As broadcasters and producers deploy IP, cloud and artificial intelligence technologies to more efficiently produce and deliver content to multiple different platforms, KVM systems are helping them revamp their operations and tap into the benefits of newer technologies.

In the process, KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) systems, originally conceived of as a simple way to control multiple computers, are undergoing a rapid transformation, adding capabilities and tools designed to help producers and broadcasters manage increasingly large operations, handle higher-resolution content, control large remote productions and oversee complex arrays of devices, networks and processes relying on IP and cloud workflows.

“In both the AV world as well as the broadcast world, there is a definite move towards IP,” says Mark Hempel, head of product management at IHSE, which has launched the Draco XStreme KVM extender product line that uses the JPEG XS codec to provide cutting-edge performance.

In some cases, as they expand their footprint to play a more central role in controlling large operations, KVM tech providers are also playing in the same space as video platform providers such as Akla, which uses artificial intelligence to seamlessly merge streaming video, monetization and broadcast workflows in the cloud. This increasingly blurs the lines between KVM products and other technologies while also providing new competition for a variety of tech providers.

“We live in a SaaS world,” Matt Smith, chief evangelist at Akta, said. “All our tools are cloud-based and our customers can access them from anywhere. They can program channels, edit programs and publish FAST channels. They don’t need to remote into a box and leverage KVM technologies to monitor and manage their operations.”

IP, Cloud Imperatives
The transition to IP infrastructures continues to be one of the major trends driving many of these changes. “Everyone is moving over to IP,” says Thomas Tang, president and founder of Apantac, which offers a variety of solutions, including its openGear OG KVM over IP, for users making that transition. “Every time, there is a new facility or they are replacing the infrastructure, they are going IP.”

Adds Catherine Koutsaris, product marketing manager at Matrox Video: “The transition to IP has transformed expectations for KVM systems. Legacy KVM switchers are increasingly viewed as outdated. They’re proprietary, often expensive and difficult to scale or configure without vendor-specific training. By contrast, IP-based KVMs can run over standard network infrastructure, allowing users to scale and adapt the system as needed. This flexibility is one of the biggest drivers of growth in the market, enabling more efficient, customizable, and interoperable installations.”

Leo Bull, chief revenue officer at G&D North America and VuWall, said the move to IP is part of a larger effort by broadcasters and other M&E companies to create more efficient workflows and break down old operational silos. “There’s a lot of value in unification of disparate, formerly disparate, systems and solutions that provide an administrative team to be able to control multiple silos of equipment,” he said. “Merging that together is a big, big trend.”

KVM providers are also offering users more choices in terms of how they transition to IP.

To help smooth the upgrade path to IP while maintaining very low latency, high-quality video, IHSE has introduced its new Draco EXtreme line, including the Draco vario XS DisplayPort 1.2 Extender Series, which uses JPEG-XS.

“This gives us a very high-performance codec with regard to real-time and high-quality imaging,” Hempel says. “This will also help interconnect with IP interfaces and provide more seamless integration with broadcast signals.”

Workflow Shifts
Another major trend driving important changes in KVM technologies is the move to cloud-based workflows. “Recently, we have seen leading broadcast organizations adopting new virtual production technology to streamline workflows and reduce postproduction overheads,” John Halksworth, senior product manager at Adder Technology, says. “This change allows for real-time adaptations to occur, reducing the requirement for re-recording and improved decision-making timelines. A shift towards virtual production also sees an even bigger requirement for remote collaboration, and this is a key area that Adder continues to support its customers in achieving.”

These transitions come as KVM systems continue to be applied to a wider array of operations that connect an ever-growing amount of devices.

“KVM used to be just little desktop switches,” Tang at Apantac says. “Now, every mobile truck has a KVM switch, whether it is a physical switch or KVM-over-IP system, because more and more computers are involved with all the graphics, scoreboards and other capabilities.”

Adds Matrox Video’s Koutsaris: “KVM technologies are an increasingly essential part of control-room design, including in content-production environments. Nearly every control room can benefit from an IP KVM setup, whether to declutter operator desks by removing physical machines, reduce noise and heat, or centralize computer access for better security.”

Other use cases involve more traditional applications like postproduction, broadcast operations and remote production, making KVM widely used in TV, film and streaming industries, Koutsaris and others say.

G&D’s recent acquisition of VuWall provides a more unified hardware and software platform for managing larger, more complex operations from a simplified user interface, Bull says. “That means that the team administering this environment don’t need multiple control interfaces to manage their entire video ecosystem in this environment,” he says. “They can do that from a single interface.”

Like many parts of the M&E industry, AI has emerged as a hot topic for KVM providers, particularly in cases where such solutions are used to control and manage larger operations or distributed productions, and in cases where KVM systems are deployed in cloud-based or virtualized environments.

AI Results and Realities
This has led to KVM solutions competing with providers of AI-powered video platforms or getting integrated into operations that also use large, AI-powered video platforms.

Smith at video platform provider Akla notes that its AI-powered technologies have produced “tangible, measurable results” for clients like the NFL, Televisa­Univision’s ViX streaming platform, Fox Television Stations, Nexstar Media Group and others, producing efficiencies that have dramatically reduced headcounts. In one case, the user reduced staff from 60 people to five.

Akla has also approached AI as a foundational technology, not an add-on, for its platform, which provides centralized asset management, cloud-based processing, live channel scheduling, AI-driven video editing, server-side ad insertion, georestrictions and multiplatform capabilities. “It allows people to be more efficient than they have ever been,” Smith says.

Others highlight the promise of AI while cautioning that many existing KVM solutions provide great efficiencies.

“Adopting AI capabilities in a KVM network must drive customer value in the first instance,” Adder’s Halksworth says. “Organizations use KVM to access and control critical information, and it’s essential that any development or innovation around AI is reliable and trustworthy. AI has the capability of being very influential going forward, and we have a lot of learning to do to know how to best deploy its abilities. For example, leveraging AI in some way to detect system issues and suggest resolution paths for a user is just one example of implementing AI that adds customer value.”

