To improve efficiency, reduce travel and make better use of specialized staff, TV broadcasters are moving away from traditional facility-bound control rooms toward remote, distributed and hybrid production models.

“Broadcasters are rethinking the traditional control room,” said Costa Kokorogiannis, product manager at Matrox Video, a global provider of AV-over-IP solutions for live, remote and distributed broadcast workflows. “Instead of tying operators to dedicated hardware in a single facility, they want IP-based KVM and control systems that allow teams to access production resources from anywhere without sacrificing responsiveness.”

“Broadcasters are looking for flexible environments,” added Greg Lenczycki, chief operating officer of IHSE USA, which offers secure, zero-latency KVM and matrix switching solutions for 24/7 mission-critical environments. “The future of the industry is relying heavily on hybrid workflows—keeping latency-sensitive or high-resolution processes on-premises while leveraging IP for scalability and remote access.”

Layered Systems and Distributed Workflows
Today’s remote production architectures involve multiple layers of technology, combining on-premises equipment, transmission infrastructure and localized monitoring with virtualized or cloud processing utilities.

“It’s now common for production teams to work across multiple studios, broadcast centers or remote venues, requiring secure, low-latency access to equipment and resources regardless of location,” said John Halksworth, senior product manager at Adder Technology, which develops high-performance IP KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) solutions for the secure control of local and remote live production systems. “As a result, they’re looking for technologies that not only provide reliable remote access, but also integrate seamlessly into the wider broadcast ecosystem.”

Given this new operational reality, “broadcasters are no longer looking for one single ‘remote production product,’” said Matt Keske, director of business development, North America, at G&D and VuWall, which provides integrated KVM hardware and video wall management software for secure control rooms. Instead, “they are building layered hybrid infrastructures that combine on-site systems, IP-based transport, centralized control, monitoring, and cloud or virtualized services.”

Why Low Latency Matters
In this remotely connected world, fast data speeds are essential. This is why, “as broadcasters continue to adopt hybrid workflows and remote operations, they are increasingly seeking equipment that enables secure, low-latency access to systems and resources regardless of location,” said Thomas Tang, founder and president of Apantac, which offers multiviewers, KVM-over-IP and video processing solutions for the broadcast and pro AV industries.

“KVM-over-IP solutions have become a critical component of this transition, allowing operators, engineers, and production staff to remotely access and control servers, workstations, replay systems, graphics engines, and other mission-critical equipment as if they were sitting directly in front of them,” Tang said.

Connecting these low-latency solutions over standard IP networks lets remote operators feel as if they are sitting right next to the machines even when they are hundreds of miles away. In some KVM-over-IP deployments, standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet networks with transparent USB support can deliver responsive control with little or no perceptible delay, provided the network is properly designed for the workflow.

“Remote production really only works if operators can forget that they’re remote,” Kokorogiannis said. “In live environments, there’s no tolerance for sluggish keyboard response, delayed video or inconsistent switching between systems.”

The Challenges of REMI
In an idealized remote operational environment, the transition from a localized setup to a Remote Integration Model (REMI) workflow goes without a hitch. In the real world, there can be issues.

A case in point: “One of the biggest challenges in REMI workflows is maintaining visibility and control as operators, systems, and signals become distributed across multiple locations,” Kokorogiannis said. “In a traditional control room, everything is physically nearby. In a remote production model, broadcasters need to manage routing, monitoring and operator access across facilities without introducing latency or operational complexity.”

This is where IP KVM technology plays an important role. “By providing secure, low-latency access to systems regardless of location, operators can interact with remote resources as if they were local,” Halksworth said. “Combined with centralized management and monitoring platforms, engineering teams gain a single view of users, devices and system status across the entire environment, helping them identify issues more quickly and manage operations more efficiently.”

Ultimately, successful REMI deployments depend on more than moving signals between sites. “They require a consistent operational layer that allows people to monitor, access and control distributed resources with the same confidence and simplicity they would expect in a traditional facility,” Halksworth said.

Mixing Old and New
The move to remote workflows comes as money is tight in the TV industry. “Most broadcasters can’t afford to rebuild their entire infrastructure overnight, nor do they really want to,” Kokorogiannis said. “The reality for many facilities is that SDI, IP, and cloud-based workflows will coexist for years.

“That’s why flexibility and interoperability are so important,” he added. “Matrox Avio 2 is designed to integrate into existing environments using standard IP networks, allowing broadcasters to centralize and extend systems gradually rather than forcing a complete operational overhaul. Support for ST 2110 and NMOS also helps broadcasters align KVM workflows with the broader evolution of their IP infrastructure.”

Other companies interviewed for this article cited similar product flexibility. “Broadcasters can easily turn their existing Draco control infrastructure into a hybrid or fully remote platform by simply adding a tera IP gateway,” Lenczycki told TV Tech. “This addition to current systems allows users to effortlessly gain remote access to their matrix without a total replacement of their system.”

Added Keske: “G&D systems can be introduced step by step because they sit at the access and control layer, not as a replacement for the entire broadcast infrastructure. A broadcaster can start by centralizing existing computers in a technical room and connecting current operator positions via KVM. Later, additional workstations, systems, or KVM-over-IP components can be added as the facility grows.”

For most broadcasters, modernization isn’t a single project, but an ongoing process—including the transition from localized production to full REMI.

One of the key requirements is ensuring that operators can continue to work efficiently throughout this transition. “Broadcasters can’t afford to disrupt production workflows every time new technology is introduced, particularly in live environments where reliability is paramount,” Halksworth said. “This is where IP KVM can provide significant value.

“Because it sits at the user access layer, it allows broadcasters to connect operators to a wide range of systems regardless of whether those resources are based on legacy infrastructure, modern IP networks or cloud-hosted platforms,” Halksworth continued. “From the operator’s perspective, the workflow remains familiar even as the underlying infrastructure evolves.”

As for the future? Improvements in automation, artificial intelligence, network speeds and transport latency levels are all going to make REMI faster and more invisible than ever. In fact, the day may come when there is no perceptible difference between local and remote production for operators or viewers.

“Broadcasters are already demonstrating that talent, systems and resources can be distributed across multiple sites while operating as a single production environment,” Halksworth said. “Perhaps the most significant long-term trend is that physical location will continue to become less relevant.”

PRAGUE, Czech Republic—CS live is a Czech Republic–based outside broadcast company that covers domestic soccer and ice hockey leagues, international UEFA competitions and large-scale mixed martial arts events. As our production work has grown in scale and complexity, we reached a point where our existing setup no longer matched how we needed to operate day to day.

When we started planning our newest OB van, the real question wasn’t just what equipment to use but how it would all work together once it was in the truck.

OB trucks have always pulled from multiple vendors—audio consoles, switchers, replay, monitoring—and each comes with its own way of working.

In practice, that often means juggling several control systems simultaneously. Operators learn each one separately, and even small changes, such as swapping out a device or reworking a setup between shows, can take more effort than necessary.

Streamlined Control
That complexity was becoming harder to manage across productions, so we set out to simplify it.

After thorough planning with Czech integrator Smart Informatics, we went for a Riedel solution. including the company’s “hi human interface” control system, a browser-based, platform-independent control layer that enables operators to manage a wide range of devices. Part of that decision came from prior experience with Riedel technology, but just as important was their approach to tying systems together rather than treating them as isolated components.

At the core of the truck is a MediorNet-distributed network built on 12 MicroN UHD nodes. Seven nodes handle signal routing, while five are configured as multiviewers. Two additional MicroN Standard nodes act as stageboxes, linking the truck to stadiums and other sources over a single fiber connection. SDI, MADI and Ethernet all run together, which helps keep the physical side of the build manageable.

For us, another advantage is flexibility going forward. We’re still working in baseband today, but the system gives us a way to move toward IP at our own pace without having to rethink the entire build.

On top of that sits hi, Riedel’s control system, which we use as a single layer across the truck. It brings control of audio, switching, replay, monitoring, GPI triggers and signaling together into one interface. Instead of moving between systems, operators stay in the same environment.

The setup includes five hiPush18 panels, a hiPush32 Shading panel, a hiPush36 panel and three hiContact panels, along with tablet control where it makes sense. We also use Riedel 1200 Series panels, where the intercom can sit on one layer and routing or device control on another—a practical option when space is tight.

From Days to Just Hours
The biggest operational change for us has been how hi separates the operator experience from the underlying hardware. The interface behaves the same way regardless of what’s behind it. In most cases, when a device changes or is reassigned, that update carries through automatically across the system.

What used to take days to reconfigure can now usually be handled in hours. That shows up most clearly in how we manage tight production schedules. Moving between venues or back-to-back events often means adjusting sources or workflows quickly. With a unified control layer, those changes are easier to implement without forcing operators to adapt at the same time.

There’s also a practical benefit in staffing. Because the interface stays consistent, operators don’t need deep familiarity with each system in the truck. That gives us more flexibility in how we crew productions.

