enhance presentations, improve communication, and expand creativity, all while being transparent. This is what is required to deliver on the promise of AV over IP.

Opticis USA: David Delgado, Senior Manager, Business Development

AV integration has taken many paths, at least for me in the last 15 years. From 78-inch-high rack stands requiring their own enclosed rooms to racks fitting in a closet drawer. From fixed to configurable card-slot matrix switchers to the favored, higher bandwidth IP switchers, and with the coined phrase in our time, we are in a “Warped Speed” transformation era.

For some customers today, the cumbersome addition of shoe-size encoders and decoders to an IP solution may not be worth the investment. If their existing AV system can be retrofitted to support 4K today, they will wait for the next rollout of 8K displays with IP systems along with sources having built-in encoders and destinations with built-in decoders.

Limitations with IP systems still exist, specifically with 10Gb bandwidth transmission. True 4K resolution at 60Hz 4:4:4 sampling rate requires at least 18Gb. The trend will be, for example, in mission-critical visualization applications such as neurosurgery with its 4K/3D microscopes, to transmit true 4K detailed clinical images. Also diagnosing cancer through remote collaboration between the surgeon and pathologist will mandate precise, accurate visualization.

Scrupulous cybersecurity protocols and standards have also softened the market growth with AV over IP when you compound wireless video transmission functionality.

Before AV over IP proliferates in the market, there are expectations for pricing to fall as well. Notwithstanding, fiber optic extenders will continue to be integrated with the AV-over-IP system, especially between source and encoder or between decoder and destination over long distances. Whether they are HDMI, DP 1.2, HD-SDI, or DVI, these video and data transmission over fiber components deliver uncompressed images with no latency, immunity to EMI, and long distances up to 100 meters.

The future is bright with lightning speed technologies like DP 2.0 at 77.4 Gbps from the fiber optic and IP world. We can also expect exciting times ahead in visualization, remote collaboration, and endless connectivity.

Renkus-Heinz: Matt Czyzewski, President

The consensus at Renkus-Heinz is that the adoption of AV over IP has been a bit slower than expected. However, that statement comes with a caveat: in the past two years, we’ve seen a substantial uptick in the number of networked products sold.

It’s our belief we have now hit the inflection point for adoption of AV over IP, where the majority of new installs are seeing AV over IP as the norm, not the exception. Thus, the growth being discussed in the space is well placed—and that is why you’ll see manufacturers ensuring they offer that full suite of networked solutions.

With that said, because we recognize the curve is still trending upward—and not at 100 percent adoption—the Renkus-Heinz roadmap is to ensure we continue to offer solutions for both types of installations—analog and networked. We will do that in a way that doesn’t require completely altering the product. Most of our new offerings in the near future will be introduced as twins—not identical, but similar enough that they provide the same ability to place sound exactly where you want it, no matter of the connection you choose to use.

What will drive adoption during the years to come will be the ability to offer easier integrations in AV-over-IP environments. That’s why we’re focusing on supporting technologies that make design, installation, setup, and support of AV-over-IP systems as frictionless as possible. And when we make life easier for the integrator, the results are improved for everyone in the AV world!

RGB Spectrum: Andy Thompson, Vice President Marketing

AV-over-IP market adoption initially ramped up slowly, but is now accelerating as infrastructure, education, and product ease of use catch up with traditional baseband video.

While AV over IP brings many benefits, it requires new expertise in IP networking for integrators and site administrators, and a willingness to build out networks to support these products. AV over IP is ideal for new sites or expanding video distribution capabilities across the enterprise. It’s harder to sell into sites that already have baseband infrastructure or aren’t growing. For administrators and users, AV-over-IP systems are becoming easier to use, as limited control interfaces are replaced by drag-and-drop GUIs that provide flexible content distribution, remote monitoring, user access controls, and much more.

RGB Spectrum’s Zio AV-over-IP platform builds on our 30-plus years of experience to deliver an enterprise-level solution, using open standards to efficiently deliver video over gigabit LANs, global WANs, and mobile devices. It includes an extensive array of AV-over-IP devices including encoders, decoders, multiviewers, and video wall processors. Zio supports H.264/265 signals from third-party IP cameras and other sources distributed across the enterprise. An intuitive browser-based user interface features live video thumbnails and drag-and-drop simplicity, with no software installation. A smartphone app supports content distribution to a mobile workforce.

Establishing new workflows enabled by AV over IP requires more than just technology. Education and changes to operations take time. As governments and enterprises shift to distributed workflows, AV over IP will grow increasingly important. With these activities firmly underway, enterprise AV-over-IP adoption is picking up speed and will continue.

SAVI Controls: John Dorsey, CEO

Today, more than ever, businesses rely on audio-video experiences to communicate, sell, market, entertain, educate, train, and support their customers and differentiate their customer experience. As more of the economy reopens and offices, campuses, entertainment venues and other businesses rebuild, companies must rethink their AV/IT needs.

Traditionally, the pro AV industry has been challenged with complex networking and a lack of device compatibility, as well as an overabundance of cords, boxes, and connectors to bring the entire experience together—offering installers a fragmented ecosystem that increases install complexity and cost, and can take weeks or months to program. In a post-COVID world, functionality such as displays, control, security, and signage are drastically changing and must get less expensive, simpler to program, and easier to use. It is even more critical that the integrator community has access to solutions that reduce the time and expenses spent on a project, particularly as customer needs shift as businesses rebuild. AV systems, especially control, must be designed around the network, rather than shackled to antiquated technology platforms. At SAVI, this is top of mind for us. We’re hard at work getting ready to unveil something that will disrupt this old-school cycle to streamline and simplify AV/IT control in an installation.

SDVoE Alliance: Justin Kennington, President

It’s true—we are not yet living in an “all-IP world.” I admit that I myself have even been caught by surprise that the tipping point hasn’t quite arrived. Or has it? You never quite know until you have the benefit of hindsight. I’ve come to realize that the holdup is, ironically, the IT department. You see, the AV industry has forever been a place where standards don’t exist—where manufacturers building walled gardens is the norm. This is definitely not how the IT department likes to do business. Can you imagine trying to sell Dell laptops to an IT director, and explaining that he will have to throw out his fleet of HP laptops, because emails won’t work between Dell and HP? Of course not! It’s a ridiculous thought, and yet it’s how AV sales work every day. Is it any wonder that we aren’t succeeding when the IT department drives purchasing decisions?

The SDVoE Alliance is attacking this problem at its source, by offering the only interoperable standard for AV over IP. Today the Alliance comprises more than 50 member companies shipping over 200 products, all of which are full interoperable with one another, to deliver matrix-switch performance over off-the-shelf, low-cost Ethernet networks.

Sennheiser: Kai Tossing, Head of Product Management, Business Communication

We have seen the rise of AV-over-IP solutions over time. There were times when the amount of AV-over-IP technologies and incompatibilities rather confused customers to choose the “right” one. Now, the situation is much clearer. In the area of higher education or corporate, we see Dante and AES67 being the de facto standards offered in all current products.

But AV over IP is just one aspect of modern system design; it is also about remote monitoring and control of devices. A networked device is available anywhere on the network providing audio signal, data insights, and remote control.

The pace of adopting the benefits of AV over IP is dependent on pain of installation and maintenance, budget, and skillset. The bigger the installation, the larger the pain installing and maintaining hundreds of devices and their connectivity; hence, the more it makes sense to have connected devices that you can centrally monitor and control. In small installations there may not be a need for interconnectivity and central management, so classic analog AV may still be fine or good enough.

We see new installations going straight into digital networked designs embracing AV over IP. Retrofit projects and projects limited in budget still can benefit from analog connections. That’s why the latest Sennheiser solutions like TeamConnect Ceiling 2, our most advanced dynamic beamforming ceiling microphone, and SpeechLine Digital Wireless, our dedicated-to-speech wireless microphone family, come with all options: dual-Dante connectivity, AES67, and support of latest IT standards such as IEEE802.1x, but also analog connections for seamless integration and to support every system design. 

Shure: Chris Lyons, Senior Manager, Integrated Systems Global Marketing

AV-over-IP is a growing trend in the industry and Shure continues to evolve with the needs of the market. In fact, Shure just globally launched IntelliMix Room—the first audio processing software for Windows 10 PCs that is fully optimized for use with Shure networked system microphones.

Shure’s customers seem ready to embrace the benefits of networked AV: reduced costs, easier deployment, and remote management. In smaller rooms especially, a networked microphone and software-based DSP minimizes the footprint required, making premium AV conferencing a practical alternative to a basic speakerphone or soundbar.

The transition to AV networking isn’t being driven by one type of product as much as by the fact that all of the different pieces of the audio ecosystem are now talking to each other. It is much faster to configure a new installation (with software like Shure Designer) and to “copy and paste” that setup to additional rooms. Networked audio components also can be checked and managed remotely (with SystemOn software).

The audio ecosystem approach allows systems integrators to install more rooms more easily, more consistently, and more cost-effectively than traditional solutions. And it’s not just for small rooms; with up to 16 channels of comprehensive audio processing, IntelliMix Room can handle applications like training rooms and lecture halls.

The move to AV over IP is gaining traction quickly because the benefits are attractive for both the integrator and the AV/IT manager. Shure is prepared to make this transition as effortless as possible.

Vaddio: Paul Cords, Director of Product Management and Sales

We’ve all heard the term “analog sunset,” or the gradual obsolescence of analog high-definition devices. But remember that that sun didn’t set overnight! In many ways, the adoption of AV over IP is following a similar arc. Adoption is slowed by many factors, including the alphabet soup of proprietary formats like NDI, Dante, AVB, and our EasyIP along with standards like SMPTE 2110, SDVoE, PoE, Telnet, and H.264. It doesn’t all quite “just work” as one big happy family of interchangeable devices.

Surely there are compelling reasons to make the leap to AV over IP. The ease and speed of installing systems that use a single Cat-6 cable is convenient. Flexibility in design, for example, in multi-purpose or combine-divide rooms, can be a big advantage. And let’s not forget the ability to use existing infrastructure for transport.

Vaddio continues to embrace the shift to AV over IP with our EasyIP professional AV ecosystem and Dante-enabled products. We are helping customers reap the benefits of this “AV-over-IP sunrise” by investing in educational materials on networking best practices and teaching sessions on configuring our Luxul network switches. It is no longer just about the AV endpoints like cameras and microphones, it is about setting up networked systems that pass the IT department’s security requirements. The reality is that we no longer live in our known pro AV bubble, but rather are equipping our dealers and integrators with tools to successfully win opportunities in the IT world’s domain (pun intended).

WolfVision: Michael Lisi, National Distribution Manager

To create an IP video matrix, installers simply connect Cynap-powered workstations to a local area network and then use an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to create a visual floorplan of the meeting space. Within minutes, users can begin routing signals between workstations simply by connecting the dots on the newly created digital floorplan. Multi-day implementations are now taking only hours and projects are being completed for a small fraction of what they once cost.

Our experience is that the commercial AV industry is embracing and swiftly adopting networking technology as a standard part of system design. However, it could be that some integrators are reluctant to deploy network-based solutions, perhaps because they aren’t confident in their ability to set up, configure, and manage IT networks, or they haven’t invested the time to learn the intricacies of a certain vendor’s solution. vSolution Matrix is unique in that it doesn’t require network expertise or custom programming to set up and configure. This makes it easy for integrators to use vSolution Matrix to leverage IP-based video distribution and compete successfully on larger projects.

When considering cost and ease of installation, WolfVision’s vSolution Matrix solution is a game changer because it eliminates the need to purchase and install matrix switchers, signal extenders, encoders, and decoders. It also uses standard, cost-effective network infrastructure to operate and eliminates the need for custom programming and third-party control systems. All of this makes it surprisingly simple to set up and manage. The end-user experience provided also hails a dramatic change for the industry by forsaking traditional control panel design to deliver an intuitive new drag-and-drop control experience that works on any browser-enabled device or touchscreen.

Yamaha Unified Communications: Holger Stoltze, Senior Director of Technical Sales and Marketing

Yamaha’s products have successfully supported AV-over-IP for years. We have observed strong use cases in events and corporate settings. Event usage is driven by the need to simplify complicated setups and reduce the time spent setting up equipment. Simple setup is also a prevalent requirement in corporate environments. However, the adoption of AV over IP in that vertical has been held back by the limited availability of components that support AV over IP, integrate easily, and are priced reasonably. This is now changing.

We will see greater adoption of corporate AV-over-IP implementations with the development of easy-to-install, fully integrated solutions. These plug-and-play solutions rely on IP networking instead of AV-specific wiring, which allows IT departments to help in the installation and management of AV solutions. AV over IP is a necessary prerequisite for this step.

For the time being, these AV-over-IP solutions will remain standalone for two reasons: One, closed solutions remain easier and faster to implement because they don’t necessitate an AV design that fits them into a complete system. Second, IT departments at this time do not allow sources creating an unknown amount of highly rated QoS data onto their network until they clearly understand and have proof of the impact that each device has on other services.

As Yamaha moves ahead, all integrated audio devices under development will support AV over IP.