Similar caution can also be seen with the transition to IP and cloud-based workflows. “There is always a little bit of a trade-off when you make these transitions,” IHSE’s Hempel explained. “There are people who’ve made up their mind and just state they want to go IP, without really knowing what the impact is. Personally, I would like to see more customers … making a decision based on what suits their requirements best. … Depending upon their needs, it can be an IP system, a proprietary system or a mix of both.”

ADDIS ABADA, Ethiopia—When Addis Media Networks (AMN) upgraded its broadcast facility in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a key part of the project involved implementing a flexible and scalable KVM system. As a government-owned broadcaster operating Addis TV, FM 96.3, a digital platform and a print newspaper, AMN needed a reliable infrastructure that would support a growing range of content and workflows.

The upgrade project was awarded to SI Media srl. (Treviso, Italy), with design and infrastructure support from I/O Systems A.H. Ltd. (Beit Shemesh, Israel) and Britt Broadcast (Nairobi, Kenya). The upgrade included the installation of a new master control room, audio systems and facility-wide IT infrastructure, all built around SI Media’s YES! workflow platform. The goal was not only to modernize AMN’s capabilities but also to future-proof the facility for continued growth and multiplatform production.

KVM Over IP
One of the early decisions was selecting a KVM solution that could support operations across multiple rooms while remaining cost-effective and easy to manage. For this part of the upgrade, the team selected Apantac’s KVM over IP system.

We chose Apantac because we needed a KVM solution that would link users and systems across a range of operational zones. Those included three master control suites (one per channel), production control rooms and the central apparatus room. The goal was to allow operators to access any connected system from any authorized workstation with minimal latency or complexity.

To meet those requirements, the chosen KVM system included: 12 KVM-IP-Tx transmitters, compatible with HDMI, DVI, and legacy VGA sources; 28 KVM-IP-Tx-PL transmitters, with PoE (no external power supply), HDMI loop-through and support for resolutions up to 4K30; and 40 KVM-IP-Rx-P receivers, also PoE-enabled, with built-in scalers to normalize output resolutions for consistent display and clean switching.

This configuration allowed the team to create a distributed matrix over the facility’s managed Gigabit Ethernet network. The system enables keyboard, video and mouse signals to be routed facility-wide without requiring additional switching hardware or complex cabling. Its modular IP-based design allowed us to scale gradually, accommodate different formats and easily adapt to changes in workflow.

Several key considerations guided the project—two were cost and value. Given AMN’s status as a publicly funded broadcaster, cost-effectiveness was critical. The Apantac system offered a balance of performance and price, delivering an enterprise-class solution within budget constraints.

In addition, the system was scalable and easy to use. The IP-based architecture supports phased deployment and future growth and is designed to accommodate additional studios, production areas and new formats without requiring major structural changes. System configuration and endpoint mapping are handled through a user-friendly interface, making it manageable for technical staff. For control room operators, the ability to switch sources quickly and without perceptible delay has improved efficiency and reduced friction.

Future Plans
The KVM system now supports daily operations across all AMN’s main production and transmission zones. Staff can access remote systems from any authorized console, improving flexibility, minimizing downtime, and reducing the need for physical movement between rooms.

With a growing slate of programming and increasing reliance on digital platforms, AMN is well-positioned to expand operations without a full infrastructure overhaul. Additional KVM transmitters and receivers can be integrated as needed, with minimal disruption.

The success of the installation also highlights the value of modular, IP-based infrastructure in broadcast environments—particularly in regions where budgets are constrained but expectations are high.

More information is available at www.apantac.com.

Short for keyboard, video and mouse, KVM switches allow multiple computers to be controlled remotely using a single set of peripherals. In this way, one person can manage workstations in many locations from the same desktop location in a manner that is efficient, productive and (from an equipment purchasing perspective) economical.

These factors explain why KVM switches have long been popular in film and TV production as well as with IT departments, purchasing officers, support technicians and more. It also explains why the market for KVM switches is so dynamic, with many trends guiding its development.

Heavy Lifting
As broadcast television moves from HDTV to 4K and beyond, so does KVM switching technology. “The trends driving the KVM switches market include the increasing adoption of high-resolution formats like 4K and 8K in the broadcast industry,” said Jon Litt, Managing Director of G&D North America. “This adoption requires KVM switches with high bandwidth and low latency to support seamless video editing, streaming, and broadcasting processes effectively.”

The shift towards IP-based workflows is driving another significant KVM trend, namely more flexible and scalable KVM solutions that enable remote access and control over IP networks.

"Scalability is a major driver for organizations adopting IP KVM, however, functionality and performance must meet the users’ needs for it to be valuable," said Jamie Adkin, vice president of sales-EMEA for Adder Technology. "While IP offers the transport mechanism, a KVM manufacturer's design choices have the greatest impact on the user experience. Not all IP KVM solutions are born equal."

This capability is particularly important for distributed production environments and live broadcasts where remote access is essential for efficient operations, Litt added. “Moreover, automation is a crucial element shaping the KVM switches market. Modern KVM solutions are integrating features such as predictive maintenance and user workplace synchronization to enhance operational efficiency.”

In the world of KVM switches, “USB transparency” refers to a KVM switch’s ability to pass signals from a wide range of USB devices without issues occurring—even if the USB devices themselves come from various generations and use different drivers. The growing trend of USB transparency across KVM switches ensures that USB devices perform as if they are directly connected to a computer, rather than going through a switch.

“In the old days, every now and then you'd run into a USB device that wasn’t compatible with a KVM switch,” said Thomas Tang, president and founder of Apantac. “Thanks to the KVM industry’s embrace of USB transparency, this rarely happens anymore.”