This is the first deployment of hi in the Czech Republic, and it’s already shaped how we think about future builds. Moving to a distributed signal backbone combined with a single control layer changes the day-to-day experience of working in the truck in a meaningful way.

The system we’ve put together—MediorNet, hi, Artist intercom and Bolero wireless—isn’t tied to a fixed way of working. Instead of locking ourselves into one approach, we’ve built something we can adjust over time as our needs evolve.

More information is available on Riedel’s website.

CAMBRIDGE, England—Adder Technology, an IP, KVM and connectivity solutions provider, has tapped Neil Hillier as CEO, effective July 1.

Hillier’s appointment to succeed Adrian Dickens atop the company is part of a planned leadership transition that also includes changes to Adder’s executive structure intended to support its continued growth, innovation and global expansion, the company said.

Dickens steps down as CEO after 42 years leading the business and will transition to founder and executive chair. Chief technology officer Nigel Dickens will also shift to emeritus CTO. Adder said the appointments align with the long-term stewardship principles established through its recently announced Employee Ownership Trust.

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO, and I recognize my responsibility is to build on the foundations established by Adrian and Nigel,” Hillier said. “Adder’s commitment to being at the forefront of technology innovation remains unchanged, with continued investment in engineering excellence and product development central to the company’s long-term strategy. We have a relentless focus on customer success and remain the trusted technology partner our customers rely on around the world.”

Hillier joined Adder in 2016 and has played a key role in driving more than 70% revenue growth, building on its global market position and shaping its long-term strategy, the company said. His two decades of experience in the KVM industry span engineering, technology, operations and commercial management, Adder said.

“Neil has played a significant role in Adder’s growth and success, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the business into its next chapter,” Adrian Dickens said. “Adder enters this transition from a position of strength, supported by exceptional people, loyal customers and a culture of innovation developed over more than four decades. The future is bright, and I look forward to watching the company thrive with the next generation of leadership.”

Supporting Hillier is a revamped leadership team, including:

• Paul Allen as chief financial officer, who will take on a broader financial remit across the Adder group and support continued investment in operational and sustainable long-term growth.
• Jamie Adkin, an 18-year Adder veteran, as the newly promoted vice president of global sales.
• Duncan Miller as the newly promoted vice president, global marketing and customer experience, whose expanded responsibilities bring together marketing, customer experience and professional services and support.

“As we look ahead, our focus remains on helping customers operate more effectively in some of the world’s most demanding environments,” Hillier added. “We have an outstanding team, a strong culture and significant opportunities ahead. I believe the best chapters of Adder’s story are still to come.”

SIEGAN, Germany—Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) and Netgear AV have announced a new solution that simplifies deployment of professional KVM-over-IP systems by removing one of the most time-consuming steps in the process: manual network configuration.

Through the G&D KVM-Over-IP Plugin for the Netgear AV ecosystem, integrators and KVM administrators can apply a dedicated KVM-over-IP profile directly to ports or sections of Netgear AV Line infrastructure. In a single step, the plugin automatically activates key network parameters such as VLAN configuration, IGMP Snooping Querier, QoS, and other required settings for G&D KVM-over-IP deployments.

The result is a faster, more consistent and more reliable setup process, the companies said. Planners benefit from greater configuration certainty from the outset. Integrators reduce repetitive manual work at the switch level and minimize the risk of inconsistencies across installations. KVM administrators can provision expand, and maintain infrastructure with significantly less effort, G&D and Netgear said.

This is especially important in broadcast, Pro AV, and mission-critical control room environments, where device categories, switch types, and bandwidth classes must operate reliably within a shared IP infrastructure. By turning complex network configuration into a structured and repeatable process, the joint solution helps teams deploy scalable KVM-over-IP environments with greater confidence, the companies said.

“The partnership with G&D was a logical step for us, as we share a common understanding of the requirements of modern, mission-critical IP workflows,” said Laurent Masia, senior director of product line management at Netgear AV. “By combining G&D’s proven KVM expertise with Netgear AV’s networking technology, we are creating powerful, scalable, and easy-to-deploy solutions for control rooms, broadcast environments, and other professional applications. Together, we are helping our customers make the transition to KVM-over-IP efficiently, reliably, and with a future-proof approach.”

G&D contributes its longstanding KVM expertise to the collaboration, including advanced security features, high video quality through bluedec, ultra-low-latency transmission, and workflow-optimizing capabilities such as FreeSeating and CrossDisplay-Switching. Resilience concepts such as DirectRedundancyShield further support reliable operation in demanding professional environments.

Netgear AV provides the network infrastructure for these workflows, with AV-optimized switches, high-performance networking, PoE++ support, redundancy options, and centralized configuration through an intuitive user interface. The ability to combine different switch types and bandwidth classes within a single environment also gives customers greater flexibility when designing scalable IP-based infrastructures.

“In contrast to DirectKVM, with KVM-over-IP we hand over the core of KVM distribution – in other words, the central part of signal distribution – to the network infrastructure,” said Andreas Gerlach, executive vice president of innovation at G&D and VuWall. “If the network does not function correctly or is configured incorrectly, the KVM data cannot perform with the level of quality users expect from G&D. This makes us all the more pleased to be working with a partner like Netgear AV, which has specifically optimized its expertise and versatile networking hardware for G&D’s KVM-over-IP projects.”

More information is available at www.gdsys.com.

Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) and sister company VuWall will showcase their next-generation, mission-critical workplace concepts unifying certified-secure KVM, multiview and video-wall control at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026, Feb. 3-6 in Barcelona, Spain.

G&D and VuWall will demonstrate a unified operator user interface by enabling G&D’s PersonalWorkplace-Controller (PWC) to be operated via VuWall’s TRx control and orchestration platform. The approach streamlines how operators interact with sources, layouts and workflows, which is especially valuable in high-pressure environments, the companies said.

For integrators, the combination supports a cleaner operational concept. Visualization and interaction can be orchestrated through a consistent UI while keeping mission-critical KVM workflows aligned with secure deployments.

G&D will also highlight VisionVS, a new dual-encoding appliance that combines videowall visualization and KVM control into a single, compact solution. Engineered to simplify control room integration, VisionVS merges the strengths of VuWall’s videowall visualization technology and G&D’s KVM capabilities.

VisionVS combines G&D’s Vision product line of KVM and KVM-over-IP solutions with VuWall’s VuStream IP encoding technology. It captures KVM sources and transmits them as a G&D bluedec stream to G&D KVM matrix systems. At the same time, it outputs a VuWall stream to VuWall’s PAK processors for videowall visualization, KVM operator stations or remote access.

The encoding appliance bridges the two ecosystems, delivering pixel-perfect video quality with practically latency-free operation while enabling encrypted streaming to remote locations.

It supports both fiber and copper connections, features a DisplayPort DP1.1 input (up to 2560×1600 at 60 Hz or 4096×2160 at 30 Hz) and a loop-through HDMI 1.4 output (up to 2560×1600 at 60 Hz or 4096×2160 at 30 Hz). It provides a pixel-perfect, low-latency video stream and a second low-bandwidth stream. Both streams support encryption and up to 4:4:4 color fidelity.

G&D will also feature its PersonalWorkplace-Controller, combining multiviewing control with full keyboard-and-mouse interactivity for one or more operators or video walls. By integrating processing locally at the workplace, users gain flexible access to physical sources and streams.

Different PWC variants are tailored to specific requirements, offering connectivity options for nine to 27 sources and supporting configurations including up to six 5K at 60 Hz outputs and a mirrored HD output. Input flexibility is expanded through support for direct digital video and fiber-optic sources via PersonalWorkplace-CPU-Fiber modules, including loop-through functionality via HDMI, DisplayPort and HD-SDI.

Another of the company’s ISE focuses is DynamicWorkplace-CON, a new workplace module that integrates with digital G&D matrix systems to consolidate relevant information across one or up to four high-resolution monitors.

See G&D at ISE 2026 in booth 5H500.

More information is available on the company’s website.

Vitec has acquired Datapath, a developer of real-time video processing for large-scale video walls, AVoIP content distribution and KVM control in mission-critical control rooms, commercial applications and creative environments.

“Datapath is a highly respected Pro AV industry leader, renowned for its engineering excellence, intuitive video-wall and control-room solutions, and decades of heritage in video hardware and software development,” said Nicolas Quesne, deputy CEO of VITEC. “Its portfolio complements our IPTV distribution technologies and opens new opportunities in the control-room sector. This move marks an exciting new phase for VITEC as we continue our growth as a company.”

The acquisition strengthens VITEC’s video wall and video distribution portfolio, offering customers access to expanded engineering capability, customer support, distribution and geographical reach, the company said.

Datapath's video wall processing, multidisplay graphics and AV-over-IP engineering expertise will be integrated into VITEC’s solutions, allowing it to offer a broader range of capabilities to support IPTV distribution applications. Once the integration is complete, nearly 50% of VITEC’s workforce will be engineers, it said.