ZeeVee: Bob Michaels, CEO

There are several factors holding AV over IP back from wider implementation, particularly in the U.S. For one, there is still a need for greater levels of education on this technology on the part of both integrators and end users. Integrators that are unable to provide factual answers—particularly to knowledgeable and experienced IT professionals confronted with a proposed AV-over-IP system—may face fierce resistance to putting AV on a customer’s network. In addition, integrators who have not approached networked AV with an open mind to see the obvious benefits may decide the traditional matrix system model is not broken, so why fix it?

We are big boosters of supporting the channel through education. We have started a dual-tracking webinar series with SIGNAL Sessions that explore best practices for AV distribution in key market segments (such as enterprise, higher education, hospitality, etc.) and Certified Solution Partner Trainings that dig deep into SDVoE and AV over IP and award participants with AVIXA CTS credits. In addition, we are a founding member of the SDVoE Alliance and support the organization’s SDVoE Academy, its training and education programs.

We believe that once the benefits are better understood, the prospect of transitioning from traditional matrix systems to networked AV will be normally aspired to, rather than feared.

Zigen: Ed Dellalyan, President & Lead Engineer

The industry has been slow to move to the SDVoE 10Gb network while it has adapted to installing the 1Gb AV-over-IP solutions quite well. There are several reasons for this. The main reason is lack of understanding about bandwidth requirements, compression, and their effects on installations. The industry has done a great job marketing 4K solutions and content, but has failed to educate about what is necessary to pass through true 4K60 4:4:4 content from source to display.

Traditional 1Gb solutions add roughly 64:1 compression, and that makes high-bandwidth 4K60 4:4:4 content look like 4K30 4:2:0 at best. This compression creates artifacts, granularity, and limits feature sets like HDR. Therefore, when an integrator mistakenly thinks 1Gb solutions have enough bandwidth to pass through true 4K60 4:4:4 content and that the content that is passed through is “good enough,” why would they push their clients to the more expensive 10Gb solutions? We haven’t done our job as an industry to educate about the feature sets of 10Gb (SDVoE) solutions. 10Gb solutions have the bandwidth for true 4K, instant switching, virtually zero latency, tiling, and flexibility to grow the ecosystem over time, and won’t be antiquated anytime soon. The higher cost is balanced out as updating and adding on to the system in the future will cost significantly less than having to install an entire new ecosystem.

The latest AV-over-IP products

Adder ADDERLink XDIP

Well suited for small to medium businesses looking to remotely manage and multicast critical computers or a video distribution network, the ADDERLink XDIP is a high-performance IP KVM matrix and point-to-point extender designed to bridge the gap between KVM and AVoIP. The XDIP delivers the advantages of enterprise-grade IP KVM without the unnecessary complexity and cost. Recent enhancements to the XDIP platform comprise of an expansion for the receiver to access 16 sources and the transmitter to broadcast to 256 receivers, the introduction of secure remote control via a RESTful API or web browser, and support for power over Ethernet (PoE) in the United States.

AJA Io IP

Transition to AV-over-IP with the AJA Io IP, a portable Thunderbolt 3-enabled ingest and playback device for professional video and audio over IP. Io IP supports HD and UltraHD SMPTE ST 2110 and SMPTE 2022-6/7 uncompressed video IP standards with redundant signal reliability, enabling users to bridge 10 GigE to the most popular NLE, and live production software applications. Io IP offers flexible monitoring, allowing users to edit, playback, and deliver remotely from virtually anywhere within a network. Flexible architecture ensures that as IP protocols advance, workflows are future-proofed for compatibility with the latest IP standards via firmware updates.

Arista RS-124-31 Series

With six models—the RS-124-A31-TX01, RS-124-A31-TX02, RS-124-A31-RX01, RS-124-B31-TX01, RS-124-B31-TX02, and RS-124-B31-RX01—Arista’s IP Flash Caster family changes the dynamics of the pro AV industry by letting installers and system integrators replace proprietary AV matrix switches with off-the-shelf Ethernet switches that deliver higher performance, flexibility, and scalability. Arista’s RS-124 Series is a 1U rack-mount AV-over-IP product that can be configured with either dual SDVoE encoders/decoders with copper or fiber interface and a variety of different video signal format inputs and outputs. The IP Flash Caster RS-124 Series provides numerous configurations and functionalities to meet changing pro AV requirements.

AtlasIED IPX

The IPX networked mass communications platform expands existing VoIP or SIP communications systems by enabling the integration of IP endpoints, such as speakers, paging stations, and digital displays. Adding these devices to the IPX network improves the effectiveness and coverage of messaging for routine, daily use and emergency situations.

ATEN VE66DTH

Delivering uncompressed, close-to-zero-latency digital audio signals across a standard IP network, ATEN’s VE66DTH is a Dante-enabled six-input/six-output audio interface with HDMI. Audio inputs can support line input and dynamic and condenser microphones. With built-in PoE, the VE66DTH can be powered through Ethernet cable. It provides flexible audio capabilities with de-embedding and embedding and can de-embed and embed audio signals to HDMI. The VE66DTH is tailor-made for a wide range of environments that require implantation of Dante-based professional audio devices for extended and flexible networked AV applications.

NewTek TriCaster Mini 4K

The TriCaster Mini 4K is a complete, compact live multicamera video production system that comes with features like Live Story Creator and LivePanel, designed to make the production of network-quality shows even easier for lone producers or small teams—whether they are beginners or seasoned video professionals. By utilizing the free-to-use NDI network protocol, the ability to send AV signals over standard 1Gb networks empowers creators to turn any spare room or office—or, perhaps, living room, garage, or basement—into a professional studio reflecting the identity or brand of any business, house of worship, school, or agency.

Atlona AT-OMNI-112

Atlona’s AT-OMNI-112 (OmniStream 112) is a single-channel networked encoder within the OmniStream Pro AV over IP family. OmniStream 112 processes two channels of encoding in a single, half-width rack enclosure, offering cost-efficient, high-density integration. Operational benefits include enterprise-level/campus-wide scalability, built-in security and network error resilience, and broadcast-quality 4K performance with visually lossless compression. OmniStream 112 also maximizes uptime with automatic failover and recovery when deployed in redundant configurations, and in alignment with IT systems and best practices.

Zigen IP-Logic

IP-Logic is Zigen’s premier AV-over-IP product to extend, distribute, and convert 4K video in a scalable platform for deploying an almost unlimited number of HDMI sources and displays. Utilizing 10GBase-T networks, IP-Logic will stream any HDMI source to any display with no compression (or visually lossless 1:4 compression of 4K60 4:4:4/4:2:2 HDR) and virtually zero latency. The Encoder and Decoder units come equipped with autonomous EDID management and independent scalers to allow seamless video distribution in mixed-display environments. Employing the latest SDVoE and AES67 standards, IP-Logic is well suited for commercial, residential, broadcast, military, and government applications.

Black Box MCX

The new Black Box MCX multimedia distribution and management system takes advantage of SDVoE and modern 10GbE infrastructure to allow AV and data payloads to exist on the same IT networks. Through advanced chipset technology, common control APIs, and interoperability, SDVoE technology ensures zero latency and uncompromised video while offering significant cost savings along with enhanced system flexibility and scalability. While enabling truly converged network AV, Black Box MCX ensures almost zero latency, instantaneous switching, bandwidth efficiency, and high-quality video and audio. MCX simplifies and accelerates the process of consolidating AV and data on a single network, enabling organizations in virtually any industry to reduce network management time and costs, as well as total cost of ownership. Users can take advantage of the software-defined solution to deliver better-quality audio and video, which can translate to greater customer satisfaction and faster time to revenue.

Biamp Tesira

Tesira is the world’s only integrated, networked audio and video processing and distribution platform, according to the company. Sophisticated, adaptive DSP is the core of what Biamp does and what Tesira delivers. Tesira SERVER and SERVER-IO are configurable I/O DSPs, while TesiraFORTÉ devices are fixed I/O DSPs available in different models optimized for specific applications. Rounding out Tesira DSPs are the TesiraLUX video encoders and decoders. All Tesira products can be configured and managed using Tesira software, helping to create dynamic, efficient AV systems.

Audinate Dante AV

Dante AV is a solution for manufacturers that allows any 1Gb codec to be used to send and receive video and eight channels of Dante audio over a standard network. It employs the same well-known control software and tools as Dante audio. Dante AV consists of a hardware module that handles networking aspects of a product, while the included Dante AV Product Design Suite provides a complete hardware and software design for implementation of Rx and Tx products using the included JPEG2000 codec, optimized for low latency and high fidelity. Dante AV allows manufacturers to jump into the AV-over-IP space with confidence in performance and user acceptance.

Bose ControlSpace EX

Bose ControlSpace EX is a family of digital signal processors with an open-architecture, single-rack-unit design with analog I/O, Bose AmpLink outputs (for use with Bose amplifiers), and up to 64x64 channels of Dante I/O. ControlSpace Designer software simplifies the setup process with drag-and-drop programming. ControlSpace EX has the features to support installed systems of various sizes and the flexibility to meet future needs, and with new Dante Domain Manager compatibility it increases the IT team’s ability to manage Dante-enabled devices. The EX-1280C, EX-12AEC, and EX-40C variants are also available for conferencing applications, adding acoustic echo cancellers (AEC), VoIP, and PSTN support.

ClearOne VIEW Pro

VIEW Pro is a professional multimedia streaming solution for existing IP networks, with ultra-high-quality 4:4:4 (4K30) and 4:2:0 color space, and 24 bits per pixel. The system supports high resolution—4K SKUs support up to 4K60 DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) and 4K60 UHDTV (Ultra High Definition TV). It is a highly efficient codec with lossless compression and ultra-low bandwidth, and has low glass-to-glass latency for 1080p streams, typically below 60ms. VIEW Pro supports RTSP/UDP standard transport protocols for compatibility with third-party products such as cameras, PCs, and more.

Meyer Sound Galileo GALAXY

Among the first products to receive Milan certification is Meyer Sound’s Galileo GALAXY Network Platform, including GALAXY 816, GALAXY 816-AES3, and GALAXY 408. Milan certification ensures that Galileo GALAXY processors will offer seamless interoperability with all other Milan-certified devices in the signal chain, regardless of function or manufacturer. GALAXY can connect to other GALAXY processors and can also serve as a master FOH processor by connecting to third-party, Milan-certified array processors or processor-amplifiers, either directly or through a certified network bridge. GALAXY also can connect via Milan to a certified mixing console without the need for its own network switch.

HDBaseT Spec 3.0

HDBaseT Spec 3.0 is the only solution that enables uncompressed, long-distance distribution of HDMI 2.0 (4K60 4:4:4), for superior quality and zero latency, according to Valens, creators of the technology standard. Valens’ Stello family of chipsets is the basis of Spec 3.0, including integrated on-chip features and HDBaseT port duality, enabling the same chipset configuration as either transmitter or receiver for significant cost reduction. It also enables convergence of several native interfaces over the same HDBaseT link, simplifying installations, and guaranteeing interoperability and full backward compatibility with previous HDBaseT specs.

d&b audiotechnik Milan DS20

The DS20 is d&b audiotechnik’s first product offering for connecting its loudspeaker systems to the open-standards-based Milan protocol. The Milan is a deterministic network that inherits all the technical benefits of Audio Video Bridging (AVB) technology: improved reliability, optimum synchronization, and hassle-free network setup. Integrating seamlessly as part of a d&b system, the DS20 Audio network bridge interfaces between Milan networks and AES3 digital audio signals, while also providing distribution of Ethernet control data.

Panasonic KAIROS

KAIROS, Panasonic’s new IT/IP video processing platform, offers an open architecture system for live video switching with maximum CPU/GPU processor utilization for virtually unlimited ME scalability, resolution, and format independence.As a native IP, ST 2110 system, KAIROS supports transitions to live, uncompressed IP workflows and can eliminate the constraints of dedicated hardware. KAIROS creates new production opportunities involving a mosaic of IT ecosystems with a variety of COTS components from vendors in multiple industries.

Matrox Maevex

The Matrox Maevex family of encoders and decoders deliver AV infrastructure over IP capabilities that balance security, latency optimization, features, quality, open standards, and bitrate management for low invasiveness on existing capacity. When using Maevex encoders to Maevex decoders, the included Maevex PowerStream Plus software provides an out-of-the-box experience. But Matrox believes that AV-over-IP products need to be good citizens on networks of interoperable products. This is why, in addition to the supplied software, Matrox provides different APIs and developer tools to allow for integration with third-party hardware and software. This interoperability is not limited to the command and signal management. Even the high-performance content payloads can work with third-party products. For even deeper developers, Matrox also provides tools to personalize user experiences and create workflows that best serve customers.

RGB Spectrum W4000

The W4000 video wall processor is the latest addition to RGB Spectrum’s Zio AV-over-IP platform, a suite of hardware and software products optimized for enterprise-class video distribution. Enterprise AV-over-IP accelerates collaboration by sharing information-rich visual displays across the enterprise and between organizations. Zio distributes video from baseband and IP sources across LANs, WANs, and to mobile devices. Integration with Zio enables the W4000 and other video sources across the enterprise to be managed through a browser-based interface. The W4000 is the first full-function video wall processor fully integrated with an enterprise class AV-over-IP platform.