This area is one that Adder has focused on as well, according to Adkin. "For media customers, the most important factors have been our USB peripheral support, tight integration with Broadcast Control Systems, and ZeroU devices that reduce power consumption and increase rack density."

Controlling Virtual Machines
A “virtual machine” is a software emulation of a physical computer that is commonly hosted in a private/public cloud and accessed via an IP network internally or externally via the internet. According to John Hickey, Black Box’s senior director of R&D and KVM, VMs are being used increasingly in broadcast production facilities.

“With this trend comes the need for a flatter learning curve for operators, who now take on expanded responsibility for more systems,” Hickey said. “By simplifying operator access to and interaction with VMs and other systems, KVM technology plays a central role in addressing this need.

"It also offers a solution for hybrid workflows, enabling secure, reliable, 24/7 access for team members working on- and off-site," Hickey added. As more and more aspects of the industry shift to IP—and particularly production facilities and OB vans—KVM solutions provide essential connectivity and control.”

Television’s move into the multiplatform universe (OTT, cable/satellite, mobile, ad streaming) has made life infinitely more complex for broadcast engineers, compared to the days when they simply had to provide a single TV transmitter with linear content. This is why an increasing number of engineers choose KVM switches to reduce the complexity of setting up and maintaining multiplatform IP-based production/playout systems.

“Smaller KVM systems can be configured easily,” said Dan Holland, marketing manager for IHSE. “Meanwhile, in larger systems such as a control room environment, the customer wants to have all the complexity of managing a KVM transparent to the end user. So push button panels, touchscreens interfaces and multiscreen support are key items that need to be supported by KVM switches.”

Don’t Just Switch, Extend!
Today’s KVM users want to be able to manage more computers over larger distances than ever before with a single set of peripherals. In response to this trend, Matrox Video focuses on high-performance KVM extension over IP via switches and extenders.

“By using an IP-based KVM extender, you can have your computers in a very far away location from where you're actually working,” said Catherine Koutsaris, product manager for KVM Extenders at Matrox Video. “So you can have a computer in another building or even in another city, and be able to access it from your desktop as if your own keyboard and mouse were connected to it directly.”

Security and Signal Latency
As they support higher resolutions, KVM switches are nevertheless being designed to be more secure than ever—and faster too. “Security and reduced latency are key factors for any KVM system,” Holland said.

In terms of enhanced security for KVM applications, Koutsaris is seeing advances in areas such as “more sophisticated network management, different user permissions, how devices are being detected and managed on their network in relation to each other, who's allowed to access their network, different types of encryption between devices, and how that's being managed in an organization,” she said. “Of course, you need to determine your security levels based on your application.”

As for the importance of reduced latency for users? “One of the first things that an experienced KVM user asks about new KVM switches these days is, ‘what is your signal latency?’” replied Tang. “They want to be able to switch between computers very fast, plus have the ability to see and control multiple screens from multiple computers on their desktop.”

According to the experts interviewed for this story, future trends in KVM switches include supporting 8K resolution, augmented reality/virtual reality control interfaces in remote control rooms, and more KVM switches that support multiple windows within a single screen for “live broadcasts and complex post-production workflows, and improves overall operational efficiency,” Litt said.

As well, “AI is leading the charge so perhaps one day KVM extenders will have integrated voice recognition or visual tracking that can be activated by the end user without having to go to a traditional keyboard and mouse,” said Holland.

For more information, download TV Tech's free "Guide to KVM."

SALT LAKE CITY and BEAVERTON, Ore.—Utah Scientific and Apantac have announced a new combined warranty policy and the companies will highlight their technology partnership at the 2024 NAB Show, April 13-17, in Las Vegas. 

Effective immediately, Apantac customers will benefit from an extended five-year warranty when purchasing a multiviewer with a Utah Scientific routing switcher, the companies said.

Apantac and Utah Scientific have worked closely together for several years, and this collaboration brings together the former’s expertise in video processing and multiviewer solutions with the latter’s proficiency in routing switchers and related broadcast infrastructure, they said.

Apantac has integrated Utah Scientific protocols into its multiviewers, which allows them to communicate and interact effectively with Utah Scientific routing switchers. Under-monitor display (UMD) protocols make it possible to display source name information alongside video feeds on the multiviewers' UMDs. The integration enhances operational efficiency and simplifies monitoring and control processes in broadcast and production environments, they said.

Utah Scientific seamlessly incorporates Apantac's multiviewer software into its hardware panels, allowing engineers to build and retain custom viewing presets accessible at the touch of a button. Because of the seamless integration, joint customers get enhanced functionality, more options in their broadcast workflows and more choices for building a scalable visual monitoring system, they said.

Apantac will demonstrate its T# mixed-format, modular multiviewers integrated with Utah Scientific routers in its NAB Show booth. Utah Scientific will showcase the technology integration between its UTAH-400 Series 2 UHD router and the Apantac multiviewer in its booth.

See Apantac at NAB Show booth SU7014.

See Utah Scientific at NAB Show booth SU1027.

More information is available on the Apantac and Utah Scientific websites.

A modern studio facility cannot function without a multiviewer, a device and product function that has come into its own in the past 20 years. Attempting to display today’s plethora of control room signals on individual monitors the old-fashioned way is unthinkable—only a properly configured multiviewer system can handle the task.

Multiviewers and large-screen displays are so economical and flexible that multiviewer technology is now often built into switchers. This makes assembling a simple control room faster than it was in the individual displays.

The twist today is that more signal types than ever are flowing through control rooms, and these disparate signals need to be displayed via the multiviewer system. Live video from cellphones? TikTok feeds? Drone shots? UHD? HDR? Every type of signal using every type of encoding and compression needs to be displayed.