“Bringing VITEC and Datapath together will allow us to accelerate product development and offer an even broader range of solutions, features and services,” Phil Webster, vice president of R&D for VITEC, said. “We’ve worked hard internally to align systems and strengthen both businesses, and we’re excited to integrate our combined expertise.”

Webster led the Datapath R&D team and is now responsible for the engineering teams across the entire VITEC portfolio of video streaming solutions.

Datapath’s product names and categories, including its video-wall controllers and processors, AV-over-IP solutions, capture cards and control-room solutions, will remain within the VITEC portfolio. VITEC said it intends to maintain familiarity while enhancing support and development capabilities for Datapath.

Datapath serves customers in more than 100 countries across the professional AV, defense, education, security and health care industries.

More information is available on the Vitec website.

KVM is no longer just one part of media production but is becoming ever more integrated into production systems and workflows. While they are oftentimes taken for granted, the best systems are the ones you never notice, continuously and silently working in the background, delivering reliable, efficient and fast access to control and distribution.

In our latest ebook, TV Tech talks to the experts and users about how KVM systems are becoming the remote workflow tools of today’s advanced media productions.

Download the ebook here.

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.”

CRANBURY, N.J.—IHSE USA is introducing its newest solution, the Draco XStreme series. The new KVM extender product line is based on a new hardware platform and represents a fundamental shift in design, combining cutting-edge performance with maximum flexibility and long-term sustainability, the company reported.

The new extender series supports video resolutions ranging from full HD up to 8K and is engineered for seamless integration with both proprietary and future IP-based transmission technologies.

At the heart of this platform lies the JPEG XS codec, co-developed with the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. The first of its kind in KVM, the Draco XStreme series enables visually lossless video without any frame drops, up to 16 bits of deep color, HDR support, less than 1 millisecond per frame of video transmission latency, and frame rates of up to 480 fps all on JPEG XS, a widely accepted codec standard in AV and broadcasting, the company reported.

“With the introduction of the Draco XStreme series, IHSE sets a new benchmark for the industry,” said Gregory Lenczycki, chief operating officer, IHSE USA. “The new series features the latest hardware components, delivering exceptional performance while maintaining low power consumption, which is an essential factor for long-term availability and future-proof video and signal transmission.”

Key advantages of the new Draco XStreme series include the ability to transmit high-resolution, low-latency video signals with reduced infrastructure requirements. For instance, users can transmit 4K60 signals over a standard 1-Gigabit network without visible loss in image quality. This not only reduces energy consumption but also simplifies system architecture, resulting in total project cost savings.

The Draco XStreme series introduces several industry-first features. Notably, IHSE is launching its first Dual-Head 4K60 Extender, capable of transmitting two 4K60 video signals over a single cable. Additionally, the company is releasing a Single-Head 4K60 Extender that operates over a 1 GB link for even greater video transmission efficiency.

The Draco XStreme series establishes a future-ready foundation for hybrid environments, IHSE USA said. By bridging proprietary and IP-based systems, it enables interoperability and scalability, paving the way for next-generation KVM applications, the company said..

More information on IHSE USA and its products is available here.

AMSTERDAM—German manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) has announced that it will present a wide range of KVM and video processing solutions for broadcast and control room environments during IBC2025 between Sept. 12 to 15 at its booth 8.B51.

One of the key highlights of its live demos during the show will be the new VisionVS solution, which was developed in close collaboration with sister company VuWall.

This compact solution combines powerful KVM control with advanced video wall visualization, bridging the gap between two previously separate system worlds. Thanks to dual encoding technology, VisionVS simultaneously transmits two encrypted video streams – one in G&D’s proprietary bluedec™ format and a second in the VuWall format. The solution is particularly well-suited for mission-critical control rooms, where real-time transmission, low latency, and minimal hardware requirements are essential, the company explained.

Another highlight is the PersonalWorkplace-Controller, a flexible multi-viewing tool designed for broadcast environments. It allows users to display and control multiple video and computer signals on one or more screens within a customizable interface – ideal for control rooms, production studios, or master control rooms. The controller enhances clarity, improves workflows, and enables ergonomic operator station setups without compromising image quality or response time, the company reported.

During the show, G&D will also be demonstrating how its space-saving KVM and matrix solutions can be seamlessly integrated into OB vans and live studios. In environments where space is limited and maximum operational reliability is essential, these systems enable centralized, real-time control of technical resources. By relocating high-performance computers, heat and noise levels in the working environment are significantly reduced. At the same time, features such as multi-viewing, 4K resolution, redundant system structures, and encrypted signal transmission support the development of efficient, scalable production setups, the company said.

Whether in live production, broadcast control rooms, or OB vans, the demos will also show how its solution provide reliable access to distributed computer systems and are engineered to offer seamless control, high availability, and user-friendly integration in complex environments. By enabling centralized computer access and reducing heat, noise, and physical footprint at workstations, G&D helps create ergonomic, quiet, and fail-safe environments that are ideal for mission-critical applications, the company said.

More information about G&D’s solutions is available at www.gdsys.com.

PADUCAH, Ky.—It’s no secret the world of TV news is changing faster than a June storm. Folks don’t just wait for the 6 o’clock news anymore—they want content on every screen, anytime. At WPSD-TV, a leading television station in Kentucky owned by Paxton Media Group (PMG), that put us at a crossroads: We had to modernize how we work or risk falling behind the very people we serve.

WPSD-TV has always prioritized delivering community-focused news and information. To maintain this standard, we’re always looking for ways to continuously improve our operations by modernizing workflows, positioning ourselves as a next-generation regional media hub equipped with cutting-edge technology. This led us recently to turn to our longstanding partner Bitcentral to enhance efficiency while minimizing costs.

Multiplatform Challenges
Whether it’s travel and lifestyle stories, high school sports, breaking news or weather coverage, WPSD-TV keeps our community informed and safe. But with viewer habits rapidly evolving, we found ourselves at a crossroads. We needed to rethink how we operated to keep up with the demands of today’s multiplatform media environment. We knew that modernizing our workflows was no longer optional; it was essential.

For that, we needed tools that were not only reliable and cost-effective; they also needed to streamline operations across departments, help us archive and access years of valuable media assets more efficiently, support our digital transformation and create a technology foundation that will remain strong well into the future.

To meet our goals, we chose several Bitcentral solutions, including ViewNexa Channels to launch and manage FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channels, efficiently distributing both live and on-demand content. We also deployed Core News Suite, which completely reimagined how we produce news by allowing our team to adopt a “produce once, publish many” workflow. This lets us get more mileage out of every story over every platform.

We also adopted Bitcentral’s Fusion Hybrid Storage (FHS) for our media library. This smart, scalable storage solution enables us to support our high-res video, metadata and proxies without overwhelming our infrastructure. And because we wanted to overhaul and future-proof our master control operations ahead of our move to a new facility, we installed Bitcentral’s Central Control system, which offers automated feed recording, traffic system integration, and real-time monitoring.

Something Invaluable
Partnering with Bitcentral has ushered in a new era for us at WPSD-TV. We’ve been able to bring innovation and efficiency to the forefront of everything we do. Today, we’re better-equipped to meet the demands of a fast-moving multiplatform
media world—and we’re in a strong position to explore new ways to grow and monetize our content.

Bitcentral’s technology has helped us streamline operations across the board. From simplifying maintenance to reducing day-to-day costs, their solutions have freed our team to focus on what matters most: delivering outstanding local news and storytelling to our community.

Most importantly, working with Bitcentral has given us something invaluable: peace of mind. We know we can rely on their systems and support, not just today, but for many years to come. With that kind of confidence, we’re able to stay ahead of the curve, innovate with purpose, and unlock new opportunities as our industry continues to evolve.

More information is available at bitcentral.com.

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.

PLANO, Texas—Black Box will highlight its Emerald Unified KVM-over-IP products that facilitate easy integration with H.264/265 video feeds, as well as media controllers, automation systems, and other systems at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Emerald Unified KVM-over-IP platform provides seamless access to physical servers, the public and private cloud with PCoIP Ultra support and collaborative virtual machine (VM) sharing, Black Box said.

Black Box booth will show new Emerald products, including the Emerald DESKVUE PE Multi-Source, Multi-View receiver with precise 4K/60 video processing and the Emerald GE Gateway for multiple simultaneous user access to the same virtual machine. The company also will feature the Emerald Remote App, which provides high-performance remote access, the company said.

Black Box will offer live demos of the latest DisplayPort versions of Emerald SE and PE. These reliable IP-based KVM solutions enable intuitive user experiences and remote system connectivity for production control rooms and both remote and hybrid productions, including live events, it said.

The Black Box Emerald IP KVM platform is a scalable universal access system that enables users to connect to both physical and virtual machines. It offers anywhere, anytime IP access over an existing IP network, WAN or the internet.