Kramer KDS-6 Series

Part of the Kramer AV-over-IP family of solutions, the Kramer KDS-6 Series are scalable, cost-effective, end-to-end AV-over-IP solutions designed for IT. Users can build any size AV distribution system on their existing IP network with Kramer KDS-6 encoders and decoders (including built-in scaling and control signaling with RS-232, IR, and USB), and manage it all from Kramer Network, Kramer’s enterprise management platform. Regardless of latency, resolution, or compression requirements, the Kramer AV-over-IP lineup of devices pairs value and versatility with uncompromising quality.

Opticis IPVDS-700-ED

The Opticis IPVDS-700-ED is a 4K HDMI IP Video Wall Control solution for playing multiple sources of audio-video on a video wall and other displays simultaneously. It also splits a high-quality video into multiple videos and plays it on the video wall and other displays. IPVDS-700-ED provides the optimal solution for large video wall systems in control rooms, security, and traffic control; it can be also be used in general fields like conference, education, or presentation rooms. The PC program can be used for host allocation and previewing, equipped with drag-and-drop operation with simple mouse use. Users can easily merge, split, overlay, and clear for host allocation.

Extron NAV

NAV is an AV-over-IP solution for distribution and switching of ultra-low latency, high-quality video, audio, and USB 2.0 signals over an Ethernet network at low bitrates. Utilizing Extron’s patented PURE3 codec, it delivers high performance with real-time, lossless video over IP at resolutions up to 4K60 with 4:4:4 chroma sampling and ultra-low latency. The NAV Series can be deployed as an IP-based video and audio matrix, combining the flexibility of an IP-based system with the integration-friendly video and audio switching features found in conventional Extron matrix switchers.

L-Acoustics P1

The multifunctional P1 AVB processor and measurement platform has established itself as an indispensable tool for many audio pros. Designed from the very start to be compliant with Avnu Alliance’s new Milan interoperability protocol, P1 became one of the very first two products on the market to officially receive Milan certification through Avnu Alliance as a fully compliant Milan device earlier this year, according to the company.

EvertzAV NUCLEUS Platform

EvertzAV recently introduced three new additions to the NUCLEUS platform. The UXP-TRXS-USB2-P is a transceiver with video (HDMI/SDI), audio, serial, USB HID, and USB 2.0 capabilities. The UXP-TXS transmitters and UXP-RXS receivers are cost-effective, single-channel HDMI gateways with serial functionality. In addition to being compact and quiet standalone devices that can be remotely powered using PoE+, all three gateways support resolutions up to 4K and can be deployed on 1GbE and 2.5GbE networks.

Hall Research POLARIS-1

The Hall Research POLARIS-1 is an IP controller with internal web servers to support up to 32 users simultaneously. Designed for GUI control of large AV-over-IP installations, it enables administrators to create various zones or rooms and assign displays to each zone. Display names and video source names are programmable. Layouts or maps can also be uploaded to aid users in identifying the physical position of the displays in each zone. Each specific user can be assigned the zones that they are allowed to view and control. Users can access the controller using any browser from any smart device.

DVIGear DisplayNet DN-150-TX-Quad

The DisplayNet DN-150-TX-Quad is an HDMI SDVoE Input module for the Netgear M4300-96X network switch. Compatible with all SDVoE systems, this module adds four HDMI input ports to the Netgear M4300-96X network switch, enabling lossless, zero-frame-latency matrix switching for 8-bit 4K60 signals with 4:4:4 color sampling. The DN-150-TX-Quad delivers excellent value, and is equivalent to four standalone DN-150-TX units, at half of the cost per port, and with significantly higher physical density. DisplayNet Manager SDVoE Controller software enables easy access to advanced SDVoE features, with a web-based user interface and transparent access to the DisplayNet API.

Just Add Power Warp Engine

Just Add Power’s Warp Engine is a 1RU transmitter/receiver that allows installers to easily deploy video walls with eye-catching designs featuring mixed-and-matched display models mounted at any angle. With the Warp Engine, installers can rotate any HDMI source—cable boxes, media players, game systems, cameras, and more—in a Just Add Power matrix in 0.1-degree increments in real time to achieve incredibly low latency. The rotated image can then be sent to an unlimited number of receivers in the network, allowing for the creation of massive artistic video walls using a single Warp Engine.

Vaddio EasyIP

Vaddio’s EasyIP Ecosystem includes AV-over-IP solutions that are designed to be easy to use, easy to install, and provide industry-leading video quality. EasyIP products send audio and video over IP, eliminating the need for more expensive video switchers, controllers, and extension systems. Joining the EasyIP Ecosystem in summer 2020 are the all-new EasyIP Mixer and EasyIP CeilingMIC D. 

Neutrik Milan

As an open standard and collaborative effort, Milan is continuously evolving, and members are focused on finding new ways to make the protocol an even better solution for end users. A Milan Module certification program was recently developed, for example, and made available for manufacturers that wish to implement a Milan-certified module into their device and submit for certification, without having to go through the full certification testing. This will help speed the adoption and growth of certified product availability.

SAVI Controls SAVI 3

Coming in August, SAVI will debut its next-generation system, SAVI 3. Built with deep commercial AV expertise, SAVI 3 streamlines installation, programming, and expense with simple programming tools, intuitive end-user software to manage the system on site, and a whole new line of hardware. To unveil this system, SAVI will host SAVI.Connect on August 26, a virtual event that will showcase demonstrations and online booth tours for a hands-on, immersive look at the cutting-edge SAVI 3 system.

WolfVision vSolution MATRIX

vSolution Matrix is a unique AV-over-IP solution for active learning classrooms, meeting spaces, and courtrooms that is designed to be cost effective, easy to install, intuitive, and enjoyable to use. Multiple WolfVision Cynap and Cynap Core presentation and collaboration appliances can be deployed to stream video and audio between screens, using a unique and highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes controlling multiscreen working and learning environments with up to 40 individual workstations easier than ever before.

ZeeVee ZyPer

The ZeeVee ZyPer product families provide a market-proven solution for the distribution and management of AV over IP, including support for uncompressed 4K, UHD, and 1080p in a variety of form factors and input types. Evolved from decades of experience in video encoding and IP networking, ZyPer enables AV and IT integrators to rapidly deploy AV solutions of unlimited scale, unsurpassed performance, and unrivaled reliability over industry-standard IP networks. A robust feature set includes built-in support for video walls, multiview, zones, signal transport over cable or fiber, and a network management platform that speeds and simplifies system setup and expansion.

The merging of AV technology with IT and IP has occurred at a pace few could have predicted. This rapid evolution has created a wide disparity of skills and abilities among AV integrators with regard to overlapping into traditional IT territory. Some have adapted and are moving forward, others are struggling, but most are somewhere in the middle. Still, many would agree that global adoption of AV over IP has been slower than expected.

Speeding adoption and management of proposed technology solutions creates an environment in which the best and most sustainable solutions for the enterprise can be the driving factor in technology selections. The technology, rather than ability, can be the driver in these decisions, and AV over IP challenges can be turned into opportunities.

There are a few general principles that are preventing wholesale implementation of an AV and IP convergence. In exploring what is keeping us apart, we can begin a conversation, and maybe define concrete actions that can draw us together and deliver more cohesive results.

Understanding and Adopting IP/IT Practices

AV professionals often do not understand the basics of how IP protocols work, or how to address issues and concerns that reside within the IT department. Conversely, the IP focus is completely different than the AV focus, and too often both sides struggle to reach across the aisle, so to speak. But AV and IT must collaborate for successful IP network convergence.

“Actually understanding and adopting IP and IT practices to enterprise and industry-standard levels have delayed true adoption, in my mind,” said Derrick Kelly, director of technical service operations at Whitlock.

Kelly suggested more robust cross-training between areas where there is overlap. At Whitlock, many senior managers have altered their hiring practices to develop blended teams with different areas of expertise. In understanding one another’s goals, capabilities and limitations, both AV and IT teams become better trained on what works and what doesn’t in terms of both AV technology and IP protocols.

Bandwidth issues are probably the largest point of contention between the two departments. As long as AV is pushing 4K (and beyond!) through the network, there will be bandwidth restrictions. IT is not very happy when the AV group comes in making demands. So if both groups have a better understanding of the needs and abilities of the other, they are more likely to work together for the good of the final product.

IP network convergence requires that AV pros gain IT networking skills

Territorial Confusion

As AV and IT continue to merge, it can be challenging to determine where one department’s responsibilities end and another’s begin. If hardware takes up too much bandwidth on the system, who is responsible for resolving that? In reverse, some AV hardware requires sophisticated programming to maximize efficiencies. Who will do that and ensure it works with existing interfaces? What is the best way to communicate what’s needed and how to prioritize the work?

Mark Coxon, sales director at Tangram, insists it’s essential to move away from a siloed view of the world and toward one that allows for collaborative work among IT, AV, furniture, architecture, customers, on-site tech managers, and anyone else whose expertise contributes to a better outcome. The more complex the project, the more critical this collaboration becomes.

“By looking at the whole instead of the parts and working toward partnerships with customer IT teams/end users/decision-makers and all of the important elements of a customer’s team—both internal and external—allows for a holistic approach to the customers’ needs. The more protected and siloed groups are, the less likely true adoption and growth will occur.”

“Some of that does mean checking egos and biases at the door, and going in with an open and willing mindset to provide the best solutions,” Coxon explained. “That attitude removes barriers and allows for better adoption. The more collaboratively delivered projects and systems that there are, the better the products, work and adoption will be.”

It’s important to remember that each side of the equation has a knowledge base that is critical for success.

Partnership Mentality

Partnerships create wins. Kelly explained how the teams at Whitlock have adopted a partnership mentality that has led to success.

“We believe strongly that the customer’s IT team is a partner in our technology deployments instead of a hurdle or adversary,” Kelly commented. “In the past, people avoided certain conversations because the climate was always more of ‘us versus them.’ Now our goal is always working toward the strongest partnership possible for the deployment. There will always be situations where that doesn’t work, but those should the exceptions, not the rule.”

By necessity, that process and relationship-building means taking a longer-term view of the sales cycle, design, and project deployment expectations. Kelley added that at Whitlock, this approach has proven beneficial in providing solutions in line with the current technology, as well as keeping future expectations in mind.

“It’s tempting to fall back to what is comfortable and just wanting to get things completed as quickly as possible—and sometimes with good reason,” Kelly said. “But that continues the cycle of slow adoption. We have to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone on a daily basis.”

Dollars and Sense

Coxon agrees that many integrators have limited IT skillsets, but he adds that margin protection is also driving their mindset. “Some integrators lack the needed skillsets to configure layer 3 managed switches or to determine QOS settings,” said Coxon. “On the other end of the spectrum, many firms shied away from AV over IP—especially the ‘V’ part—because the gross profit dollars of a proprietary matrix switch are much higher. They need to protect product margins to support their business models.”

The basics of AV over IP infrastructure

Making a Change

To smooth the transition of AV over IP, integrators look to senior members of their respective teams to set direction and model the right approach. Depending on the culture of each company, this may be a rapid change or a slow evolution.

“Whitlock has always made choices to look for appropriate foundational adjustments to our offerings,” Kelly pointed out. “Sometimes that involves organizational or structural changes, and the shift to a broader skill set and product offering falls right in line with that philosophy. Innovation is talked about in multiple stages—short term, mid term, long term, etc. A focus on long-term relationships with both customers and manufacturers allows the ability to discuss current and future trends. This, in turn, allows us to work on pain points for us, our customers, and our manufacturing partners. That process helps us understand where we need to adjust and how quickly. If we listen and partner correctly, the shift to new technologies, options, and processes becomes much easier.”

Tangram has focused on developing the needed skill sets in-house, and even leveraging the internal corporate IT department. “We have found strategic partners like Access Networks that have already undergone AVoIP certification with leading manufacturers,” Coxon said. However, he cautioned that it’s important to partner with organizations that share your corporate values. “Access Networks, like Tangram, offers white glove service to help design, configure, and manage networks. With a similar approach to business, it’s proven to be great partnership.”

Communication Is the Driver

Within the company, look to specific subject matter experts to discover which parts of the company understand certain things better, and then shine a light on their capabilities. The team should work together to make sure that the right people are involved in customer and internal conversations, design/sales opportunities, and deployment needs. In this way, there is true relationship development and continual refinement of processes to incorporate AVoIP into day-to-day business practices.

“Communication will help everyone become very familiar and comfortable with IP protocols, managed networks, and timecodes,” Coxon said. “But even more important is the idea of transitioning to a services-based industry as opposed to a product sales-based industry. That will take time and effort.

Future Predictions

The debate between open platforms and proprietary platforms continues to rage. Coxon predicted that AVoIP will see proprietary ecosystems fade.

“From an audio perspective, AVoIP is already gaining traction, with products like Dante, AES67, and Q-SYS,” Coxon noted. “Similarly, on the video side, we need more cross-platform devices. A video extender should work with any video receiver, regardless of brand. The proprietary ecosystem and secret sauce models will only last in the short term. Just like the world wide web’s strength was that it was an open platform given freely to all, we need AVoIP protocols that do the same to create one sandbox and encourage the kids to play nicely together.”