“The requirements to handle these mixed signals are systemic—facilities need to be able to ingest, produce, transform, playout, and monitor signals that might originate in any of these formats,” said John Mailhot, CTO and director of infrastructure product management for Imagine Communications. “We approach this mix of signal types from a system design perspective, using intelligence in the broadcast control system to dynamically allocate transformation paths that conform the selected source to the requirements of the destination. This approach provides the most flexible workflow, as well as the best economics.” 

Every Imaginable Signal
In other words, making every multiviewer input capable of handling every imaginable type of signal gets unwieldy and expensive. There is a better way.

In anticipation of this growing trend towards mixed-format environments, Lawo’s HOME Multiviewer natively supports SMPTE ST2110, NDI, SRT, JPEG XS, H.265 and H.264, according to John Carter, senior product manager for media infrastructure at Lawo.

“Currently, each instance handles one of these formats,” he said. “For mixed sources and destinations involving ST2110, NDI and SRT streams, users have the option of inserting a HOME Stream Transcoder app before the Multiviewer to convert, say, SRT streams to ST2110 if this is the desirable format for a multiviewer head. This transcoding flexibility works in all directions and for all formats supported by the HOME Multiviewer app.”

Some multiviewer solutions leverage cloud computing to lower in-house energy and space demands.

“Evertz ev670-X30 hardware provides high-density signal monitoring for up to 64 3G ST2110 inputs with full audio, ancillary data and video monitoring. This uses less RU space, less power and less cooling,” said Ketan Patel, product manager for multiview systems at Evertz. 

“Evertz also provides a COTS-based sVIP product that allows compressed and uncompressed signal monitoring at high density, which can be deployed on an x86 platform with an accelerated PCI card. Evertz also offers cVIP, which is a cloud-based monitoring and visualization product that can be deployed in any public or private cloud, to allow signal monitoring of NDI, MPEG-2, H.264, H.265 and JPEG2000.”

What if There’s an Error?
A multiviewer system is, by necessity, filled with a variety of images, most of which are in some state of motion. With all that on-screen activity, it can be easy to miss if one of the signals disappears or gets scrambled in some fashion. 

Cobalt Digital has multiviewer options that help you keep track of dropouts, errors and loss-of-signal, said Ciro Noronha, CTO of Cobalt Digital. Noronha added that the company’s multiviewers can be configured with a range of options that include text overlays for arbitrary text, timecode, signal resolution, and even closed captioning. The systems can also add audio bars, a built-in router to simplify configuration, flexible inputs that can mix-and-match resolutions and frame rates, and tally insertion to indicate on-air signals or other status information.

“Cobalt’s baseband multiviewers are offered in the openGear form factor, so that they can be easily integrated with other devices in the same chassis, and benefit from the inherent openGear features such as hot-swappable cards, dual redundant hot-swappable power supplies, and the DashBoard control system,” Noronha said. “This flexibility is very important, since it allows the multiviewer to adapt to virtually any requirement.”

At the IBC Show next month, Cobalt will introduce its Ultra Blue multiviewer, with support for the more common compressed formats, with plans to add SMPTE ST 2110 inputs as well as other formats such as NDI in the future.

TAG Video Systems IP-based multiviewer line can be deployed with either a private or public cloud provider, such as AWS or Google Cloud. Through its RESTful API, the TAG Realtime Media Performance platform can be automated and integrated with third-party solutions and software-defined networking (SDN) controllers.

Only Pay for What You Need
With a cloud architecture, you can have nearly unlimited inputs. So how do you get only what you need? 

“You only pay for input licenses and have full access to all the product’s monitoring, probing, and display features,” said Robert Erickson, vice president for live production & sports at TAG Video Systems. “This means you can use any supported signal feed, resolution, compression, or transport format without worrying about paying for additional feature sets.”

Which raises the point: Should you consider a hardware-based multiviewer or software-based system? A lot depends on the complexity of your control room and the signals you deal with. A big-city broadcaster or a large sports arena will
have different needs than a cable distribution center.

Manufacturers have their own ideas.

“Modern multiviewers should firstly be software-based to provide running in any environment,” said Eric Otto, CEO of Mediaproxy. “They should also provide support for all common broadcast source formats, including access to remote sources (IP, TSoIP, NDI, HLS) as well as local sources (SDI, ST 2110).”

Scaling in Size
If you run a smaller system, you don’t have the needs of a big arena, and there are solutions that make sense for your needs.

“Our Smart Display Module multiviewers use a small board that slots directly into an SDM-capable display,” said Thomas Tang, president of Apantac. “These SDM boards turn a standard display into a monitor with an embedded multiviewer.”  

SDM is an Intel standard, and it can support SDI, 12G SDI, NDI and other video formats.

Apantac makes a range of multiviewers from small to large. At the top of the line is the T# system. “The T# is our flagship multiviewer line, which supports up to 128 inputs and 16 outputs, as well as supporting many different input formats that can be mixed and matched in the same frame,” Tang said. “These formats include 12G, 3G, HD, SD-SDI, CVBS, HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, H.264, and most recently NDI. Customers can freely mix and match with the formats they need, and any inputs can go to any outputs.”

Multiviewers are clearly the better way of monitoring video in control rooms. The benefits of multiviewers were so obvious and powerful that some big old-line manufacturers of video monitors rapidly disappeared from the industry. Anyone remember Conrac?

There are multiviewer solutions out there for any size and need, so plan what you need carefully. Of course, the display you choose is an important part of the multiviewer system, so plan to get one that works properly with your system.

BEAVERTON, Ore.—Apantac has expanded its KVM-over-IP extension/matrix offering with two new sets that now support 4K UHD 60 over a managed GigE network and announced plans to show them during IBC 2023 at the RAI Amsterdam, Sept. 15-18.

KVM-over-IP solutions are designed to streamline control and create a smart, seamless, integrated workspace. They enable users to control multiple computers from multiple locations as well as from a single control console, the company said.