Advanced security and minimal low bandwidth consumption enable new ways of configuring control room infrastructure to maximize expandability. The platform offers local and remote users simplified workflows. Interoperability between 4K and HD video and one-touch control room setups combine with a high degree of automation through Emerald's APIs to give users flexibility and enable ease of use, it said.

The company will also demonstrate its Emerald DESKVUE PR Multi-Source, Multi-View receiver. With DESKVIE, all systems are displayed as individual windows on up to four 4K monitors, including one ultrawide curved 5K monitor. Users can arrange, resize or drag system “tiles” or “windows” across connected monitors, it said.

Emerald AV WALL, a native software feature of Emerald DESKVUE, makes it easy to display a single source from an Emerald system on a 2x2 video wall to be viewed by a larger group. Black Box this year also has made it simpler to upgrade and add a 4x4 video wall solution, the company said.

The company also will highlight its Emerald GE Gateway that connects to the Emerald IP-based KVM network all Emerald users enhanced simultaneous virtual machine connectivity with RDP or PCoIP (ultra) VM sharing; its Remote App for the Emerald Unified KVM platform that turns a user laptop or computer into a KVM receiver to provide authorized users access to sources; and AlertWerks IoT, it said.

See Black Box at 2025 NAB Show booth SL10616.

More information is available on the company’s website.

HOUSTON—G&D, a global provider of KVM solutions, will showcase its latest innovations at the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 6-9. Partnering with VuWall, technology leader in video wall and AV management, the companies will present integrated solutions designed to enhance broadcast workflows and productivity.

G&D’s latency-free KVM solutions provide remote access, virtual source integration, and flexible remote control, trusted by broadcasters worldwide. Combined with VuWall’s intuitive video wall technology, these solutions deliver enable operators to visualize and control any source across workstations and video walls effortlessly.

“The G&D and VuWall partnership offers broadcast professionals a seamless, efficient and future-proof workflow experience to meet the wide range of needs of today’s broadcast environments thanks to the combination of G&D’s reliable, high-performance KVM solutions and VuWall’s intuitive and flexible video wall control platform,” said Andreas Gerlach, EVP Innovation at VuWall and G&D.

Designed for broadcast studios, post-production, remote production, and OB vans, these solutions enhance efficiency, real-time visualization, and collaboration.

Technology highlights include:

• PersonalWorkplace-Controller – Enhancements to the powerful product series, a flexible workspace solution supporting 5K60 resolution, consolidating multiple video signals onto a single or multi-display setup, now with fiber optic extension of source inputs including SDI, DisplayPort, and HDMI inputs with USB interactivity.
• DynamicWorkplace-Controller – Launching at NAB, a seamless multiviewer controller with zero-latency interaction on up to four 4K monitors, delivering the most dynamic, high-performance operator interactivity yet. 

• SecureCert – The industry’s most secure high-performance KVM-over-IPTM solution brings major security enhancements, providing new certifications including DODIN APL, JITC, Common Criteria EAL2+, and FIPS 140.3, delivering the highest security standards. Speak to a G&D Application Specialist to learn more about SecureCert solutions.

• RemoteAccess Product Series – Showcasing at NAB is the very popular solution for remote workflows, delivering powerful IP access to computers or servers and featuring multiviewer functionalities.

• VuWall TRx & PAK Video Wall Solutions – A user-friendly AV-over-IP platform that combines AV distribution, advanced multi-video wall management, and IP KVM control, designed for secure, scalable, and flexible workflows in control room environments. 


G&D will be in booth SL7611 in the South Hall of the LVCC.

For media production companies, the drive for increased efficiency without extensive incremental costs or added complexity is always near the top of the priority list. This efficiency is being realized by leveraging various technologies such as remote production, cloud computing and the proliferation of open standards for content distribution over IP. Not to be overlooked, though, is the convenience and workflow simplification offered by KVM switches.

KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) enables a single user to control and switch between a variety of systems or edge devices from one workstation. For years, KVM was mostly applied in scenarios requiring an operator to have wide-ranging access to assets throughout a facility—a broadcast studio with multiple stages and control rooms, for example. As the technology has progressed, though, the opportunities for using KVM in more complex use cases is reaping benefits.

Adding IP
As many global media production workflows have transitioned to IP, the costs and flexibility benefits of this transition will continue in the coming years. Introducing KVM-over-IP switches into the workflow enables users to further leverage the efficiency and convenience of KVM over long distances with the ability to connect a nearly limitless number of devices. Jon Litt, managing director for Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) North America, says this level of flexibility has paid huge dividends. “During a pandemic situation—when employees aren’t coming into the office as usual, but they still need to do things remotely—KVM-over-IP really would provide limitless flexibility to control and observe anything from anywhere,” he says.

The connectivity offered via IP enables the smoother scaling and configuration inherent to IP systems and provides KVM control over more complex operations, David Isola, director of global product marketing for Black Box, says.

“Legacy or traditional KVM systems are limited to physical systems, making it difficult to scale and may require additional infrastructure,” he says. “In contrast, advanced IP KVM solutions allow for versatile and extensive connectivity options over existing IP networks. Advanced IP KVM solutions, such as Black Box’s Emerald, provide a unified interface and overcome the challenges of hybrid environments where a mix of virtual and physical devices are part of the workflow—further reducing delays and providing a seamless experience to the user.”

Orchestrating workflows across long distances using any method introduces issues of latency and the quality of video encoded and decoded (perhaps multiple times) during transport, according to Thomas Tang, president of Apantac.

“Latency is a critical factor that directly impacts user experience,” he says. “Minimizing latency ensures real-time interactions, which is essential for industries such as production and postproduction that require precision and speed. Additionally, visually lossless compression is equally important to maintain the integrity of video signals while optimizing bandwidth usage. This ensures high-quality visuals without noticeable degradation.”

This attention to working with higher resolutions over IP is crucial in a KVM environment, particularly in M&E, according to Neil Hillier, senior vice president, global sales and marketing, at Adder Technology. “As this adoption evolves, advanced KVM solutions will need to continue to accommodate ultra-high resolutions with minimal latency, making them indispensable for editing, post-production and broadcasting,” he said.

Without such accommodations, KVM over IP would be useless to most applications that require high-quality videos. To achieve the required level of latency and lossless compression, advanced encoding technologies have been integrated into KVM switches and extenders.

A key innovation in this area is support for open standards such as SMPTE ST 2110 and the IPMX (Internet Protocol Media Experience) suite of open standards and specifications, Matrox Video Business Development Manager Caroline Injoyan says. “With these standards, KVM devices can natively send and receive video to and from other devices within the workflow,” she said. “And by eliminating the need for additional hardware layers, this approach reduces design complexity, simplifies integration and ultimately drives down cost.”

Advancing advanced IP standards allows for more flexible workflows and options, according to Dan Holland, marketing manager for IHSE.

“Many of our customers have turned to Display Management Systems [DMS] for KVM-over-IP,” Holland said. “With the increased need for computer-based automation, testing, and simulation in these environments, it becomes more important to improve workflow, share resources, and facilitate a more efficient way for employees to work. IHSE developed their DMS with JPEG-XS. to help unburden the stress of workstation connectivity with the ability to remotely manage and maintain computer equipment without compromising on security, quality, and performance.”

Security Assurances
Mission-critical workflows that require the sharing of high-quality video are not exclusive to media and entertainment. Public safety, healthcare, transportation and other industries have a growing need to manage and secure the workflows that move their content. And, yes, they also use KVM to reap the flexibility and efficiency benefits. To these industries, security is just as, if not more, important.

“Encryption plays an important role in safeguarding sensitive information,” Injoyan explains. “Audio, video and USB signals transmitted over the network must be encrypted to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the data. So, KVM devices should also employ encrypted communication protocols.

“For example, unauthorized USB thumb drives could pose a security risk, so it is necessary to select a KVM device that gives you the option to block their use or enable only preapproved makes/models,” she adds.

Tang agrees. “Implementing strong transport encryption, such as AES 256, ensures that data is securely transmitted across the network. Additionally, using LDAP [Lightweight Directory Access Protocol] for authentication enhances security by providing centralized access control and management. These measures protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access, which is crucial in sectors like health care, finance and government.”

Additional security measures that ensure the privacy and safety of KVM matrix networks include: Continuous logging to track all usage; complete system observation and detection, including during the particularly vulnerable boot-up stage; and two-factor authentication with rock-solid credentialing and permissions based on active directories.

How Does AI Fit In?
Given the diverse nature of ecosystems that may benefit from KVM technologies, AI is expected to take part in this revolution as well.

Black Box’s David Isola agrees. “Right now, our centralized KVM management appliance is monitored by human interaction,” he says. “I can see where AI could be used to streamline and replace tedious human tasks such as operator preferences, shortcuts, machine or screen layouts, and offering an overall intuitive and personalized user interface based on user preferences and needs all the things that are currently handled by human interface.”