The promise of AV over IP for the pro AV market

Kelly also shared his take on what lies ahead: “Long term, there will continue to be a consolidation toward consistent interfaces, processes, and protocols. A good percentage will adopt standard IT methods and may move beyond AV integration or design firms for delivery and focus.

“If the products continue to become easier to deploy and become familiar to IT teams by adhering to their standards, it will be harder for AV teams to silo themselves from IT or other technology providers,” Kelly added.

True service will continue to be a differentiator within this AVoIP space. In fact, services could well be the differentiator in building successful long-term relationships.

“With services attached, capabilities and flexibility will become the true path forward and the differentiator for the AV integration and design firms over the expanded competitive base of IT and technology providers,” concluded Kelly.

The adoption of AVoIP is only going to grow, so identifying areas where your team needs to better embrace this shift is a great place to start. Education is key, so as training sessions are offered by manufacturers, get all the right players involved so the team can move cohesively toward what lies on the horizon.  

New AV over IP Products

DVIGear DisplayNet AV Distribution

Powered by SDVoE technology, DisplayNet provides flexible AV distribution with zero frame latency, artifact-free image quality, and near-infinite scalability. DisplayNet leverages 10GbE technology to switch, extend, and distribute lossless HDMI signals with zero frame latency at resolutions up to 4K/60Hz. The advanced video processing features in the DN-200 Series offer instantaneous signal switching, a customizable multiviewer mode, and advanced video wall functionality, in addition to integrated USB 2.0 routing.

Hall Research 4K Video Plus USB Extension—Point-to-Point and Over LAN

VERSA-4K can extend and switch multiple HDMI video and USB data signals to a virtually unlimited number of receivers on a simple gigabit network. Bidirectional IR, RS-232, and auxiliary stereo audio can also be extended. Advanced features include low-latency video and audio, CEC, Serial over IP, video wall processor, video rotation and flipping, USB device filtering, automatic KVM switching, Telnet and WebGUI control, and PoE (power over Ethernet). Four USB ports are on the receiver.

Aurora Multimedia IPX-TC3 Series

Aurora says its IPX-TC3 Series is the only 10 Gbps SDVoE transceiver to offer redundant fiber and selectable copper fiber in a single unit. Aurora also claims it is the first company to utilize PoE with 10G. Aurora has worked with Ethernet switch companies to develop and ship 10G PoE switches, paving the way for cleaner installations. Seamless switching, USB 2.0 (480 Mbps), Dante/AES67 8-channel (another Aurora claims as a first), 1 Gbps Ethernet, and control are some additional core capabilities.

SDVoE Academy

As the AV industry inevitably transitions to IP-based solutions, education is paramount, and a primary mission of the SDVoE Alliance. Through the SDVoE Academy online platform and mobile app, users can work at their own pace, anywhere and everywhere, to discover just how simple it is to enjoy the flexibility and scalability of Ethernet while benefiting from the performance of a matrix switch—4K video without compromise, without latency, and without image artifacts. It’s all free, and there’s even a track that leads to SDVoE Design Partner certification.

Atlona OmniStream

The OmniStream AT-OMNI-122 (OmniStream 122) is a dual-channel AV decoder with networked redundancy from the OmniStream Pro AV over IP family. OmniStream 122 supports HDMI signals up to 4K/UHD @ 60Hz plus HDR formats, along with embedded Dante/AES67 audio and RS-232 or IR control pass-through. As with all OmniStream products, the OmniStream 122 streamlines integration with 1 Gbps managed network switch compatibility, accelerating deployments and simplifying migrations from circuit-based systems. Users also benefit from built-in audio de-embedding, multichannel audio downmixing, and local or PoE powering.

Silex Insight VC-2 HQ

The high-quality profile and low-delay syntax of VC-2 is used to achieve low compression ratio, typically up to four times visually lossless. The algorithm is lightweight and works without external memory (operates without the need of DDR memory), allowing cost-effective implementation, according to the company. The VC-2 High Quality codec has ultra-low latency due to its slice-based processing. 4K 60p real-time encoding and decoding takes just 0.0593 milliseconds.

Black Box MCX Multimedia Distribution and Management System

The newest addition to Black Box’s AV product portfolio, the MCX multimedia distribution and management system, takes advantage of modern 10GbE infrastructure to enable AV and data payloads to exist on the same IT networks. Enabling converged networked AV, MCX delivers up to 4K60 4:4:4 uncompressed video over 10GbE with industry-low latency and switch times. The system eliminates any compromise between latency, bandwidth, and video quality, as well as the need to maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise.

Netgear M4300 Switches

Netgear’s M4300 family of switches offers up to 10G networking with an out-of-the-box, zero-touch installation. The company says these products offer a substantial cost savings when compared to HDBaseT matrix switchers. The M4300 switches offer multicast that is already configured for plug-and-play. In addition, the switches offer both fiber and copper connectivity for short- and long-haul distribution.

Harman AMX N2400

AMX’s SVSI N2400 4K60 4:4:4 encoders and decoders support streaming video resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 and HDCP 2.2, with latency so low that they are able to support sensitive applications like live action events and interactive presentations. Product features include AES67 digital audio support, power-over-ethernet, KVM support, the ability to easily adjust bandwidth and resolution, LocalPlay content, a network-attached windowing processor, networked video recorder, 802.1x authentication, Active Directory support, SSL/TLS encryption, and more.

RGB Zio D3000 Series

The Zio D3000 Series provides a full-function video wall for IP signals up to 4Kp60 resolution. The D3064 model shown supports signal decodes and display over four monitors, each up to 4K resolution, covering the popular 1x2, 1x3, 1x4, and 2x2 arrays. The Zio D3000 Series is part of RGB Spectrum’s AVoIP family of products that provides enterprise networked video distribution across LANs, WANs, and even mobile networks.

Having watched the AV-over-IP landscape expand over the past few years, it’s easy for integrators to understand the growing capabilities of AVoIP systems, but it’s been satisfying to see end users realize what these systems can do, according to Jim Mauger, senior systems designer at integration firm Spinitar.

“I get excited to see the end user’s perspective shift when they see a system finally up and running,” he said. “You can do a lot to explain it, to sell them on the pluses of doing it this way, but when they can see the convenience of it? How flexible things can be? It’s cool to see their eyes open when they realize how much capability they have, which is something they may not have quite realized at the concept stage.”

Ben Dandola-Grubb, assistant vice president of engineering services at integration firm Verrex, has seen an increase in AVoIP adoption, which has provided more choices in available technology as well as more opportunities for projects that integrate them. “There’s been more attention across the board, whether it’s manufacturers developing their products or clients interested in all the marketing, or us as integrators just wanting to be involved in working with AV over IP,” he said.

Potential for Growth

Though the technology has been improving, making for faster, more efficient systems, there’s still room to grow. According to a recent AVoIP market analysis by Futuresource Consulting, 10G solutions are still struggling to gain traction, with 1G installations continuing to make up the majority of projects. But we’re getting there.

1Gb vs. 10Gb Ethernet: Which is right for your AV network?

“The products, and really the whole concept—it’s certainly grown a good bit,” Mauger said. “It pretty much started out with one company breaking the ice, so to speak, and now all of a sudden we’ve got lots of choices. Competition in the industry has helped a lot from a design standpoint. My bag of tricks now has different products for different situations.”

Charles Dobson, director of development at the SDVoE Alliance, agrees that the options have improved and it's easier than ever to embrace IT innovations for AV applications. “Network-based AV signal distribution offers more design choices at the outset and greater flexibility to adapt and grow with client needs over the life of the system,” he said. “Added to this is the superior value end users derive from investments in standards-based infrastructure compared to classic proprietary AV systems.”

Still, he pointed to a bigger issue that needs to be resolved before AVoIP systems are as useful as they can be for both integrators and end users: the “hodgepodge of solutions based on a wide range of competing technologies.” SDVoE is working to standardize the adoption of Ethernet to transport AV signals in professional AV environments, but it’s a work in progress.

“Nearly all of these are proprietary or proprietary implementations,” Dobson said. “This means that products from vendor A do not talk to those from vendor B or C. This is inefficient for the industry and confusing for customers. The SDVoE Alliance, of course, is here to help foster this development and establish a common, standards-based approach to AV over IP.”

At the end of the day, though things have improved to make it much easier to design AVoIP systems, that doesn’t always mean it’s the right solution for every install.

What's the status of the AV over IP transition?

“We’re still by no means putting AV over IP in every room—far from it—but it gives us flexibility for future expansions, future growth,” he said. “But I don’t want a client to waste money. It’s still really important that you sit down at the beginning and figure out their needs.”

Working with IT

Time has improved the technologies and evolved the process of working with client-side IT staff. As these projects become more common, IT is becoming familiar with network requirements and what an integration team will expect from them. Still, there can be some friction. Dandola-Grubb stresses that communication that starts early is key to a good working relationship with IT staff who may be involved in the project.

“We’ve been trying to get in contact with the IT folks as early as possible, and maintain that contact throughout the process,” he said. “Most IT folks know what they’re doing and know what they’re talking about, but sometimes it’s difficult gaining access to them early enough in the process.”

Mauger agreed, noting that one of the biggest challenges in a project is simply deciding where to put things. “Are the end users or their IT or network folks ready, willing, and able to embrace it?” he said. “For us, that’s been improving quite a bit lately. The IT folks are definitely embracing more and more.”

AV and IT must collaborate for successful IP network convergence

Providing IT staff with a basic document that outlines what the project will require from the network and how you plan to configure things can go a long way in communicating needs and getting ahead of any questions that may arise, Dandola-Grubb said. “They still may ignore it until the last minute, but at the very least we can say, ‘Hey, look guys, we talked about this.’ We tried. And that’s tremendously helpful.”

Dobson agreed that clear and early communication between integrator and IT staff is important, but said that part of that relationship being successful is also up to the manufacturers. “Manufacturers need to be designing products and solutions that are good network citizens, meaning that they look and feel like typical interoperable, manageable, and secure devices.”

The basics of AV over IP infrastructure

The Road Ahead

As adoption rates for AVoIP increase, the professional AV community has the chance to grow along with it, noted Dandola-Grubb.

IP network convergence requires that AV pros gain IT networking skills

“I like to think of it as an opportunity for us all to learn something new,” he said, noting that Verrex has assembled a suggested list of training opportunities for staff to explore, which is particularly useful now, as technicians have less opportunity to work in the field. “AV over IP is where we’re going, and we’ve been heading this way for a long time.”

Of course, it’s important to remember that what the future looks like is as much up to the integrators as it is to the manufacturers and end users.

“You could say that this is the end of the beginning, that the benefits of making the move to the network are clear, and that signature deployments have shown that a solution can meet and even surpass expectations,” Dobson said. “The next phase will see an explosion of creativity as designers and their customers really start to define the kind of workflows these systems make possible. Google, Alexa, and Siri are telling us all loud and clear: Everyone wants more content, more control, and more automation. It’s up to us to bring it to them.”

New AV over IP Products

RGB Spectrum Zio W4000

The Zio W4000 video wall processor supports both baseband video sources (HDMI, DisplayPort, SDI) and AV-over-IP video sources (H.264) to deliver the best of both worlds for in-room and enterprise-wide video distribution. The W4000 simplifies complex visualization by simultaneously displaying multiple high-quality video sources on any size video wall with up to 64 displays. The Zio W4000 supports both video and web content.

Zigen IP-Logic

Zigen’s AVoIP platform, IP-Logic, allows audio (AES67) and video (SDVoE) to be distributed on the same managed switch—traditionally, it is required to segregate AES67 and SDVoE on separate network switches. Zigen has eliminated the need for additional switches, audio bridges, and other proprietary products to increase the customer value proposition. Zigen says its AVoIP platform stands above the competition and that, with IP-Logic, the possibilities are endless.

Xilica Solaro QR1

Xilica’s Solaro QR1 is a modular DSP that offers discreet, low-profile applications for networked AV/IT environments in a quarter-width frame. According to Xilica, the Solaro QR1 offers exceptional audio quality, along with outstanding performance through a dual-core Linux backbone. Its modular design provides integrators with flexible options, allowing customers to buy the frame, choose the appropriate cards, and configure to exacting specifications. Users can later reconfigure the QR1 with field-swappable cards to serve changing needs.

Christie Terra Controller, Available Through Synnex

The Christie Terra Controller provides reliable, highly secure operational control and management of SDVoE systems in mission-critical environments. Its intuitive web-based programming interface makes the Terra Controller easy to learn and use, simplifying the installation, configuration, programming, management, and operational tasks of SDVoE systems. With an expanding lineup of processing and control hardware and software, Christie Terra solutions include everything required to design and integrate complete SDVoE systems.

Hall Research Polaris-1

The Hall Research Polaris-1 is a powerful IP controller with internal web servers to support up to 32 users simultaneously. Designed for GUI control of large AVoIP installations, it enables administrators to create various zones/rooms and assign displays to each zone. Display names and video source are programmable. Layouts or maps can be uploaded to aid users in identifying the location of displays in each zone, and the controller can be accessed from any smart device.