The new models support 4K UHD at 60Hz with 4:4:4 12-bit color depth processing. Supporting high color gamut and high color bit depth, the units are well-suited for applications in high-end post production, production, command and control, OB vans and pro AV workflows, it said.

They also support high dynamic range (HDR) and Dolby Vision and offer audio support, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby ATMOS. HDCP 2.2 and 2.3 support is also provided, it said. 

The new models enable users to extend and switch HDMI video streams with virtually no loss in image quality and only one frame of latency. They support control via IP of keyboard and mouse functions, USB 2.0, USB 2.0 webcams, RS232, GPIO and infrared up to about 400 feet via Cat 5 cable or unlimited distance when connected to an IP network, it said.

The KVM over IP family from Apantac can run on a managed network with inexpensive COTS GigE managed switches. It also can be used in point-to-point mode (unicast or multicast) or as a matrix (multicast) when attached to a 1G network, it said.

The extenders offer bandwidth management, which allows the operator to set limitations on bandwidth consumption, it said. 

The receiver modules include a built-in scaler for scaling incoming video and ensuring that the console monitor sees the same resolution, regardless of the source computer resolution. The receivers also allow users to feed video walls of up to 8 x 8 displays, it said.

Modules are equipped with an HDMI 2.0 input and output and extenders (Tx) have an input loop. They include advanced EDID management and accept DVI, DP++ or VGA source signals with the help of various adapters, it said.

A free Windows configuration application is available, and each module has a web interface providing access to all configuration parameters, it said.

More information is available on the company’s website. 

See Apantac at IBC 2023 Stand 10.D44.

BEAVERTON, Ore.—Apantac will show the latest enhancements to its T# Multiviewer at the 2023 NAB Show, April 15-19, in Las Vegas.

The company has added support for up to 128 inputs and 16 outputs to the T# Multiviewer. The addition of inputs and outputs is accomplished with the new multiviewer’s new cascading feature that allows users to cascade two 4RU frames together for larger system installations, the company said.

The company also has added support for NDI, which enables the multiviewer to interface with video devices via an IP network. The addition of NDI support means users can now mix and match a variety of signal types, including SDI, HDMI, IP and NDI, for multi-image display processing and monitoring on a single or multiple displays without any external conversion, it said.

The T# Multiviewer is a flexible, cost-effective solution offering a high degree of versatility. The solution allows users to build the multiviewer they need by choosing from a selection of input and output boards, the company said.

The multiviewer supports HDMI 2.0/1.4, 12G/3G/HD/SD SDI, CVBS, H.264 and NDI. Output support up to UHD includes: HDMI 2.0/1.4 for 2160/1080P, and up to 12G SDI, it said.

T#’s high bandwidth universal mid-plane architecture allows any type of future format to be added by plugging in a new hot swappable input board. T# supports third-party routers and production switchers and uses a flexible and simple skin technology that allows users to customize their on-screen display of graphics including: borders, labels, fonts, tally LEDs, clock faces, logos, embedded audio, discrete audio meters and audio/video alarms. Video windows on the display may include multiple labels with support for UMD, OMD, IMD and standalone labels, it said.

See Apantac at NAB Show booth N2038.

More information is available on the company’s website.

Displays are essential for many tasks in a video production workflow. They can be deployed at signal sources, in control rooms, in operations centers and at distribution hubs to support a variety of production personnel. To handle commonly-used signal formats such as 4K SDI, SMPTE ST 2110, and NDI, displays need several different types of external conversion boxes. These adapters need to be connected with input and output cables, supplied with power, configured, and mounted somewhere unobtrusive. End users and system integrators alike need a simple, clean remedy for this headache.

The smart new solution for this challenge is the Intel Smart Display Module (SDM) platform and technology. These modules plug directly into compatible displays produced by a variety of big-name manufacturers. Because they draw power from the display, and deliver their signals directly via an internal PCI-E connector, these modules eliminate the need for external power or external mounting enclosures. Each module provides a native connector for a given signal type, including RJ-45 for NDI and 75-ohm BNC for 4K SDI. Apantac has now released a collection of SDM interfaces based on the Intel SDM platform to support a broad range of broadcast and AV applications.

Join Thomas Tang, Founder and CEO of Apantac in this lively Q+A video hosted by Wes Simpson, Founder of LearnIPvideo.com and contributing editor for TV Technology. Hear first-hand how SDM modules are transforming the market for broadcast and AV monitors by eliminating the need to deploy different monitors and standalone extension and connection solutions for each application with the use of Apantac’s. SDM Receivers for 12G UHD, HDBaseT, AV over IP and NDI. Learn about the exciting new potential to deploy monitors that are in 4K today and 8K in the near future. 

About Apantac LLC
Apantac LLC (www.apantac.com) is a leading designer and developer of high quality and cost effective multiviewers, video walls, matrices, extenders, openGear solutions and signal processing equipment. The Apantac product line has been specifically designed to provide users with flexible and innovative technology solutions for the broadcast and ProAV industries.

Apantac was founded in 2008 and is a privately held company with its headquarters located in Portland, Oregon, USA.

For more information about Apantac’s products & services please visit: www.apantac.com.

BEAVERTON, Oregon—Apantac is launching a new PTZ camera for professional video and streaming applications that has NDI integrated into the camera.

The addition of NDI, which is a Vizrt brand, means that the new 1080P PTZ camera will be recognizable as a source by other NDI-enabled applications and devices connected to a standard Ethernet local area network, making it easier to share and stream content.

“NDI has changed the way content is accessed, created and distributed, making video accessible over IP,” commented Thomas Tang, president of Apantac. “We are really excited about our first NDI product launch as our PTZ camera allows users to deliver live video over IP to any compatible system or software on the network, using a single cable for all the video, audio and control.”

NDI is a brand of the Vizrt Group and a royalty-free technology that allows video and audio sources to be shared bi-directionally across a network, eliminating the need for costly direct connections, expensive cable runs, and infrastructure upgrades. 