The potential for AI use in KVM-over-IP can get even more complex and provide greater functionality, Apantac’s Tang says. “AI can dynamically allocate bandwidth based on usage patterns and demand, ensuring optimal performance even under varying network conditions. This proactive management helps maintain low latency and high-quality video transmission, crucial for applications requiring consistent and reliable connectivity.”

Nevertheless, bringing AI into a shared environment has its own security issues as well, Adder’s Hillier says. “The industry must remain vigilant about data privacy and regulatory compliance, integrating AI in a way that prioritizes transparency and user control,” he said. “This balanced approach enables KVM to harness AI’s benefits while maintaining trust, reliability, ease of use, and long-term success.”

NEW YORK—Black Box has announced that it will showcase its cutting-edge control room solutions, featuring the Emerald Unified KVM-over-IP product line and the Boxilla KVM Manager during the 2024 NAB Show New York, Oct. 9-10, at the Javits Center in Booth 1204

Black Box said that visitors to booth 1204 will see how the Emerald ecosystem provides the intuitive user experiences and superior remote system connectivity necessary in modern broadcast and hybrid production environments. 

The 2024 NAB Show New York marks the first U.S. showcase of the new TAA-compliant version of Emerald DESKVUE, offering attendees an exclusive look at this advanced technology.

Black Box said that its Emerald devices seamlessly integrate with H.264/265 video feeds, media controllers, automation systems and other critical control room components, providing effortless access to physical servers, the public and private cloud with PCoIP Ultra support and collaborative virtual machine (VM) sharing. The company will highlight how its Emerald Unified KVM-over-IP products deliver secure, flexible and scalable workflows with industry-leading low IP bandwidth usage.

In addition, the company explained that the Black Box Emerald KVM-over-IP platform is an infinitely scalable universal access system, allowing users to connect to physical and virtual machines with anywhere, anytime IP access over an existing IP network, WAN, or even the internet. Black Box will highlight the Emerald system's robust security features, power and connectivity options that add resilience and simplify setup, and intuitive interfaces for flexible layout configuration and agile switching. Black Box will also highlight new power redundancy capability and two-network link redundancy (copper and fiber) for its Emerald traditional KVM DP receivers.

Adding to Emerald's fail-safe platform, which has no single point of failure, new security and compliance features protect against internal and cyber threats. These advanced security features and market-leading low-bandwidth consumption open new ways to configure the studio infrastructure with maximum expandability, incorporating remote users, remote productions, and distributed control rooms. Interoperability between 4K and HD video, combined with one-touch control room setups and a high degree of automation through Emerald's APIs, gives users valuable flexibility while ensuring ease of use.

The Emerald KVM-over-IP platform manages signals and format types, empowering users to deliver content with an innovative look and feel. Organizations can leverage existing IT equipment, facilitating control and monitoring through the Boxilla® KVM Manager's intuitive and visually appealing KVM management dashboard. New small-form-factor DisplayPort units ease installation, much like the Emerald Remote App, by providing access to as many as nine concurrent Emerald connections from a Windows 10/11 laptop.

Also during the NAB Show New York, Black Box will showcase the new TAA-compliant version of the award-winning Emerald DESKVUE KVM-over-IP receiver, a small-form-factor device offering users a new concept for creating individually tailored workspaces. 

Emerald DESKVUE allows users to access up to 16 physical or virtual systems and H.264/H.265 streams simultaneously, replacing multiple receivers and thus reducing system complexity and costs. All systems are displayed as individual windows on up to four 4K or curved (5K) monitors. Users can arrange these windows in any way; switching between systems happens automatically in the background as users perform their tasks, removing any need for manual switching commands — or even awareness of system changes.

Black Box will showcase Emerald DESKVUE with enhancements that enable greater workspace personalization, including system arrangements on the screen, with capabilities such as locking favored system tiles and easier, faster switching among tiles, as well as an exclusive work mode and personalized on-screen layouts — resulting in a tailored workspace with the most flexible system integration and visualization landscape. 

Complementing Emerald DESKVUE is the Black Box Emerald AV WALL, a new solution that enables seamless interoperability with Emerald KVM-over-IP systems while supporting non-KVM environments — making it easy to display a single source from an Emerald system on a video wall for viewing by a larger group. The solution directly supports a 2x2 video wall while allowing for the expansion in the number of supported monitors through additional units.

HOUSTON—G&D North America Sept. 20 opened a new North American headquarters and state-of-the-art experience center here. 

The company, based in Siegen, Germany, specializes in KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) technology. Managing director Jon Litt, as well as colleagues, partners and visitors, attended the office’s grand opening, the company said.

The headquarters is located near Bush International Airport. It features a showroom where demonstrations spotlight the interaction of intelligent KVM systems across various applications in control room environments. The facility gives consultants, engineers, integrators and end users an immersive experience with G&D technology in a real-world setting, it said.

The new center also offers modern training rooms dedicated to product and application education. The facility has an integrated environment for sales, engineering and support as well as management of operations across North America, it said.

 More information is available on the company’s website. 

CAMBRIDGE, U.K.—Adder Technology, a provider of connectivity solutions and high performance IP KVM technologies, has announced a new addition to its KVM matrix portfolio, the ADDERView Matrix C-Range. 

This powerful IP KVM solution brings enterprise-grade KVM capabilities to more streamlined applications with a ‘plug and play’ architecture that means users can deploy and configure an IP KVM matrix easily, the company explained. 

“ADDERView Matrix is an exciting new addition to Adder’s portfolio,” John Halksworth, senior product manager, Adder Technology, said. “We know first-hand from our customers the demand is growing for IP KVM matrix systems that are easy to install, manage and operate, and support less-complex requirements. Typically, users are looking for fast installation and reliable operation that requires minimal technical expertise. With ADDERView Matrix, we address those challenges and combine it with the power of Adder’s IP KVM technology.”

The company reported that it is ideal for broadcast studios, space-constrained control rooms and industrial remote access control environments, ADDERView Matrix delivers a streamlined IP KVM matrix solution and an unrivaled user experience for organizations that prioritize ease of use and minimal maintenance.

Comprising a single-head ADDERView Matrix C1100 user station, and a choice of DisplayPort or HDMI transmitter connectivity via the ADDERView Matrix C110 computer access modules, users can add a network switch, pre-configured for KVM and AV-over-IP functionality, to build a simplified IP KVM matrix that suits their requirements. Each user station is a master controller of up to 16 sources at any one time, and a single computer access module can connect up to 256 different user stations, ensuring deployment for any user scenario is simple, scalable and flexible, the company reported.

Adder plans to showcase ADDERView Matrix during IBC 2024, Sept. 13th–16th, Hall 8, Stand B65 and at NAB New York, Oct. 8th–10 in Booth 1107.

Missed any of our recent product news? Here is TV Tech's weekly wrap-up of new products, services and deployments we published in our newsletter between August 19 to August 23. The stories are listed from the newest on Friday August 23, day by day back to our stories from Monday August 19.

Dish Business Launches News Evolve M2 Set Top Box for Hotels

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PilotDesk and LG Ad Solutions Ink New Long-Term Ad Tech Deal

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Revolutionizing Broadcast Production Models With Dante

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Evertz to Focus on Software Defined Video Networking at IBC 2024

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Yospace To Showcase Dynamic Ad Insertion Developments At IBC 2024

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SDVI to Feature Latest Rally Access Workstation Developments at IBC 2024

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Actus Digital To Highlight Compliance, Monitoring Product Developments At IBC 2024

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Sony Electronics Unveils 4K Handheld Professional Camcorders with AI-Based Tools

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RCN Colombia Leverages Zixi To Streamline Content Distribution To U.S. Affiliates

The Latin American broadcaster is using Zixi’s IP solution portfolio in place of satellite.

NAB Studio Deploys Unytalk Live Interactive Webcast Solution

The studio is using the solution to produce and broadcast interactive content.

You Can Now Smell Your TV Programs for Just $180

Elevated Perceptions has launched “MovieScent,” an AI-powered device that the company says releases real-time scents based on events and environments within movies, TV shows, televised sporting events and streams.

Chyron To Feature Latest Enhancements for PRIME, PAINT and LIVE At IBC 2024

The company will show a new Chyron PRIME playout workflow that simplifies operation.

Mo-Sys To Feature MoViewer Multi-Camera Virtual Production Preview Solution At IBC 2024

MoViewer eliminates the need for per-camera render nodes.

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."

While AI was all the rage at this year’s NAB Show, there was another fast moving trend that caught the attention of perhaps even a larger portion of the attendees: remote and virtual production.

The move towards these types of productions are being driven by two main factors that came into focus during the pandemic: costs and environmental impact. Sending fewer personnel to cover live events helps save money and promote sustainability, both of which are high on broadcasters’ priority lists these days.