DVIGear DN-150 Series

The DN-150 Series represents the best value in SDVoE matrix switching products, according to DVIGear. These units provide support for HDMI 4K/60 signals at 8-bit (4:4:4) and 10-bit (4:2:2) with zero frame latency and zero loss in signal quality. DN-150 Series endpoints utilize ultra-compact fanless enclosures. DN-150-TX-Quad is a plug-in module for the Netgear M4300-96X network switch that offers four HDMI input ports at half of the cost of four dedicated DN-150-TX units.

Atlona AT-OMNI-122

Atlona’s AT-OMNI-122 (OmniStream 122) is a dual-channel networked decoder within the OmniStream Pro AV-over-IP family. OmniStream 122 processes two channels in a single, half-width rack enclosure, offering cost-efficient, high-density integration. Operational benefits include enterprise-level/campus-wide scalability, built-in security and network error resilience, and broadcast-quality 4K performance with visually lossless compression. OmniStream 122 also maximizes uptime with automatic failover and recovery when deployed in redundant configurations, and in alignment with IT systems and best practices.

Black Box MCX

MCX is Black Box’s next-generation AV-over-IP solution that distributes 4K 60Hz video and audio over IP. It is designed for modern 10G network infrastructures. This robust video distribution system delivers the video quality high-end AV applications require to display eye-catching content. MCX eliminates any compromise between low latency, low bandwidth, and high video quality, as well as the need to maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise.

As AV and control manufacturers evolve from hardware to software providers—and in some cases offer cloud-based service platforms—we asked thought leaders from various companies to share their insights about what the evolution might look like, and to give us a peek into their company’s near- and long-term roadmaps. Read on as a broad selection of manufacturers discuss what you need to know about AV over IP.

1 Beyond: Rony Sebok, Vice President and Co-Founder

There’s a reason everyone is now talking about AV over IP. It’s no longer hype; it’s becoming reality. And there are many good reasons why.

1. Simplicity: simplifying wiring and routing of audio and video signals. 2. Cost: reducing the cost of equipment and installation. 3. Upgradability: adding features is easier when it’s a software upgrade and not a new piece of hardware. 4. Technology advancements: emerging standards that are able to transmit high-quality audio and video over standard network cables.

It wasn’t that long ago when you needed to connect four cables to use a PTZ camera: one each for power, control, high-quality video, and low-res stream. Now this can all be done over a single Cat 5 cable. Check out our new AutoTracker 3 with NDI camera. Better, yet, the cable can be connected to the nearest network switch and any device on the network has access to the video. It’s no longer necessary to think ahead and install specialty wiring to locations that might need access to the signal. All that is needed is a standard network connection at the location.

The same has been true for a while now with Dante audio. I can’t tell you how much easier that has made life for us. We can route audio from microphones to DSP and speakers and to our Automate VX voice-activated video switcher for recording and conferencing with Dante controller software.

Cost savings come because we don’t need to design in fancy XLR plugs or SDI connections on the system. Everything comes through the network—and software upgrades provide new features.

Read more about the status of the AV over IP transition.

AMX by Harman: Jamie Trader, Vice President, GPLM Video and Control

The premise that AV and control are moving “toward software solutions” might be accurate for some manufacturers, but it’s a flawed assertion from Harman’s perspective. Not incorrect—just flawed. It’s flawed because we’ve always been software-driven, software-defined. The best user experiences we’ve delivered to market are cultivated through software-enabled experiences. Whether we’re talking about DSP management, live sound mixing/recording, IP-based video distribution, enterprise resource control and management, or collaboration technology—all of this is underpinned by software. Software derived from obsessive focus on user needs and user behaviors.

The question is really about where software lives. Does it live on dedicated or general-purpose computing devices? Does it run on FPGA or SoC? Does it run on ARM or x86 processors? Does the software have a relationship between a purpose-built device and a general computing device? The answer to all of these questions is about application. Mission-critical applications often depend on purpose-built, solid-state reliability. Some applications rely on dedicated processing power that is difficult—or unreliable—to predictably harness from a shared computing device. On the other hand, many applications can leverage shared resources, and require both redundancy and standard IT-administered support that dedicated devices can’t satisfy.

The point of this is that the Harman roadmap outlines a continued commitment to delivering software-defined experiences across the best computing technologies fit for each application. Cloud plays a massive part in our AVL-integrated future. And which computing devices cloud will interact with will be both varied and meaningful.

Aurora Multimedia: Paul Harris, CEO and CTO

Aurora Multimedia’s near- and long-term solution is called ReAX, which is based on JavaScript and HTML. The advantage is the huge amount of resources and education available for a platform based on web standards. Most everything about ReAX is open architecture and non-platform specific. Using Node.js as its core, ReAX can run on embedded platforms, computers, and virtual machines using Windows, Linux, and Android. It can run locally in a facility or in the cloud, providing ultimate flexibility.

Aurora provides tools for drag-and-drop code development and WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) interface creation; however, programmers can use code development software tools of their choice since ReAX is standards-based. The ReAX organization allows multiple manufacturers to use the technology. AV products utilizing the ReAX engine can eliminate the need for standalone hardware. It also allows for a variety of hardware and software to interoperate. Displays, media players, AV over IP, and more can run a ReAX engine. For the first time, in addition to protocols, source code, IR libraries, and macros can be shared between manufacturers. End users and integrators will no longer be held hostage by proprietary control system companies. ReAX is making a better and friendlier AV industry with its open-architecture technology.

Read more about AV over IP distribution for commercial integrators. 

Black Box: Jonathan McCune, Director of Product Management, AV and Infrastructure

Black Box has a track record of providing reliable, long-lasting AV distribution and remote-access solutions. Our key focus for the future is to continuously develop AV, KVM, and control platforms that are future-proof. Rather than force customers to replace their entire system architecture, we will ensure that they can upgrade or enhance their existing systems with IP-based or virtual machine access-enabling components. This approach secures customers’ IT investments while providing them with a migration path to new technology.

Our current and future development roadmap includes AV-over-IP distribution systems that securely share data payload and high-resolution AV signals on the same infrastructure. These include high-speed, IP-based KVM extension and switching solutions that provide access to physical and virtual machines in data centers, as well as pioneering software-based KVM that replaces physical KVM receiver units. All of these solutions reflect a basic value: ease of use, even as technology evolves. Black Box solutions provide administrator-friendly management interfaces that keep up with the speed of changing technology by providing secure access over an IP network or even the internet, plus a high degree of system scalability and support for future system enhancements.

Crestron: Daniel Jackson, Director, Enterprise Technology

Crestron is focusing on building the complete integrated solution for our customers. If our customers ask for something, we want to build it. Not because we want to build everything, but we want to build in areas where it makes sense, and design solutions to work together as opposed to being cobbled together after the fact.

We want to own all the pieces to provide a better experience to end users. Alternatively, if an integrator has to go to different manufacturer each time a customer asks for something, it becomes a huge hassle, not just from the end-user perspective but from the management, support, and training perspective as well. Unified communications is a great example of this, because UC has become a big part of what customers want in their rooms, so we built that into our portfolio to provide a seamlessly integrated system.

End users are starting to demand more technology in every room, as opposed to just high-end or specialty rooms. A lot of what is driving that demand is the fact that you can now get very inexpensive video systems. We sell a very developed Flex solution at a radically low price point. That is causing people so say, “Wow, I should probably go add video to these rooms.” And now, all of a sudden, you can get video in these rooms for peanuts. This is also driving massive scale.

People often ask if Fusion is going away and being replaced by XiO Cloud. No, Fusion will be around for at least the next decade and we’re still doing future development.

XiO Cloud and Fusion are different solutions. Fusion is for customers that want to do complex, custom designs—but that comes at the cost of some simplicity. XiO Cloud gives you simplicity and allows enterprises to easily scale.

XiO Cloud does certain things out of the box like zero touch. Because our devices know how to reach out to XiO Cloud, they’ll pull down all their configurations and settings and it will automatically record the analytics off the devices.

We’ve found that nobody wants to run servers in their own data centers anymore. If the customer needs a dedicated cloud, we have Fusion Cloud, which is our hosted solution. We effectively provide a dedicated virtual machine, but it’s in a cloud, so you don’t have to set up your own infrastructure. XiO Cloud is truly a cloud-native platform—it’s designed from the ground up.

DVIGear: Matthew Pulsipher, Product Manager

I think the key opportunity for embracing IT innovations for AV applications is in software-defined hardware. There are a lot of IT-based standards for streaming audio and video, many of them very good. But the software-first approach that they take comes with unacceptable compromises in the context of professional AV, where quality must be uncompromised, and latency must be absolutely minimal. That’s why we decided on SDVoE as a platform: with SDVoE, you have a standardized cross-vendor hardware platform that is entirely controllable (and expandable) by software.

Even though they are ultimately delivered by hardware, DisplayNet-exclusive features such as Advanced Video Wall exist entirely in software. SDVoE hardware is standardized, with minor differentiation between vendors. Any SDVoE solution can perform basic AV routing (and even some control of advanced features) as well as any other, but the SDVoE platform is flexible enough that significant improvements can be made within the control software.

Since launching the DN-200 Series in 2017, we have been able to add a wide range of new features and functionality through continued development of DisplayNet Manager and by embracing enhancements made to the SDVoE platform. With SDVoE, the internal circuitry used for processing signals is software-defined, and firmware updates can change the configuration of the hardware to enable improved performance and additional features. I fully expect that we will be able to deliver continued performance enhancements and new features for years to come on our existing hardware—and that any new hardware we release will serve to extend that platform.

Extron: Joe da Silva, Director of Product Marketing

The demands placed on technology in the modern workspace are constantly evolving because of AV over IP and other trends in 2020. One example is how technology managers are being asked to support flexible and scalable solutions that can deliver real-time, high-quality communication for presentations as well as collaborative interactions throughout an office, building, or campus.

Using the network for distribution of video and audio signals is garnering a lot of attention. Using encoders and decoders, we can stream these signals across an infrastructure that is potentially used for more than one purpose. The flexibility and scalability that AV over IP affords gives technology managers a greater range of interoperable options for deploying systems of nearly any scale. By integrating control as a native technology within the AV-over-IP ecosystem, it is now possible to leverage a common deployment workflow for small systems like you’d find in a huddle room to enterprise-wide distribution you’d encounter across a campus of buildings. Moving forward, we are excited to leverage the strength of our configurable and programmable control platform with the scalability of our AV-over-IP video distribution products. These solutions allow users to enable new features as the requirements of the applications change over time through simple software keys. This degree of flexibility ensures our customers are not limited by technology as the business needs of their organization change.

Hall Research: Sathvik Gaddam, Senior Embedded Systems Engineer

Distribution of video and audio over IP not only provides scalability, but also end-to-end control. AVoIP has transformed the way traditional audio and video is transmitted from point to point on a direct, wired connection such as coax or Cat-5 into distributed nodes and services utilizing IP technologies such as IGMP and Multicasting. This approach not only allows a sender to distribute content to a group of receivers, but also allows a receiver to subscribe to a given service from a sender. This flexibility allowed IP-based control systems to control and monitor AV distribution.

Moreover, AVoIP is no longer confined to just video and audio; expanding to applications in the medical and education fields, AVoIP has evolved to provide many services such as USB 2.0 (USBoIP), IR control (IRoIP), serial control (SoIP), and IP control along with audio and video. So far, AVoIP is confined to a Local Area Network (LAN) because of its bandwidth-intensive nature; however, control systems to manage AV are rapidly connecting to the cloud to give live status and control over the system, which is often the ideal case. While the technology to stream AV directly to a cloud server is already available, it’s not surprising that it is not widely adopted because of its expensive infrastructure and latency issues.

While AVoIP technology itself has evolved to satisfy present and future AV needs, deploying the AVoIP solution based on customer needs has become a major challenge for integrators as they must take the customer’s IT infrastructure into consideration before designing the solution. This was not a major concern before. Deploying AVoIP to existing infrastructure is even more challenging, as in most cases, customers’ IP networks are not configured to handle AV. Because of the tradeoff between network bandwidth, image quality, latency, and infrastructure costs, manufacturers offer numerous AVoIP solutions, which can become challenging for users to select the right solution.

Kramer Electronics: Clint Hoffman, CEO

AV over IP is a great alternative to HDBaseT for bigger installations. When it comes to the AV/IT end user, this is what they are familiar with. They’re not familiar with HDBaseT, or HDMI, EDID, and proprietary highways and matrix switchers. It’s an easy discussion because they understand managed services and the cloud.

We have three different primary solutions at Kramer. Kramer Control is a cloud-based control solution. The beauty of a cloud-based control solution is that you don’t have to roll a truck on site and send the program route with it to go make a change to the system.

Another benefit of Kramer Control is that from the minute you have deployed it, we use smart drivers for a display or a source. Kramer Control is completely about analytics. It captures all the activity from the day you turn the system on and is available to be analyzed. How often are my rooms being used? What’s being used in my rooms? It’s all available immediately and forever, because it lives on the Amazon Web Services server farms. You don’t need to have a coder who writes programs to get information out of your system.

Kramer VIA is a wireless collaboration and presentation solution. Then VIA Site Management allows you to do a multitude of things across your network, whether you’ve got 100 or 1,000 VIAs. You can check their status individually or push a firmware update to all of them.