Apantac’s AP-1080P-PTZ-20x (NDI) is designed for capturing video up to 1080P and offers 3G SDI, HDMI, USB 3.0, and HD video over IP decoding. 

The company noted that the variety of the formats this camera supports makes it ideal for house of worship, educational and corporate applications. By incorporating NDI, it communicates using the NDI protocol and allows bi-directional distribution and access of live video over existing IP LAN infrastructure. It also seamlessly integrates with most video conferencing and other software applications.

“NDI-enabled devices like Apantac’s new PTZ NDI Camera exponentially increase the video sources available for storytellers creating efficiencies and opportunities that did not previously exist,” said Michael Kornet, vice president of NDI. “We’ve known and admired the team at Apantac for a number of years and recognize that this is a significant moment for AV and broadcast customers that want to work with this respected brand as they come on board with their new NDI camera.”

BEAVERTON, Ore.—Apantac has rolled out its latest product at ISE 2020, the MiniDE-4-QUHD 8K multiviewer.

The MiniDE-4-QUHD accepts four HDMI 2.0 inputs and four HDMI 2.0 outputs up to 4K at 60 fps, and an output resolution of 7680x4320. It also has two primary modes—the multiviewer mode and video wall processor mode.

Multiviewer mode allows users to feed four 4K inputs into an 8K monitor or a 2x2 4K monitor stack. The position, size and aspect ratio of the source windows are user adjustable. In video wall processor mode, the system drives four 4K monitors and displays the source signal feeding one of the four inputs in various layouts and arrangements.

For more information, visit www.apantac.com. 

AMSTERDAM—One of the highlights of Apantac’s stand at this year’s IBC conference—Sept. 13-17 in Amsterdam—will be the addition of UHD outputs to its line of multiviewers, including the Mi-16, Mx-32, Mi-8 12G and Di-16.

Adding UHD outputs to its line of multiviewers enables the source window PIPs to be displayed with twice the horizontal number of pixels and twice the number of lines on a UHD panel. Apantac’s multiviewers can be paired with off-the-shelf UHD displays to create a multi-image display processing system.

Apantac’s updated multiviewers will be on display at stand 8.E43 during IBC 2019.

LAS VEGAS—Part of the Apantac booth at the upcoming NAB Show will be the recently launched KM Switch that is specifically designed for the openGear platform.

As a hot swappable card for the openGear platform, the OG-KM card is designed to open up integration possibilities while simplifying system design and installation. With the KM Switch, users can control and switch between four or eight computers with a single keyboard and mouse, including an extended desktop from the same graphics card.

Since the new card is part of the openGear range, users can add multiviewers cards from Apantac and create a multiviewer with KVM functionality. Cards that can be combined with the OG-KM include OG-MiniDE-II cascadable HDMI multiviewer, OG-MiniQ cascadale SDI multiviewer, OG-MicroQ SDI quad-split and OG-Mini-DL-X-D cascadable HDMI + SDI quad-split.

Apantac will have the openGear KM Switch card at its booth, SL8006, during the 2019 NAB Show.

PORTLAND, ORE.–Apantac has launched its next generation line of HDMI 2.0 splitters, distribution amplifiers and matrices.

In addition to the new HDMI 2.0 solutions, the company also announced that is has filed a patent for its Optimized Video Transmission Technology. The patent is designed to offer intelligent and dynamic transmission optimization between the source and its various possible outputs.

“The current technology for video distribution and matrix switching has been around for a very long time, yet only supports the distribution of the exact same source multiple times, i.e. sending the same source to multiple displays,” comments Thomas Tang, President of Apantac.

“Our team here at Apantac has designed and produced an invention that includes dynamic detection of each output that is connected to a display. What this means is a direct communication between each individual output of a splitter/matrix and its display. The communications between the individual outputs and the displays determines the individual adjustments necessary prior to the signal transmission, such as color space correction, chroma resampling and scaling. And we’ve done this all without exorbitant costs, meaning our partners and customers can still expect cost-effective pricing on our solutions.”

Apantac’s signal processing and distribution solution that support the latest HDMI 2.0 standards address multiple applications in the Broadcast and ProAV market space where 4K / UHD signals and capabilities are a requirement. These HDMI 2.0 solutions enable transmission of High Dynamic Range content and carry true 4K/UHD resolution at 60 frames per second at 4:4:4.

The Apantac HDMI 2.0 distribution amplifiers, splitters and matrices are compatible with all video resolutions, audio formats, and color space formats supported in the HDMI 2.0a specification. They include EDID management features as well as front panel LED indicators for power and signal status.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Rapid-fire changes in the television industry in the past 15 years have made multiviewers an essential component in virtually all studios. Of course, nothing stands still for long, and as workflows, processes and standards change, so too change how multiviewers work.

With the acceptance of IP video and the SMPTE 2110 along with other related standards, multiviewers are now starting to show up with full IP video capability. That said, most facilities today do not have media distribution via SMPTE 2110 networks, so there is still a good market for multiviewers that accept signals the old-fashioned way: SDI and HDMI.

HIGHER RESOLUTIONS

In addition to the new IP video transport standard, there is an increasing need for multiviewers to work with 4K/Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160-pixel) video.

“Our largest model, the MultiView 16, has 16 independent 6G-SDI inputs so customers can connect any combination of SD, HD or Ultra HD sources and monitor them all simultaneously on a single display,” said Bob Caniglia, director of sales for North America for Blackmagic Design. “It has router-style controls on the front panel, along with the LCD and spin knob, which lets you adjust settings, route sources to different views, add overlays and more. Output can be set to a 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 grid, and you can solo any source full-screen.”