That trend is also driving demand for improved and more efficient workflows, both of which are being enabled by advances in KVM (keyboard, video and mouse), a technology that has been around for decades but is growing in importance, especially as it moves from SDI to IP.

The need for reliable, high-performance equipment to handle complex workflows and live broadcasting needs is constant and with increasing demands to lower latency while at the same time handle higher resolutions efficiently, more media companies will look to KVM systems to help them control the various elements that make up a live production.

In our latest Guide to KVM, we look at the latest trends driving the development of these increasingly important production workhorses.

LOS ANGELES—Block by Block Solutions specializes in audiovisual solutions for unique postproduction environments. We offer turnkey services, from architectural drawings and consultations to installation, programming, and servicing, ensuring that every project meets our high standards. 

Excellence isn’t just a platitude; it’s necessary in the high-stakes world of Hollywood production where millions of dollars are on the line and things move fast. The solutions we spec and install must be of the highest caliber, so we’re constantly on the lookout and evolving to ensure our clients’ systems are outfitted with the very best. In 2019, during an installation project for Blumhouse Productions, we decided to start using IHSE as a product standard for clients of Block by Block Solutions. 

Integrating New Edit Bays
Blumhouse Productions is renowned for its prolific output in the horror and thriller genres and in recent years the company has been expanding its footprint to support that growth. They gutted former office space to add about 20 additional edit bays as well as upgrade their screening room, which serves as a multipurpose space for color correction and audio mixing.

This project presented some unique challenges, particularly the need to integrate new systems with the existing infrastructure. The main requirement was to create a seamless integration where new and old edit bays could be controlled locally and remotely, with full KVM functionality extending to their screening room. 

The studio had an IHSE system that was installed about 10 years ago, running DaVinci Resolve for color correction and Avid Pro Tools for audio mixing. We realized these solutions were a testament of longevity and reliability, and IHSE is a great partner for building out solutions for our client’s unique demands. 

IHSE stood out in two ways: Its support for legacy products and their direct connection with Pro Tools. IHSE enabled us to integrate the new and old systems, providing a seamless user experience. All it took was a firmware update on the old IHSE equipment to ensure compatibility and performance. 

With a direct connection with Pro Tools, we were able to streamline operations significantly. This meant that Blumhouse could maintain their existing workflows without sacrificing any functionality—a crucial aspect for their operations. 

Mission-Critical Reliability
IHSE has a reputation for engineering robust and reliable KVM solutions. In fact, the IHSE name is well-known in mission-critical applications such as air traffic control. While post-production isn’t life-critical, it does demand uninterrupted and flawless operation due to the significant costs and tight schedules.

In practical terms, the IHSE KVM system allowed for instantaneous switching between different edit bays and the screening room. This capability is essential in a fast-paced production environment where every second counts. 

The IHSE system’s ability to handle multiple resolutions was another advantage. We had to accommodate both 1080p video signals and higher resolutions for different tasks within the same environment. Security was also a top priority as film piracy continues to escalate. IHSE KVM switches meet TPN (Trusted Partner Network) requirements, ensuring that all data and operations remain secure, which is vital for a studio handling high-value content.

IHSE’s support team was instrumental in helping us deploy, program, and troubleshoot the systems. The ease of integrating new technologies with a decade-old system was impressive and highlighted IHSE’s commitment to backward compatibility and long-term support. This not only saved Blumhouse money but also ensured continuity and reliability in their operations.

A few years into using the system, Blumhouse continues to benefit from the robust, flexible, and reliable IHSE solutions. They’re an indispensable part of their upgraded facilities and our ongoing service contract with them. The seamless integration and operational efficiency have significantly enhanced their production capabilities, allowing them to focus on what they do best—creating compelling content. What’s more, IHSE’s reliability, flexibility, and outstanding support have set a new standard for us. 

David Dowling is the COO of Block by Block Solutions in Los Angeles. His background includes more than a decade of studio integration expertise. He can be reached at david@blockbyblocksolutions.com.

For more information, visit www.ihse.com.

HOUSTON—Professional keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) solutions manufacturer G&D North America has opened a new location here to provide consulting and support to customers in North and South America.

The 3,658-square-foot, modern facility includes spacious work areas for sales, engineering, technical support, administration and warehousing, the company said. 

Training facilities have also been planned for the new headquarters, where customers will receive comprehensive training on KVM solutions. Classes will be geared to the level of experience of customers. A control room expert will conduct the courses, which will cover the basics of KVM systems, their interaction with other technologies and essential technical backgrounds from the ground up, the company said.

As the centerpiece of the new office, a showroom to demonstrate how intelligent KVM systems facilitate the interaction of various applications in modern control room environments. In the ControlCenter-Xperience, the KVM manufacturer plans to conduct on-site demonstrations as well as remote presentations via live video, providing customers and partners with a platform for personalized live consultations on real control room applications, regardless of time and location, it said.

To celebrate the grand opening of the ControlCenter-Xperience, the company is inviting customers, partners and media representatives to an open house event Sept. 20. The Texas-style event will feature barbecue, cold drinks, music and games.

More information is available on the company’s website.

Join John Hickey, senior director of R&D and KVM at Black Box, for a fascinating discussion of the latest trends in keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) technology. 

Learn why IP-based KVM tech is replacing legacy matrix devices. Find out the three key benefits IP brings to KVM in media applications and how the technology will continue evolving along an IP trajectory to bring even more IP sources into the personal space of users and enable operators to optimize their own workspaces.

Interviewed at the 2024 NAB Show, Hickey also talks about the company’s latest product introductions, including Emerald DESKVUE, a new concept in KVM over IP that enables users to create personalized workspaces where they can view and interact with up to a total of 16 systems, including those that are physical, virtual, and cloud-based as well as a combination of the three.

Hickey also talks about AV WALL, the latest DESKVUE feature set upgrade that adds video wall capabilities and integrates various IP video sources, including AVC/H.264 and HEVC/H.265.

Recorded at the company’s NAB Show booth, the video also gives viewers a good look at the latest Black Box innovations. 

Black Box 

Black Box is a trusted IT manufacturer delivering cutting-edge technology solutions & products and world-class consulting services to businesses around the globe. The breadth of our global reach, continuous innovation, and depth of our expertise accelerates customer success by bringing people, ideas, and technology together to solve real-world business problems. Since being founded in 1976, technology has changed, but our commitment remains steadfast.

MONTREAL—Matrox Video has announced that during the 2024 NAB Show it will be providing product demos and featuring customer stories that illustrate how the company helps broadcasters, live event producers, developers, and manufacturers implement and improve their IP- and IT-based media workflows. 

Visitors to the company’s Booth SL5073 at the 2024 NAB Show, April 13-17 in Las Vegas will discover products and solutions for remote production (REMI), contribution, distribution, operations and control, and Tier 1 live production in the cloud, along with the latest innovations for SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX. 

In addition, experts from Matrox Video will present on IP and IT technologies for media during the Broadcast Engineering and IT (BEIT) conference, and the company's products will be showcased across the show floor in partner demonstrations of IP video workflows.

"With over 45 years serving as a leading provider to the biggest brands in the most demanding applications, Matrox Video has led industry transitions from analog video to SDI and ST 2110/IPMX and is uniquely positioned to deliver the IP- and IT-based workflows powering production today," said Francesco Scartozzi, vice president of sales and business development for the Broadcast and Media Group at Matrox Video. "Our NAB lineup addresses that shift, and we'll demonstrate practical media-over-IP applications that help attendees accelerate their workflows and improve their operations."

Matrox Video product demonstrations include: 