Kramer Network is a tool for managing AV hardware that’s connected to a network, and it’s also a virtual matrix switcher for AV-over-IP encoders and decoders.

We have an AV over IP solution for every point in the market. We have the H.264/265, the M-JPEG, which is currently the most popular, and we also now have the SDVoE. And, we have 4K as well. No matter what the application is, we have solution for it, including traditional hardware. (For example, there's a Kramer AV over IP system running the digital signage at Tulalip Resort Casino.)

Our roadmap is to take these solutions and make them all seamlessly integrated and look and feel like they’re one.

QSC: Martin Barbour, Product Manager, Q-SYS Platform and Cloud Software

For almost 15 years, QSC has been developing its AV&C technology in a fundamentally different way than nearly every other AV company. In order to provide significantly greater performance and deeper integration capabilities, we chose to leverage mainstream IT stalwarts such as Intel, the IEEE, and Linux as the base technologies for Q-SYS. This approach allows us to define the product by the software we run with these well-known and trusted technologies. As a result, we can look at Q-SYS as an AV&C operating system.

This software-defined application layer gives us agility to offer Q-SYS on the most suitable platform for the application. Whether that’s partnering with an industry leader such as Dell for large-capacity, centralized deployments (with the Q-SYS Core 5200), or building our own appliance for smaller spaces (the Q-SYS Core 110f), or moving applicable capabilities to the cloud. Q-SYS embodies the fact that ongoing software development continues to define and evolve the product.

While QSC is increasingly becoming a software developer rather than a hardware manufacturer, there is still a need to manufacturer endpoints such as amplifiers, cameras, and other physical devices that cannot be virtualized. Beyond that, we don’t need to manufacture multiple hardware processors (audio DSP, control processor, video switcher, etc.) to tie those systems together. All of those functions can live at the software layer, and therefore, coexist in the same single device or software application.

As a software provider, the next logical steps (as evidenced by the IT industry) are virtualization and cloud deployment. The jury is still out on whether real-time signal processing in the cloud makes practical sense for the majority of use cases, but the technology certainly exists. What we do know is the convenience and improved efficiency offered by global visibility through cloud-connected devices. Q-SYS Reflect Enterprise Manager extends the Q-SYS Ecosystem by moving applicable technology pieces to the cloud for centralized, remote management and monitoring of your entire AV&C system including Q-SYS peripherals and third-party, non-QSC devices, from anywhere in the world.

RGB Spectrum: Scott Norder, Chief Operating Officer

We think about three main categories of AV content: live/capture video, time-sensitive computer-generated (think video games), and time-insensitive recorded/streamed content (web pages, video content servers). Each presents unique challenges in migrating to a software/cloud-hosted platform. The main factors of cost, performance, data transmission speeds, and bottlenecks balanced against quality, reliability, and ease of use are already producing a variety of solutions. Solutions for recorded/streamed content are approaching full maturation, yet there is still room for innovation in technology and business models.

Clearly, there will continue to be edge devices for the creation/capture of AV content and for the presentation of that content back to users.  It is the area between these two functions where our opportunity exists. Whether you think of it as conversion, translation, encoding, or ethernet enablement, it is the cost-effective processing and packaging of the AV content that must happen in order to move the AV content across the network from the edges. Implementing standards-based solutions in this area—such as H.264/HEVC or JPEG2000—provides maximum leverage of interoperability, reliability, and cost reduction, and is clearly being favored by the marketplace.

RGB Spectrum is focused on the challenges of getting time-sensitive content distributed, processed, and displayed across wide user bases by leveraging best-in-class AV codecs, networking, and distributed control. Our solutions provide everything needed to get AV content onto your network and distribute it not just within a room, but to every room, building, campus, or facility around the world.

Utelogy: Frank Pellkofer, President

As the demographics in the workplace change, many organizations need to meet the enhanced expectations of a new breed of technology users. The new AV/UC deployments are driven by a desire to make life simple for their customers whose daily life is to maximize productivity through workplace technology. The need for efficiency and to create an environment that is attractive to recruit new staff and retain existing employees is now of paramount importance as many organizations focus more on the value of their people.

We’re seeing a proliferation of huddle spaces (small meeting rooms) that need simple, inexpensive, and easily deployed and configured solutions that provide a first-class user experience. These include intelligent soundbars with integrated microphones and cameras, intelligent cameras/displays that provide actionable intelligence (people counting etc.), wireless presentation devices, and sensor technology to automate the control of the space.

Our roadmap is focused on ensuring our solution is enterprise-grade, network-connected, secure, able to be managed and monitored, and able to provide IT/enterprise levels of service. We are seeing a change in the types and volumes of rooms that are being installed and also the way that the technology is being consumed, with the IT-style “as a service” model starting to be adopted.

ZeeVee: Steve Metzger, Co-Founder, VP, Hardware and Operations

This is an exciting time for the AV industry. Within the last decade we have seen AV distribution grow from analog patch fields through digital HD over RF, matrix switching, HDBaseT, and now, into Ethernet and the internet for distribution. That’s probably the fastest rate of change for any industry outside of micro-processing and silicon storage technologies.

While AV over IP and internet-based serving of video are hot areas of development—and we fully participate in it with cutting-edge products and services—it is but one answer to one type of challenge. As with any high-tech area, there is a continuum of technology and solutions best suited to each customer’s problem.

There is no single solution that is going to work for all customers universally. If you have medical operating theaters or control room applications, the requirements are stringent in terms of video quality and latency, and the price paid is bandwidth and network capacity. School systems tend to be more budget focused. Sub-frame latency may not be as important, so compressed solutions fit the bill. We have leading solutions for those applications as well.

As a customer-focused vendor, our job is not to shoehorn anyone into the technology du jour. Our job is to provide the breadth of solutions that can cover any of our partner and end-user needs—but more importantly, the knowledge, interest, and passion to learn about those needs and apply the very best-suited solution to best cover them.

SDVoE Alliance: Justin Kennington, President

There is a hidden challenge to the convergence of AV and IT: Networks originally designed to serve traditional IT needs are not well-suited to carry AV traffic. These networks are heavily oversubscribed. That is, their peak data-carrying capacity is low compared to their aggregate traffic over time. This is an IT best practice, because oversubscription lowers infrastructure costs and has little performance impact for IT users (web browsing, email, file transfers). But oversubscription is the enemy of AV over IP, because AV data must be delivered on time, every time, without delay or network retries.

Practically, this means that the idea of using AV-over-IP endpoints on your existing infrastructure is a lie. Adding any major new service to your network requires planning, design, and expansion. AV over IP is no exception. Therefore, we expect to see an evolution toward new and expanded networks that break the traditional IT design mold and account for the increased peak bandwidth demands of AV over IP.

A strong recent example of this evolved thinking is at Yale University’s Sterling Law Building. Integrator North American Theatrix worked with Yale’s IT staff to integrate a new segment into their existing network with multiple 100Gb links between switches. This new network segment offers peak bandwidth capabilities far beyond that of a traditional network design. The resulting network connects all AV for more than a dozen classrooms, while also providing IT service to the building.

The latest AV-over-IP products from leading companies

1 Beyond AutoTracker 3

The 1 Beyond AutoTracker 3 is now available with NDI, one of the emerging AV-over-IP standards for video. It can be decoded with software and many software products support it. The AutoTracker camera automatically follows a teacher walking and speaking. With NDI encoding built into the AutoTracker, only a single Cat 5 cable to the camera is required. The Panopto system in the Smart Display has Wi-Fi access to the video, anywhere in the room. 1 Beyond Automate VX voice-activated switching solution also supports NDI for input and output. It was shown at InfoComm with 9 NDI sources being switched automatically.

Aurora RXT Series

Aurora has introduced a variety of IP control interfaces and control units based on ReAX technology. The RXT Series are 7- and 10-inch Android wall-mount and desktop touch interfaces available in black or white, which also serve as the “brain” of the system. The RXC-1, RXC-3, QXP-2, and QXC-44 are Linux control units that have a variety of control ports like RS-232, IR, I/O, and relays. The IPE-ReAX-1 card allows a ReAX engine inside Aurora 1G or 10G AV-over-IP system. All devices are PoE, simplifying wiring by eliminating external power supplies. The Core Studio is a free and simple-to-use tool for code and interface creation using drag and drop. Overall, the ReAX hardware provides power and performance at affordable prices.

Black Box Emerald KVM

Black Box’s Emerald KVM-over-IP and MCX AV-over-IP platforms enable distribution, extension, and sharing of up to 4K video, audio, and peripheral signals over IP. The Emerald KVM product family connects users with both virtual and physical machines hosted in a secure data center. The zero-client platform is future-proof and scalable, and it prevents a “technology lock-in” by building bridges to both legacy (non-IP) KVM systems, as well as current and future interfaces and standards. The MCX AV-over-IP platform ensures low latency, bandwidth efficiency, and high-quality video and audio over modern 10GbE infrastructures. This simplifies and accelerates the process of consolidating AV and data on a single network, enabling organizations to reduce network management time and costs and scale for expansion.

Crestron DM NVX

Crestron’s DM NVX technology transports ultra-high-definition 4K60 4:4:4 video over standard gigabit Ethernet with no perceptible latency or loss of quality. Leveraging standard network switches and Cat-5e UTP wiring, the DM-NVX-352 delivers a high-performance virtual matrix routing solution that is scalable for any enterprise or campus-wide 4K content distribution application. Professional onboard scaling, plus support for HDR10 and HDCP 2.2 ensures a high-quality picture with compatibility for varied media sources. The all-new Pixel Perfect Processing technology further enhances the image quality.

DVIGear DisplayNet

Powered by SDVoE technology, DVIGear’s DisplayNet products provide flexible AV distribution with zero-frame latency, artifact-free image quality, and near-infinite scalability. DisplayNet delivers multi-layer switching and allows for limitless expansion with any combination of transmitters and receivers. DisplayNet supports both HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2 at 4K/60Hz with up to 12-bit color and HDCP 2.2. The DN-200 Series includes a high-performance video processing engine that allows for very fast signal switching, multi-viewing of up to 32 simultaneous sources, and advanced video wall functionality. The DN-150 series limits the DN-200’s Video Processing engine to deliver matrix switching performance for applications in which video processing is not needed for every endpoint.

Extron NAV Series

As the adoption of AV-over-IP solutions increases, technology managers are faced with organizational challenges such as adding another service onto existing networks. Most end users have a 1Gbps network infrastructure. Even with the new demands of AV over IP, not every organization is ready to move to 10Gbps networks. Extron’s NAV Series offers encoders and decoders for both 1G and 10G networks with full interoperability. The patented PURE3 codec in NAV encoders and decoders provides high-quality video with virtually no latency at efficient bitrates, allowing for a seamless upgrade paths as network technologies change.

Hall Research AVoIP Solutions

Hall Research’s FHD264 (pictured) system uses H.264 encoding to deliver 1080p video with under 35Mbps of bandwidth. It can extend IR and RS-232 over IP to deliver video to virtually unlimited endpoints. The VERSA-4K AVoIP solution features lossless 4K video with zero latency, USB 2.0, keyboard and mouse, IR, and RS-232—all under 1G bandwidth. It can create a video wall, has independent routing, USB filtering, dynamic virtual matrix (DVM), and PoE. VERSA-4K provides a solution for PC extension, presentation systems, and digital signage where quality and latency are major concerns. Both FHD264 and VERSA-4K can be controlled and managed using the CNT-IP-264 Control System. With an embedded web server and scheduler, CNT-IP-264 not only discovers Hall Research AVoIP products in the IP network but also allows it to control third-party products over IP and RS-232 from its WEB-GUI.

QSC Q-SYS

As part of its strategic technology partnership with Audinate, Q-SYS feature licenses will enable native Dante networked audio integration without the need for additional hardware I/O or external configuration software. Integrators can add Dante audio natively as an extension of the Q-SYS integrated audio, video, and control workflow. Robust functionality provides device discovery, synchronization, control, and management for Dante—directly within Q-SYS Designer Software environment or Dante Controller. Because Q-SYS operates over standard IT network infrastructures, Dante audio data works with Q-SYS AV&C data, eliminating the need for challenging bridging or combining schemes to manage both Q-SYS and Dante connected peripherals. Following the release of Software-based Dante feature licenses, all new Q-SYS Core processors will ship with a small set of Dante audio channels enabled at no additional cost. Software-based Dante for the Q-SYS Ecosystem is targeted for release in early 2020.

RGB Spectrum Zio

RGB Spectrum’s Zio AV-over-IP solution includes a comprehensive family of encoders, decoders, multiviewers, wall processors, and software for smart displays and mobile devices. It provides an easy-to-use collection of products and solutions for the capture, distribution, and display of video content over IP networks, including not only LANs but WANs and mobile networks. Built specifically for the demands of the enterprise customer, Zio products can adapt to changing requirements for bandwidth, resolution, and latency using industry-standard codecs, enhanced with fully distributed, browser-based control. The inclusion of robust APIs enables third-party integration of control systems, sources, display devices, and other IoT products into the Zio platform.