Blackmagic Design’s MultiView 16 and MultiView 4 (a four-input model) feature remote control via IP using the included Mac and Windows software. MultiView 16 also features remote control via IP using Blackmagic Videohub hardware control panels. In addition, MultiView 4 supports power over Ethernet (PoE+), which can be used to remotely power the device.

[Read: NAB Show Product Review — Signal Processing & Analysis]

Likewise, For-A uses IP control to permit fast reconfiguring of its multiviewers and integration with the company’s switcher line.

“Having the switcher, router and multiviewers in combination allows the operator to maintain consistent source naming and tally information between all subsystems,” said Bob Peterson, product specialist for For-A Corporation of America. “The switcher can also map its program buttons to directly control the router’s crosspoints, which makes configuration of 4K UHD easier. All our multiviewers can tightly integrate with For-A switchers.”

Peterson said that all For-A multiviewers use IP networks as the primary method of layout and control. Some of the company’s multiviewers have hardware control panels, and all For-A multiviewers have web GUIs for basic control functions and can stream screen output and error information over IP for logging purposes.

“The publication of SMPTE ST 2110, as well as ongoing work by industry bodies such as AIMS and AMWA, has now given our customers the confidence to invest in IP solutions.” — Martin Jolicoeur, Grass Valley

FULL-BORE IP VIDEO

Going all-in with IP video is not hard to find among multiviewer manufacturers.

“The publication of SMPTE ST 2110, as well as ongoing work by industry bodies such as AIMS and AMWA, has now given our customers the confidence to invest in IP solutions,” said Martin Jolicoeur, director product line management for Grass Valley. “We are committed to helping our customers make the transition to IP at a pace that suits their business and operational needs, whether that’s getting them IP-ready or going all-IP.”

Jolicoeur said that Grass Valley customers can futureproof while still maintaining their current SDI environment using the company’s Kaleido-Modular-X, which allows them to upgrade to full IP when needed. The addition of an IP input card supports monitoring of SMPTE 2022-6 video-over-IP using dual 10 GigE IP inputs.

Jolicoeur said that the Kaleido IP multiviewer-native IP solution delivers the highest number of simultaneous video and audio decodes in the industry, with an unlimited number of audio decodes (stereo and 5.1) per program. It also supports SMPTE ST 2110 and 2022-6, DVB MPEG TS and OTT monitoring of streaming formats.

Also falling into the full-bore IP video category is the Apantac T-Sharp, which allows IP inputs such as H.264 and ST 2022/2010. The T-Sharp and other Apantac multiviewers can decode incoming streams and display the video signals as part of the multiviewer’s output. Apantac multiviewers support formats from analog video to SD/HD/3G/12G, HDMI, 2022/2010 and H.264 as inputs.

In addition to its broad support of IP video, Apantac’s multiviewers have IP control capability that is manufacturer agnostic.

“Apantac multiviewers allow IP control using not only Apantac’s own software, they also allow all popular control systems such as Crestron and AMX,” said Thomas Tang, president of Apantac in Portland, Ore. “IP control also allows the multiviewer to communicate with third-party products such as production switchers and routers for dynamic names and tallies.”

CLEAN SHEET

If you are a manufacturer and want to create a multiviewer line in 2018, where do you start on your clean-sheet design? In the case of Lawo, you head right for IP.

“As we don’t have any SDI-legacy [multiviewers], our products are developed as true IP-native products,” said Andreas Hilmer, director marketing and communications for the Germany-based company. “Our multiviewers … are true IP multiviewers with 10/40GB network connectivity, plus additional SDI IO if needed, running on Lawo’s V__matrix software-defined processing blades. All our products are based on IP technology using open standards in line with the AIMS roadmap, such as ST2110, SMPTE2022-6/-6 and AES67.”

In conversations with engineers tasked with making IP video work in their facilities, I’ve been told that SDI was still the way to go for maximum reliability and a trouble-free out-of-the-box experience. However, that was before SMPTE 2110 and related standards were finalized. With strong standards supporting IP video, it looks like many manufacturers are getting the product out there, ready for the demand that they expect will follow.

There are many other aspects to multiviewers that need to be researched before you decide to commit to a specific product. IP video is just one of many recent developments to make it all the way through standards creation to manufactured products, giving engineers more flexibility and choice in system design and operations. IP video — as implemented in multiviewers and other products — is now mainstream.

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PORTLAND, ORE.—Apantac is preparing its new video over IP multiviwers for display at the upcoming IBC 2017 show.

The new Si-16 series of multiviewers from Apantac are designed for monitoring video and audio over an IP network infrastructure. Apantac will demonstrate the Si-16’s ability to support the ST 2022-6 standard for encapsulated SDI over IP. Apantac expects that the multiviewers will also be able to support the ST 2022-7 standard, as well as the ST 2110 video over IP standard. The Si-16 multiviwers accept 16 VoIP inputs using SFP modules. The connection between the IP Switch and the Si-16 is done via fiber.

Apantac has three models for Si-16 multiviewers, all of which share the same 1RU hardware. The Si-16 is a 16x1 multiviewer with a dual set of identical HDMI and SDI outputs. The Si-16+ consists of two 8x1 multiviewers where the output from each is available as both HDMI and SDI. And the Si-16# is a 16x2 multiviwer with two sets of HDMI and SDI outputs, where any input can be displayed on one or both outputs.

Apantac is also expected to feature a new VoIP input board for its modular T# multiviewer series accepting up to eight ST 2022-6 signals.

Apantac will be located at booth 8.E37 during IBC 2017.

PORTLAND, ORE.—Multiviewer, video walls, extenders and signal processing provider Apantac is set to display two models of its HDMI 2.0 UHD multiviewer series to attendees at the upcoming IBC 2017 conference.

Both models of multiviwers provide entry into 4K/UHD multi-image display for broadcast and ProAV visual environments including control rooms, digital signage and more. One model includes a KVM feature whereby KVM and a multiviewer are working together on a UHD screen. The demonstration will show four computers connected, with KVM functionality in a multiviewer display environment.