• Matrox Monarch EDGE encoders and decoders are renowned for their advanced features, including ultra-low-latency multi-stream sync, 4K/multiHD support, tally, talkback, and genlock. The upcoming 2.07 release introduces new capabilities, making Monarch EDGE a versatile solution for backhaul, contribution, video transport, and distribution workflows. With HDR and Dolby audio support, VANC metadata for closed captions, SCTE-104 messaging for ad insertion, and SRT Stream IDs for easier stream routing, Monarch EDGE stands out as one of the most flexible encoder/decoders. Industry distribution platforms such as GlobalM and TechEx endorse Monarch EDGE as the preferred encoder for delivering high-quality streams. A GlobalM pod at the Matrox Video booth will showcase cloud-based distribution workflows featuring Monarch EDGE.
• Matrox ConvertIP bridges traditional baseband and IP-based video workflows by converting HDMI or SDI signals to and from ST 2110 and IPMX. Demonstrations by Matrox Video experts will highlight ConvertIP's unique daisy-chain capabilities, reducing total cost of ownership and increasing monitoring flexibility and redundancy. ConvertIP enables camera-to-IP production and integrates seamlessly with RED, Panasonic, and other ST 2110 workflows.
• Matrox ORIGIN offers broadcasters and live content providers, developers, and solution providers a scalable, flexible, cloud- and COTS-based live production solution on an opex model. Built on a cloud-native IT architecture, Matrox ORIGIN redefines live production with an open, opex-based framework free of traditional clock-based video compromises, enabling a workflow comprising best-of-breed applications. Matrox ORIGIN leads the industry's shift to IT-based, software-defined infrastructure.
• Matrox Extio™ 3 IP KVM extenders and the KMLYNC KM switch enable innovative workflows and flexible KVM matrix system design over IP, boosting productivity and improving operator workspaces for media production. Extio 3 IP KVM extenders provide low-bit-rate, glitch-free 4Kp60 4:4:4 and quad 1080p60 4:4:4 video extension and switching over 1GbE LAN, WAN, or internet and feature advanced multiview capabilities, multisystem control with seamless mouse switching, and enhanced security with encryption, as well as user- and device-authentication features.
• New — Matrox DSX SDK 10.5. The latest updates to the Matrox DSX SDK offer Ultra-Low Latency for both DSX LE5 and X.mio5 ST 2110 NIC and 12G SDI I/O cards. The ULL feature enables sub-field or sub-frame video transfer at inputs and outputs, allowing low latency broadcast applications to achieve a minimum delay of 1-frame for interlaced video and 2-frame for progressive video. The new "large canvas" feature enabled on X.mio5 ST 2110 cards allows customizable regions of interest from a large canvas to be output as multi-channel 1080P and UHD resolutions for flexible and advanced multi-screen display workflows. DSX SDK 10.5 also supports ST 2110-22 with JPEG-XS encoding and decoding and adds native support for AWS S3 with the Flex Reader and Writer for cloud-based applications.
• New — Matrox DSX LE6 D100 ST 2110 Network Interface Card. This new 100 GbE ST 2110 network card is designed for high-performance media environments including broadcast and virtual production. Featuring dual QSFP 28 connectors, this PCIe Gen 4 x 8 card offers up to eight channels of UHD@p60 or two channels of 8Kp60 input and output, all with ST 2022-7 redundancy. The card has hardware-based PTP to provide nanosecond-range ST 2059-2 accuracy and offloads all ST 2110 packet processing from the CPU, which is essential for high-density and high-resolution applications. This card also offers ultra-low latency to minimize in-to-out latency for multichannel 4K and 8K applications.

During the show, Marwan Al-Habbal, product manager for Matrox ORIGIN, will present "Innovating Live Productions" at 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, as part of the BEIT conference. Delving into agile software production pipelines in complete IT environments, the session will explore event-driven asynchronous processing for Tier 1 live production.

Visit Matrox Video at the 2024 NAB Show, Booth SL5073

More information about Matrox Video and its products is available at video.matrox.com.

PLANO, Texas—Black Box will unveil and demo an enhanced Emerald DESKVUE IP keyboard, mouse, video (KVM) receiver with the Emerald AV WALL feature set at the NAB Show, April 13-17, in Las Vegas. 

Emerald DESKVUE allows users to access as many as 16 sources and arrange them on up to four 4K screens (one of which can support 5K). When they add the Emerald AV WALL, they can move sources from Emerald DESKVUE to a 2x2 video wall to enhance collaboration with a local team, the company said.

Black Box will also introduce its Emerald GE Gateway, a solution that connects seamlessly to the Emerald IP-based KVM network, giving all Emerald users enhanced simultaneous connectivity with VM sharing as well as physical machine access, saving the cost of additional PCoIP clients. Intuitive dashboards created with the company’s Boxilla KVM management system enables IT administrators to manage and monitor Emerald GE via a centralized system.

Black Box will highlight its Boxilla enterprise-level KVM manager that gives users easy control and monitoring of an unlimited number of Emerald devices and software solutions. Its intuitive, visually appealing dashboard makes it easy to monitor system performance, configure proactive security alerts, check on real-time status and identify active devices, connections and users as well as bandwidth usage.

"Our expanding Emerald Ecosystem is bringing unprecedented flexibility to control room environments, offering robust performance and security features along with customization options that allow for greater efficiency, more seamless collaboration, and improved operational responsiveness,” said John Hickey, senior director of R&D and KVM systems at the company.

See Black Box at NAB Show booth W4527.

More information is available on the company’s website.

G&D North America Inc. has announced that Matt Keske is joining its team as the subsidiary's new director of business development for broadcast & entertainment. 

G&D is a leading manufacturer of high-end KVM extenders, switches, and matrix switches. In his new role, Keske will play an important role in further strengthening G&D North America Inc.'s position in broadcast and entertainment and driving global growth. He takes over the position from Craig Abrams, who is entering his well-deserved retirement at the end of the year.

With his extensive experience and expertise in the industry, Matt Keske is well positioned to build on the accomplishments of Craig Abrams and continue to expand G&D North America Inc.'s success story in this important business vertical, the company said in making the announcement. 

“We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Matt Keske to our team,” says Jon Litt, managing director. “His vast experience and in-depth understanding of the demands of the broadcast and entertainment industry will enhance our ability to cater to our customers' needs and further solidify our position in this essential market segment.”

In his new position, Matt Keske will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to develop new business opportunities in the broadcast and entertainment industry. He will work closely with existing customers while building new partnerships and customer relationships.

G&D North America Inc. is a subsidiary of the Guntermann & Drunck GmbH based in Siegen, Germany, which has been a leading manufacturer of high-end KVM extenders, switches, and matrix switches for more than 35 years. Since its founding in 2015, the North American subsidiary's mission has been to continually grow the North American market by expanding sales and support.

CRANBURY, N.J.—IHSE USA will feature its latest suite of solutions for KVM-over-IP (KVMoIP) with kvm-tec’s Scalable and Media4Kconnect extenders for DisplayPort 1.2 during NAB Show New York, Oct. 24-26, at Javits Center in Manhattan.

The company also will show its latest IP compression KVM systems using the Fraunhofer IIS JPEG XS ISO/IEC codec for video-over-IP workflows as well as its KVM-integrated Quad View for 4K single- or dual-head computer systems, the company said. 

IHSE has partnered with Fraunhofer IIS’ design team on development of a next-generation KVM system based on its JPEG XS codec. JPEG XS enables transfer of high-res, high-quality video data over standard Ethernet or other wired connections with limited computing resources. Fraunhofer also provides the ability to encapsulate code streams into file formats and transport them, it said.

Using Fraunhofer's JPEG XS SDK and IHSE's JPEG XS IP core for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) makes possible ultra-low latency broadcast, in-house and gaming video routes with predictive and precise rate control, it said.

The kvm-tec Scalable Line supports networked 4K multiviewer capabilities over a 10G network switch. The solution offers the ability to control and manage up to 16 computer sources on a single display via a single keyboard and mouse. Simply moving the mouse inside the gridded cell and clicking allows full control of the source, it said.

The kvm-tec media4Kconnect series delivers full-4K resolutions in 4:4:4 color space. It is compatible with 10G network switches. The media4Kconnect models are available in different versions supporting standalone extension, redundancy or fully uncompressed video up to 4K, it said.

The extenders can be used as high-performance, low-latency KVM point-to-point connections or as part of a larger KVM switching system, it said.

The company also will show its IHSE Draco MultiView 4K60, which enables the simultaneous operation of four computers displayed on a single display, with full access from a single keyboard and mouse. Offering four inputs and two outputs, the 1RU solution is capable of handling four ultra-high-resolution video displays up to 4K/UHD at a 60Hz frame rate, the company said.

See IHSE USA at NAB New York booth 1256.

More information is available on the company’s website.

German KVM manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) has announced that its presence at this year’s IBC2023 will once again fit in nicely with the show’s focus on tech innovation, the future of the broadcast industry and this year’s IBC theme: "Transforming Media. Changing Perceptions." 

In particular, G&D will be presenting “innovative solutions for the interaction of broadcast and IT.” Those include the expansion of G&D’s VisionXS product range and other innovations. 

In terms of the VisionXS products, G&D reported that the high-performance KVM extenders in the series are matrix compatible and offer a wide range of valuable features for the optimal user experience. The systems are available for classic transmission as well as for KVM-over-IP environments.

With 10G data transmission technology for an even better user experience and resolutions up to 4K, VisionXS combines great functionality and performance in a small housing. For this series, which is being continuously developed further, the manufacturer also relies on their proven, lossless bluedeccompression, which enables authentic, pixel-perfect video experiences.

In addition to the already available DP-UHR variants for resolutions up to 4096 × 2160 @ 60 Hz, the product range is now complemented by the new DP-HR variants for resolutions up to 2560 × 1600 @ 60 Hz. 

In addition, it will be showing dual-head for better ergonomics and more flexibility. 

The VisionXS-DP-HR- and VisionXS-IP-DP-HR variants are also available with two display port connectors for multi-monitor applications. This makes it possible to operate up to two monitors at the same time while saving cabling effort and additional hardware by using only one transmission port. On the user side, the new option ensures better ergonomics and greater flexibility at workstations. 