Silex Insight VIPER

The VIPER HDMI-over-IP platform from Silex Insight is a field-programmable solution based on flexible and powerful FPGA-based micro-electronics. This allows the end user to continuously upgrade this hardware solution as new features and specifications are released by uploading the latest firmware through a web browser. VIPER from Silex Insight allows the customer to keep his systems up to date as the requirements evolve, without replacing any hardware. Continuous developments in video and audio codecs guarantee optimum performance, extending the lifetime of the device threefold.

Utelogy U-Manage

As the market seeks efficiency, scale, and value, there is a reduction in the number of proprietary hardware platforms in favor of less expensive, simpler, and more scalable software technologies that sit within the IT world and deliver enterprise-class reliability. We are seeing new vendors that understand scale, value for money, reliability, and the need to deploy globally with a consistent outcome. All of this plays into the hands of IT-type companies and those AV companies that are agile and have built a business around service and support. Utelogy’s U-Manage solution helps both end users and service providers easily transition to this type of service.

ZeeVee ZyPer

ZeeVee’s ZyPer line is designed from the ground up to make the transition to IP as smooth and easy as possible. ZeeVee’s third-generation AVoIP encoders and decoders represent truly transitional products for those seeking more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective video distribution and streaming solutions. ZeeVee offers an extensive line of mature solutions, from H.264 to uncompressed 4K 60 4:4:4, to address every commercial and professional need. ZeeVee enables flexibility for changing needs by using the same management platform across all of its AVoIP products. The design simplifies setup and day-to-day use and enables the adjustment of configurations, sources, and endpoints.

Pro AV is in the midst of its biggest revolution since the transition from analog to digital, and unless you’re brand new to the industry, you’ve been hearing about it AV over IP, or the convergence of audiovisual systems and internet protocols, for several years. While it certainly isn't the only technology driving the industry, AV over IP is one of the most impactful trends in 2020. The AV over IP transformation is far from complete, but like the analog-digital switch, it’s almost certainly inevitable.

Why AV over IP?

AV over IP uses standard IT networking equipment to transmit and switch audiovisual signals. AV over IP offers a number of advantages over the way that AV signal distribution has typically been handled, so it's smart to consider embracing IT innovations for AV applications.

For years, audio and video sources have been sent across rooms, buildings, and campuses over traditional, dedicated AV infrastructures. As an example, the signal from a source, like a conferencing camera, is sent over HDMI into a transmitter, then to a matrix switch, and out through a receiver and into a flat screen display. This works great for small systems.

But AV is growing rapidly. Whereas in the past only a few rooms in a building would be equipped with video, companies are now working to extend solutions to as many spaces as possible—and with the rise in remote work creating further demand for conferencing systems, this trend is only accelerating.

While traditional matrix switches work great, they’re very constrained. With a fixed number of inputs and outputs, you have to buy a bigger, more expensive switch to add more endpoints to a system. They’re also limited by distance. With traditional infrastructures, it can become prohibitively expensive to extend signals over great lengths of cable between boxes.

By replacing the transmitter, matrix switch, and receiver with an encoder, network switch, and decoder, signals can sent over Ethernet, enabling much longer distance transmission and flexibility for system expansion—if you run out of ports in your network switch, you can simply connect another one to augment the system.

Another advantage to AV over IP is management. The status of devices connected to an IP network can easily be monitored from a central platform, and some platforms even enable devices to be configured and updated remotely as well.

What to Consider When Switching to AV over IP

Perhaps the first things to consider when entertaining a switch to AV over IP are the desired quality and latency. If your installation is small—limited to a handful of rooms—and pristine quality is required, then it probably makes sense to stick with a matrix switch. However, installing AV over IP systems today offers future expansion possibilities. If there's a chance you'll be expanding the network in the future, then it would certainly be wise to consider AV over IP.

Currently, there are a number of standards for AV over IP transmission, and not all are compatible with one another. Some manufacturers have proprietary standards for encoding sources for IP transmission, and will require the use of their encoder and decoder products throughout the installation for compatibility. Standards like SDVoE and SRT, on the other hand, are compatible with devices from multiple manufacturers.

Beyond interoperability, the most important thing to consider when selecting a standard is bandwidth. The most common solutions require either 1 or 10 gigabits of bandwidth to transport AV over IP, and most manufacturers offer solutions for each. For the majority of applications, where near-zero latency and flawless 4K video quality are not paramount, a 1Gb solution is usually sufficient. For more intensive applications, or where higher-resolution video like 8K is anticipated, it typically makes sense to spring for a 10Gb solution, which will introduce less compression and latency.

What You Need to Get Started

What do you need to know about AV over IP convergence? As mentioned before, AV over IP systems require an encoder, decoder, and a network switch. They also require Ethernet cabling to carry the signals. Let’s start with this, as it’s the most extensive component of an installation.

Cabling: If you’re planning a system from scratch, you’ll want to run higher-grade category (Cat-6a or Cat-7) or fiber optic cabling throughout your facility, as this is required for 10Gb transmission. If your facility is already wired with Cat 5e cabling, you’ll need to choose a 1Gb AV-over-IP solution.

Encoder and Decoder: This is where you must choose a proprietary or open-source system for your AV over IP network. There are advantages to both approaches. By selecting encoders/decoders from a vendor with a proprietary transmission codec, you get assurance of guaranteed performance and specifications. The more controlled nature of this choice also typically makes for easier out-of-the-box setup and easier support.

Choosing encoders and decoders that use an interoperable standard will allow you more freedom to customize your AV-over-IP network with solutions from a variety of manufacturers, giving you the option to pick different capabilities for different parts of your deployment.

While encoders and decoders are typically distinct boxes, some manufacturers offer units that can be used either as an encoder or a decoder, providing for increased flexibility.

Network Switch: The switch that takes your signal from the encoder and sends it out over the local area network can be either a standard switch from an IT company like Cisco or one that’s made for AV-over-IP applications, like those offered by NETGEAR. While 1Gb switches still offer the lowest cost per port, the price of 10Gb solutions has been rapidly falling, making these higher bandwidth solutions more attractive.

Since AV over IP uses standard IT hardware, it’s possible to simply run your system through your organization’s existing networking infrastructure. For applications where security is particularly important, however, it may be prudent to deploy the system over a completely segregated network, eliminating the possibility of access to the organization’s data network.

How to Make Your AV-over-IP Deployment Secure

A common concern for those considering the switch to AV over IP is how to keep their converged IP network secure. However, most security concerns can be avoided with some simple, common-sense setup, like ensuring your endpoint devices have proper password protection. For their part, manufacturers have been working to add encryption into their devices, further adding peace of mind.

Ultimately, it’s best to collaborate with your facility’s IT team during the earliest planning phases to ensure that all parties are informed on how devices are connected to the network.

The What: Hall Research has announced the ECHO family, a series of extension products designed to allow a single HDMI 2.0 source to display remotely at up to eight different locations using HDBaseT technology. 

The What Else: HDMI resolutions up to 4K UHD (4K60 4:4:4) can be extended up to 70m, while resolutions up to 1080p can be extended 100m over a single Cat-5e or Cat-6 cable. The ECHO family supports HDCP 2.2 and 1.4 content protection, as well as HDR10 high dynamic range video.

Related: Hall Research Launches 4K Video and USB HDBaseT 2.0 KVM Extender

In addition to HDMI extension, the ECHO family also extends RS-232 serial data, and bi-directional IR for control of remote devices. All senders include a local HDMI output, EDID routing control, de-embedded analog audio, and Power over Cable (PoC) to power remote receivers. The ECHO-4S and ECHO-8S have built-in HDMI splitters to extend a single video to four and eight receivers respectively, and have additional features including RS-232 and IR loop output for daisy-chaining Senders, and digital TOSLINK audio de-embedding.

The Bottom Line: The ECHO-RX2 receiver has a built-in HDMI splitter for connection to a secondary display, RS-232 and bi-directional IR for control, and de-embedded analog audio output. When used with an ECHO-1S, install the power supply at either sender or receiver—whichever is more convenient.

The What: Atlona has begun shipping the AT-USB-EX100-KIT long-distance extender kit for USB signals. The new extension solution supports the transmission of USB 2.0 data up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a single Category-type twisted-pair cable.

The What Else: The USB-EX100-KIT enables point-to-point extension for USB 2.0 devices across distances exceeding the limitations of traditional cabling, and includes transmitter and receiver endpoints. The receiver features four USB type A ports for peripheral devices, while the transmitter offers two such ports for peripherals plus one USB type B interface for connection to a host computer. Compact enclosures and included brackets allow the locally powered devices to be discretely mounted in furniture, behind displays, or above projectors.

Related: Atlona, Panduit Leaders Talk Business One Year After Acquisition

“Multiple Atlona switchers and extenders already support USB extension alongside high-quality AV signals, but we have also seen significant demand for a dedicated USB offering,” said David Shamir, VP of product management, Atlona. “The USB-EX100-KIT provides an affordable, straightforward solution for applications where only extension of USB signals is required—for example, connecting remote USB cameras or expanding existing AV systems that do not have native USB support.”

The Bottom Line: The USB-EX100-KIT is well suited for popular videoconferencing applications such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, where USB components including laptops, cameras, microphones, and speakers are often located in different areas of a room. It is equally well-suited to classroom environments for extending USB signals between a touchscreen interactive display and the instructor’s laptop, or from a USB camera at the back of the room to the lecture capture system in a rack.

The What: Extron has introduced the FOX3 T 101 and FOX3 R 101, a compact fiber optic transmitter and receiver designed for long-haul transmission of HDCP-compliant HDMI video with embedded audio over fiber optic cabling. 

The What Else: Engineered for high-resolution image performance, this transmitter and receiver use Extron all-digital technology to deliver mathematically lossless transmission of images up to 4K60 4:4:4 over a fiber optic cable. Designed specifically for AV systems, the FOX3 T 101 and FOX3 R 101 also include many integrator-friendly features such as Key Minder, EDID Minder, internal test patterns, a USB-C configuration port, and remote configuration. A compact, low-profile enclosure allows for discreet installation.

Related: Extron Shipping High-Performance 4K/60 HDMI Audio De-Embedder

"We've recognized that our customers are looking for a simple solution for long haul transmission of HDMI signals over fiber optic cable," said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Extron. "Offering uncompromised image quality in a compact, efficient design, our new FOX3 101 products offer a versatile, compact solution that fits easily into any installation."

The Bottom Line: FOX3 Systems are the latest generation of fiber optic distribution solutions designed, engineered, and manufactured by Extron to meet the demanding requirements of critical video and audio distribution applications. From point-to-point extension to fully non-blocking matrix applications up to 2000x2000 and beyond, FOX3 Systems deliver performance and reliability to satisfy even the most discerning users.

The What: DVDO announced a newly expanded product portfolio to meet current market demands. The line of cameras, facial/thermal recognition solutions, video switchers and processors feature advanced technologies to provide professional quality video from multiple sources, and across a wide range of displays. They are in stock and available to ship.

The What Else: The expanded range includes three camera options. Starting with a 1080P version with ultra-wide angle, the range extends up to an HD PTZ camera with intelligent tracking, HDMI and IP connections, and AAC audio encoding. All camera kits come with all the controls, cords, and mounting hardware to be fully operational within minutes.

Facial and thermal recognition solutions ship with all hardware and software needed for easy installation. The solution is industrial grade—with a waterproof and dustproof design—supports 30,000 face database recognition with a mask off/on, as well as various peripheral expansions like IC card reader or fingerprint reader.

The Bottom Line: In addition to cameras and facial recognition, AV product expansions include new options for robust KVM extenders and switchers that will cover virtually any setting, including fiber, compressed or uncompressed signals, USB, HDMI, and more. DVDO has also added AVoIP devices, controllers, accessories and whole-room solutions for education and conferencing environments.

The What: QSC has announced the addition of two smaller-sized AV and control processors to the Q-SYS Ecosystem: Q-SYS Core 8 Flex and Q-SYS Core Nano. 

The What Else: Driven by the proliferation of networked endpoints and the expanding processing needs of a wider variety of spaces and topologies, the Core 8 Flex includes onboard analog audio I/O and GPIO plus network I/O while the Q-SYS Core Nano offers network-only audio I/O processing and control. Built on the same flexible and scalable software foundation as the rest of the Q-SYS processor portfolio, including the best-in-class Q-SYS Core 110f, these new Cores expand design options to meet a wider variety of installations.

Related: QSC Joins Microsoft Teams Device Certification Program

The Q-SYS Core 8 Flex includes a 64x64 networked I/O channel capacity with eight onboard FLEX audio channels and eight GPIOs to integrate analog audio and control devices into the Q-SYS Ecosystem. Q-SYS Core Nano offers the same 64x64 networked audio I/O without the onboard analog I/O to support installations with smaller spaces with centralized processing and fully networked endpoints. Both of these new Q-SYS Core processors occupy a smaller half-width, 1RU footprint and include pre-installed 8x8 Software-based Dante audio channels (license upgradeable up to 32x32 channels), driverless USB audio, and AV bridging capabilities. 

“These new processors answer the call of smaller spaces that require fewer I/O as well as the increased popularity of fully networked peripherals with a solution that stays true to the foundation of our platform, delivering the rock-solid processing power and extensibility you have come to expect from QSC,” said Trent Wagner, audio product manager, QSC. “The Core 8 Flex and Core Nano rightsize the onboard I/O and physical footprint without compromising on features, performance, or flexibility.”