This MiniDE-4-UHD and MiniDE-4-UHD-K are ideal for displaying up to four sources on a single UHD monitor or projector. The added benefit is that users can mix input resolutions and sources all the way up to 4K on a single display.

The MiniDE-4-UHD accepts 4x HDMI inputs, 1x VGA input, 1x DisplayPort input, 1x analog audio input, 1x HDMI output and 1x DisplayPort output as well as an analog audio output. The MiniDE-4-UHD-K displays up to four HDMI computer inputs with keyboard and mouse functions on the same screen. They both accept SD, HD and true UHD/4K at 60Hz input resolutions. The output resolution can be set for 1280x720p at 60Hz, 1920x1080p at 60Hz or 3840x2160p at 30Hz or 60Hz. All with 4:4:4 color sampling. There are six predefined and eight customized possible screen layouts. PIP and POP modes are also supported.

Control and configuration is handled through a web interface, Ethernet, and RS232. As with all Apantac multiviewers, display layout creation is simple and extremely intuitive.

Apantac will showcase and demonstrate its new UHD Multiviewers at IBC stand 8.E37.

LAS VEGAS—Apantac is showing the MX-32, its latest affordable, feature-rich video multiviewer, at the 2017 NAB Show. The MX-32 can be used for monitoring incoming feeds in a control room, or displaying and monitoring live multi-camera productions for sports and events, among other applications.

With 32 inputs and four outputs, the MX32 allows users to monitor up to 32 independent video inputs simultaneously—including 3G, HD, and SD-SDI, with four independent outputs. Any input source can be duplicated and resized, and displayed on any of the four outputs. Each output can display a maximum of 32 windows.

The multiviewer also includes a custom on-screen display for layout flexibility to show up to 128 audiometers per output, custom standalone labels, tally indicators, under monitor displays (UMD), over monitor displays (OMD), analog and digital clocks, and count up/down timers. Each window on the display can be resized and re-positioned, and users can store up to 30 non-volatile presets.

The 2017 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 24-27. Apantacwill be in boothN5906. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

NEW YORK—Apantac has its own dynamic duo of multviewers that it plans to highlight at the upcoming NAB Show New York. The Portland, Ore.-based company will showcase its Mi-16 and T# multiviewers at booth 1703.

Mi-16

The T# features video inputs that support 3G-SDI, HDMI, compressed and uncompressed IP signals in a single frame. All input and output cards are hot swappable and interchangeable between three different frame sizes, the largest of which can accommodate eight input boards with up to eight inputs supported for a total of 64 inputs. The multiviewer supports HDMI and HDMI with extenders, HDMI with HDBaseT extenders, SDI and fiber outputs. Meanwhile, the Mi-16 can monitor 16 3G/HD/SD-SDI video inputs and offer one or dual SDI/HDMI outputs depending on the model.

Apantac is also expected to showcase its openGear range of quad-splits and multiviewers, including an HDMI input quad-split, which can be cascaded with Apantac’s existing OG-MiniQ modules for a mix and match format multiviewer for both SDI video and HDMI/DVI computer and multimedia monitoring on a single display.

NAB Show New York will take place from Nov. 9-10.

PORTLAND, ORE.—Apantac, an openGear partner and provider of multiviewers, video walls, extenders and signal processing technology, plans to showcase multiple of its 4K systems at CCW 2015.

T#

One of the products on display will be the T# 4K capable multiviewer. Available in three sizes—1RU, 2RU and 4RU—with 16 pre-configured models that can also be expanded with additional input or outputs boards. Each board is interchangeable between all three frame sizes. The T# can also support JPEG2000, SMPTE-2022-6, H.264 and HDMI.

Apantac’s OG-MiniQ four input multiviewer will also be on display. Designed for the openGear platform, the OG-MiniQ offers four auto-detect 3G/HD/SD-SDI inputs and supports up to 10 modules for up to 40 inputs on a single openGear frame. It also supports 4K inputs and outputs.

Apantac will also show a pair of converters at CCW, the Micro-4K-DP and Micro-4K Down converter. The Micro-4K-DP is a true 4K/HD monitoring converter that supports 4K 60Hz at 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 with Displayport 1.2 output. Available as a standalone and card system for openGear, the Micro-4K Down converter down-converts professional 4K/UHD signals to HD for supporting 4K on both HD and HDMI devices.

More info on Apantac’s products can be found at its booth, 1435. CCW runs from Nov. 11-12 in New York. For more information, visit www.ccwexpo.com. 

PORTLAND, ORE.—A provider of multiviewers, video walls, extenders and signal processors, Apantac is set to introduce its new Hybrid Multiviewer at the 2015 IBC Show. This new system supports IP/ASI and SDI/CVBS baseband signals to its TAHOMA platform.

The new TAHOMA-IL hybrid multiviewer accepts a mix of IP/ASI streams and baseband video signals, displaying them on one more monitors. The IL multiviewers accept H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, multicast and unicast over UDP or ASI, as well as MP1L2, AAC-LC and HEC-AAC-LC audio formats. Baseband signal support includes 3G/HD/SD-SDI, in addition to composite video formats. The hybrid mulltiviewer can mix and match up to 20 IP and SDI/CBVS images on a single display.

Other features with the TAHOMA-IL multiviewer include high resolution HDMI/DVI ouputs, an optional SDI output, output resolution up to 1920x1200p, and built-in CATx extenders of up to 115 ft. The Apantac Skin Technology is also available and offers visual layout setup and onscreen display, including borders, labels, GPI/O, tally, visual and audio alarms, AFD & WSS, alarm monitoring, close captioning, safe area makers, audio meters, analogue and digital clocks.

Apantac will showcase its new product at booth 8.E37 during IBC 2015 from Sept. 11-15 in Amsterdam.