“The introduction of these two new Core processors brings even more design flexibility to the Q-SYS Ecosystem, delivering on the promise of a standards-based software platform that can easily scale up or scale out,” said Jatan Shah, executive vice president, chief operating office and technology officer, QSC. “I’m proud of the innovation and engineering strength of our research and development teams, who continue to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of the markets we serve, while reducing complexity and cost for our partners and customers.” 

The Bottom Line: These smaller Core processors utilize the same software-based architecture, control engine, and design software suite (Q-SYS Designer Software) as the rest of the Q-SYS Core processing portfolio. They both offer scalable DSP processing, video routing and bridging for web conferencing, as well as third-party endpoint integration without the need for separate dedicated control processors. 

The What: Datapath has added to its portfolio of video processing products with the introduction of the IQS4, a one-in/four-out splitter solution engineered for video wall applications.

The What Else: When paired with Datapath’s Image4K graphics cards, the IQS4 offers a cost-effective solution for powering video walls of up to 96 screens. Datapath says using its IQS4 reduces the overall number of graphics cards needed, streamlining the video wall controller by reducing load and optimizing capacity. 

IQS4 also gives integrators the option to distribute video in 4K and split the signals at the video wall rather than having to use separate extenders for every HD output.

[The Integration Guide to Video Walls]

Mounting flexibility means the IQS4 can be used for any application. VESA mounting is supported for direct mounting behind displays. Where the IQS4 is hosted with the video wall controller, various rack mount options are available depending on the number of splitters required. Plus, there is the standalone option for placing on desks, workstations, or shelving.

The Bottom Line: Datapath says the IQS4 is purposely designed to meet the needs of customers needing a trusted, reliable 4-way splitter.

The company expects the IQS4 to be competitively priced and available for projects commencing in Q4.

Audio Visual over Internet Protocol (AV over IP) solutions designed for 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) networks are generally used for mission-critical AV distribution and processing applications, such as neurosurgery or live event productions, where the capacity for ultra-low-latency or zero-latency and artifact-free transmission of true 4K60 (4:4:4) is essential. 

What to consider when choosing a gigabit Ethernet network

Many solutions are based on Software Defined Video over Ethernet (SDVoE), which allows system designers and integrators to develop applications to provide virtual matrix switches, KVM switches, video wall controllers, and more. SDVoE is the most widely adopted networked AV standard in the industry, delivering HDMI over Ethernet with zero latency. AV distribution and processing applications that demand zero-latency, uncompromised video can benefit from SDVoE technology, which provides an end-to-end hardware and software platform for AV extension, switching, processing, and control through advanced chipset technology, common control APIs, and interoperability.

[The Integration Guide to AVoIP]

Some solutions use HDBaseT-IP, which adds the ability to transmit signals over 10Gb Ethernet, building atop the HDBaseT standard using switches and bridges to extend to campus-wide distances, with added support for a new physical layer based on Ethernet/IP.

1Gb vs. 10Gb Ethernet: Which is right for your AV network?

We looked at 10Gb AVoIP solutions from Black Box, DVI Gear, and Extron, and here’s what we found.

Key Features for AVoIP Performance Solutions

Black Box MCX

Black Box MCX multimedia distribution and management system takes advantage of SDVoE and modern 10GbE infrastructure to allow AV and data payloads to exist on the same IT networks. The MCX ensures almost zero latency, instantaneous switching, bandwidth efficiency, and high-quality video and audio.

DVIGear DisplayNet DN-150 Series

DisplayNet DN-150 Series represents a performance and value for IP-based AV signal distribution applications. It utilizes SDVoE technology in a fanless, low-profile case that can be mounted unobtrusively nearly anywhere. These units provide independent multi-layer routing of HDMI audio and video signals, as well as IR, RS-232, Analog Audio, and 1GbE.

Extron NAV Pro AV over IP

The NAV Pro AV over IP is a solution for distribution and switching of ultra-low latency, high quality video, and audio signals over an Ethernet network at low bit rates. The highly secure NAV platform supports 802.1X port-based Network Access Control and Microsoft Active Directory to simplify user management and group authentication, helping to maintain strong security policies. In addition, NAV supports SRTP (Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol), ensuring the encryption, message authentication, and data integrity of video and data streams.

Keeping your converged IP network secure

Image Quality for AVoIP Performance Solutions

Black Box MCX

The MCX extends uncompressed 4K 60 Hz 4:4:4 video to an unlimited number of displays without sacrificing latency, video quality, or bandwidth. It overcomes source to display latency with glass-to-glass encoding and decoding that happens in real time (0.03 milliseconds). It switches between video sources in less than 100 milliseconds with no artifacts or screen blink.

DVIGear DisplayNet DN-150 Series

The DN-150 Series delivers unconstrained scalability, fast switching, zero frame latency, and zero artifact image quality—while distributing signals with resolutions of up to 4K/60p (4:4:4) with 8-bit color, or 4K/60p (4:2:2) with 10 or 12-bit color. 

Extron NAV Pro AV over IP 

The NAV Pro delivers real-time, visually lossless video over IP at resolutions up to 4K@60 Hz with 4:4:4 chroma sampling and ultra-low latency. Transmit real-time visually lossless video with ultra-low latency using Extron's wavelet-based PURE3 codec, guaranteeing exceptional user experience and response time in mission critical applications, according to the company.

AV over IP and other trends in 2020

Connectivity and Interoperability for AVoIP Performance Solutions

Black Box MCX

Through advanced chipset technology, common control APIs, and interoperability, The MCX SDVoE technology ensures zero latency and uncompromised video while offering significant cost savings along with enhanced system flexibility and scalability. It connects every essential AV distribution device to the MCX through its variety of ports: discrete RS-232, IR, secondary audio channel plus a separate 1Gb connection. It can deploy on 10Gb networks over Ethernet, fiber, or both. It also features USB support for audio, webcam, Flash drive, keyboard, and mouse.

DVIGear DisplayNet DN-150 Series

Advanced features in this web-based application enable nearly effortless integration with third-party controllers. Full interoperability with other SDVoE products, including the DisplayNet DN-200 Series, greatly enhances system flexibility. The DN-150 Series is available with either copper or optical fiber transport, enabling signal extension distances of up to 100 meters (328 feet) with Cat 6A twisted pair and up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) with single-mode fiber. It is highly scalable supporting systems from a few ports to hundreds—limited only to the size of the network switch.

Extron NAV Pro AV over IP 

The NAV Series offers both 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps encoders and decoders while providing full interoperability across both systems. Built in USB 2.0 and Ethernet expansion facilitate connection to peripheral USB and Ethernet-enabled devices over the same cable as video and audio. The NAV supports the AES67 standard which provides interoperability between the predominant network audio over IP products in use today, ensuring flexibility in the distribution of audio signals.

The Final Word on AVoIP Performance Solutions

A 10Gb solution eliminates any compromise between low latency, low bandwidth, and high video quality—as well as the need to maintain dual networks to support AV and IT data independently across the enterprise. Today, there is a higher cost associated with 10Gb solutions, but the prices coming down and enabling more companies to consider this pristine solution for future proofing. 

Advantages of a 1Gb Ethernet network backbone

In the first article of this series we discussed the reasons for the division between AV and IT when it comes to the IP video. We pointed out that AV has concerns about the quality of output, latency in the delivery, and the choice of which standards to follow. These standards are mostly proprietary. We also explained that IT’s concerns are focused on the characteristics of a particular packet flow, how that traffic will interact with other business-critical traffic and whether VLANs are required. We also mentioned some tools that can help analyze, monitor, and emulate IP video flows. However, only a few of these can provide significant support for video flows. Now, we want to go into more detail about AV and IT standards, support tools, and the bridge that pro AV may provide for these two groups to move closer together.

Players

There seems to be three distinct groups on the AV side: broadcasters, pro AV proponents, and those focused on enterprise distribution of video. The broadcasters are organized under the umbrella organization of JT-NM (Joint Task Force on Networked Media). Broadcasters primarily follow the standards published by SMPTE (The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers), the VSF (Video Services Forum), and the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). With over 7,000 members, SMPTE has promulgated standards and guidelines to aid in the evolution to IP-based delivery of video. These standards are universally recognized by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), ISO (International Standards Organization), the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), and the ITU (International Telecommunications Union). An example of the group’s work is the series of 2110 specifications. These cover managed IP video flows and address timing, traffic shaping, ancillary data, stream switching when using RTP, and other topics. The role of VSF is to identify issues involving the development, deployment, operation, and security of media networking technologies. The broadcasters use some of the IEEE standards to address timing as part of the 2110 series. According to Jack Douglass of Packetstorm Communications, who is active in SMTPE, VSF, and JT-NM, VSF is a consortium of companies that create the first version of a standard. That version is passed along to SMPTE, which will typically ratify it.  

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the State of AV Over IP

The migration of video within the pro AV industry to IP is being promoted by AIMS (The Alliance for IP Media Solutions). They have created a working group whose efforts will be based on evaluating and recommending existing standards and specifications from AES (Audio Engineering Society), AWMA (Advanced Workflow Media Association), VSF, SMPTE, IEEE, and IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). This is a mix of standards that have traditionally come from both the broadcast and IT industries.

Those who are primarily responsible for enterprise distribution of IP video usually follow the standards promulgated by the IT industry. These mainly come from the internet community and the IEEE. Standards published by the IETF are called RFCs (requests for comments). They may be proposed, drafted, or ratified. Occasionally, even a proposed RFC gets the support of the industry and almost becomes a de facto standard. Examples of video related RFCs include RFC 6184-RTP Payload Format for H.264 Video and RFC 7478, which pertains to WebRTC use cases and requirements.

Standards

There is one more significant difference between the way the AV and IT industries use standards. In the AV industry, there is a greater reliance on proprietary standards that are promoted by individual vendors or groups of companies. There are many examples of this: Audinate promotes Dante. Haivision and Wowza introduced and endorse SRT (Secure Reliable Transport); Newtek, now part of Vizrt, is embracing NDI (Network Device Interface). 

While proprietary standards meet customer needs for the most part, IT network managers are generally not enthusiastic about on them for two reasons. First, interoperability with vendor equipment using other standards becomes problematic. Second, the tools often used by IT departments, discussed later in this article, rarely recognize the traffic types specified by these standards. This makes monitoring and troubleshooting network traffic more challenging. While IT can use most of their tools to analyze FTP flows, web browsing, and VoIP, they don’t have any tools that recognize and identify traffic following the SRT or NDI specifications.

Tools

Now, we turn our attention to tools that can help support video flows. All of these tools are dependent on the important concept of packet structure. All IP video packets have defined packet formats. These usually include at least Ethernet, IP, and UDP or TCP headers. The tools discussed here read these headers and make their analysis. Such tools usually fall into one of three categories: analysis tools, monitoring tools, and emulation tools.

Analysis tools capture packets, dissect the headers, and then create reports, graphs, charts, and other visualization aids to help the user understand the flow of which the packet is a part. The premier example of this type of tool is Wireshark, which is free. This software product will show the packets in the order they are captured, allow you to filter on individual flows, and decode any headers that aren’t encrypted. It will list devices, protocols, communications flows, overall bandwidth, as well as bandwidth use by individual devices, and give many other useful facts. Also, it will build graphs showing comparative network use by different applications and servers. Another tool, which is not free, is Observer from Viavi. It does many of the same things that Wireshark does but features the ability to capture traffic at line rates on networks operating up to 40Gbps. By using specialized hardware, it allows the storage of terabytes of data allowing for longitudinal analysis of the data flows.

While there is some overlap between analysis and monitoring tools, the latter focus on tracking flows of various senders and receivers, to try to sense when those flows are behaving properly. These products usually feature screens that show bandwidth levels, error levels, and other parameters on a real-time basis. Most will key the flow as good, poor, or failing with a color code such as green, yellow, and red. Solarwinds is one of the more capable products, but it is primarily for large enterprise operations. It will allow a view of the overall topology of the network, list all VLANs, and indicate where problems are developing. Unfortunately, most tools in this category are not oriented toward audio or video flows.

Network emulation tools are designed to allow users to simulate or duplicate real network links and connections. They can be extremely useful for pre-deployment testing or existing network links where new or additional applications will be deployed. Suppose, for example, that you know that the connection between two locations has 50 ms. latency and jitter of 30 ms. You can mimic this with network emulation hardware (FPGA) or software. There are inexpensive tools from iTrinegy and Netropy. These can be useful for such a purpose. 

Bridging the Gap

So, will the AV and IT industries continue to have this gap in concerns and knowledge? It may depend on whether cross-training takes place. The AV industry must consciously reach out to IT to explain the different types of video and how they should behave on IP networks. For example, ABR video has little in common with MPTS streams such as in IPTV implementations. IT departments should also provide training to those responsible for adding video streams to the network. This is especially true for ABR video, which is sensitive to loss and delay. But the effect is significantly different than it would be for most other video streams.

Phil Hippenstel, EdD, is a regular columnist with AV Technology. He teaches information systems at Penn State Harrisburg.