Simplified installation with PoE variants will also be shown. The new variants supporting Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) allows power to be supplied to the device using the transmission port. This not only reduces the planning and installation effort, the extender can also be secured twice against failures: The device is connected via both the main power supply and the network cable, providing redundancy in case one power supply fails. This guarantees maximum operational safety and reliability during continuous operation.

Another innovation on display will be the VisionXS with Type-C connection. 

The latest additions to the VisionXS family are the VisionXS Type-C computer modules. These revolutionary products enable modern sources to be incorporated, such as USB-C computers, notebooks, tablets and even smartphones, following the trend towards an improved and universal USB standard. 

G&D will also be showing PersonalWorkplace-Controller: The multi-talent for every control room

The PersonalWorkplace-Controller offers users integrated and flexible access to all required data at a single workplace. Modified arrangements of operating processes also significantly improve workplace ergonomics. Displaying multiple computer sources in real time on one large monitor, and thus providing latency-free operation of multiple computers from a single console facilitates work processes immensely. In addition, the high image quality and unlimited flexibility in arranging sources provide great added value. This allows active work areas and monitoring areas to be ergonomically set up on larger screens.

More information about additional G&D's KVM product solutions, such as its technologies for e-Sports, is available at www.gdsys.com.

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.

German-based KVM provider G&D has announced intentions to grow its presence in the U.S. under the auspices of its G&D North America Inc. subsidiary by moving its U.S. headquarters from its current location in Burbank, Calif. to Houston this spring. It has also announced several promotions and new hires in a reorganization that it expects will help it achieve its goal “of revolutionizing the KVM market in the Americas, with the goal of becoming the preferred partner of KVM solutions to the control room market.”

The G&D North America team is currently headed up by President and Managing Director Jon Litt, who is responsible for the development of the regional corporate strategy and establishment, development, and management of all activities throughout the Americas. 

Jerrie Anderson, as Executive Director of Sales, is building and managing a new structure to the G&D North American sales team and Antoinette Mata, as Director of Operations, manages all operations, human relations, and business analysis and planning throughout the Americas. Karl Johnson will provide product, engineering, and training support to the team as Director of Engineering and serve as the America’s product management representative. 

The company has also made several new hires and personnel moves, including: 

• Craig Abrams, recently promoted to Director of Business Development for Broadcast & Entertainment, North America, has now expanded his regional responsibilities throughout all of North America, working with end users, consultants and key reselling integration partners;
• Steven Cruz is the new Director of Business Development for Mobility in North America and will support end users and consultants within the mobility space for air traffic control, traffic, rail, and maritime operations;
• Carlos Mira was recently promoted to Director of Sales, Latin America (LATAM);
• Pat Hart, Regional Channel Sales Manager for the US West territory, will focus on that region as well as Canada;
• Andy Cooper, now Senior Field Application Engineer, will specialize in providing both pre-sale and post-sale system design and technical support, and
• Daisy Torres, recently promoted to Sales Operations Support Specialist, will manage order fulfillment for both the reselling partners and the GDNA team.

New Focus on Industrial, Mobility, M&E  and Government
"In our new strategic vision, we will be focusing on and building our capabilities within the industrial automation, mobility, broadcast, entertainment, and government markets," said Litt. Industrial automation will include manufacturing, process control, energy/oil & gas, power generation, utilities, and telecommunications. 

The company says it will also expand its presence in the mobility market, including air traffic control (ATC), traffic management, rail, and maritime market sectors. G&D’s broadcast and entertainment sector will continue to grow and will retain a strong focus.

Another important market is government which has a particular need for security. “Our products are among the most secure in the industry,” Litt said. “Therefore, the obtainment of government certifications is a top priority for G&D North America, Inc.”    

New U.S. Home Base
The move from Burbank to Houston illustrates G&D North America, Inc.’s intent to expand its focus beyond the entertainment sector. The company said its new location “will provide an effective environment to support its regional operations, in addition to providing a highly effective facility from which to run system demonstrations, product training and solutions demonstrations. The new headquarters will be a facility that the entire G&D team will be proud of.”

"Our goal at G&D North America is to become an employer of choice in the industry, offering a family-like atmosphere and a culture that allows employees to achieve their personal and professional goals," said Managing Director Jon Litt, “The new headquarters is part of the effort to achieve that goal.”

IHSE USA plans to bring the latest in its KVM solutions to the upcoming NAB Show New York, set for Oct. 19-20 at the Javits Convention Center.

This fall, the company plans to showcase solutions that range from high end to lower cost, from high-frame-rate e-sports extenders to streamlined KVM desktop solutions. The IHSE booth will include the company’s most recent KVM, video extension and management solutions as well as HFR extender technology.

A key provider of extenders for e-sports gaming computers, the company plans to showcase the line of HFR extenders that it developed that support transports of up to 250 Hz while simultaneously supporting 60 Hz. IHSE addressed the dual transport problem when its introduced Synchronized Sequential Frame Rate Conversion (SSFRC) technology within its Draco ultra series of DisplayPort and HDMI extenders. The SSFRC technology combines HFR computer actions and broadcast transmission workflows into one extender system, a step that simplifies onsite infrastructure but helps ensure that the same content is available at the same quality level throughout.

At the show, the company’s Draco DPS 4X1 KVM desktop series will also be on display, which can be customized to support single-, dual-, triple- or quad-head computer systems. The DPS 4X1 base unit is a two-slot desktop chassis with support for USB-HID, USB 2.0 and optional audio connections for up to four computers to a single monitor. 

Also on display: the kvm-tec’s Scalable line, which supports networked multiviewer capabilities and includes the ability to control four computer sources up to 120 km away simultaneously through one keyboard and mouse; and the new Draco tera FLEX series of secure KVM matrix systems, designed to smooth the installation process for those preconfiguring network ports as inputs or outputs. 

SIEGEN, Germany—G&D has announced its new PersonalWorkplace-Controller, a solution that unites the best of multiviewing and KVM by allowing users to display, arrange, and operate multiple sources on one monitor. 

The new PersonalWorkplace-Controller allows each user to individually design their own workstation and operate it with just one mouse and one keyboard.

This will be particularly useful in critical environments, where it is extremely important to keep an overview of all processes. Instead of having to use a separate monitor for each process, the PersonalWorkplace-Controller allows multiple video signals to be displayed on just one large monitor or multiple displays. This gives users the option of individually configuring their workspace with different computer sources. Modified arrangements of operating processes also significantly improve workplace ergonomics. 

In addition to getting a clearly arranged overview of all processes on just one monitor, users can simultaneously and flexibly access all the data they need. Displaying multiple computer sources in real time on one large monitor, and thus providing latency-free operation of multiple computers from a single console facilitates work processes immensely. 

Depending on the application, the multiviewing tool can display and operate up to 26 video sources on a single monitor. Thus, users benefit from an almost unlimited flexible layout with high image quality up to 4K60. 

G&D offers three variants of the PersonalWorkplace-Controller to be used in different fields of application: Basic KVM, Pro KVM, and Pro Video. The “Basic KVM” variant lets you operate up to seven sources. In an application, where four users need to operate up to 14 sources, the “Pro KVM” variant is the best fit, the company said. 

The “Pro Video” device can be used to manage a video wall and to display up to 26 physical video inputs on one or multiple monitors. Here, too, it is possible to flexibly arrange and scale different types of content, the company reported. 

In addition to displaying physical sources, the PersonalWorkplace-Controller can also be utilized for showing virtual content in hybrid structures. Images, texts or video are output via streaming protocols. Apart from physical outputs, there is also the option of streaming the content. Now content from video walls or personal workspaces can be accessed on different output devices, such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet, the company said. 

The PersonalWorkplace-Controller can be seamlessly implemented into existing G&D systems. Both the interfaces to G&D matrix systems and the operation via Select menu or CrossDisplay-Switching are compatible. With this powerful expansion to the portfolio, G&D caters to the growing complexity of control room applications by providing an adaptable solution for designing individual and ergonomic workplaces. 

More information on the new product series is available at https://www.gdsys.com.

MONTREAL—Matrox Video will be showcasing its latest technological advancements for remote production (REMI) and remote operation workflows at the 2022 NAB Show at Booth N3118. 

In addition, the company announced that attendees will also discover a versatile portfolio offering a variety of innovative approaches for live media production workflows. 

Featured showcases include:

• Monarch EDGE encoder and decoder appliances for REMI enabling video professionals with 4K/multi-HD video transport for live, multi-camera events
• Extio 3 IP KVM extenders empowering broadcast production facilities to reimagine more dynamic workflows so that creative professionals can produce content anytime, anywhere
• ConvertIP SMPTE ST 2110 NMOS-aware and IPMX-compatible converter​s showcasing how broadcasters can easily monitor ST 2110 IP signals on HDMI or SDI monitors
• VERO ST 2110 signal generator and diagnostic appliance allowing users to validate ST 2110 devices for compliance before deployment
• X.mio and DSX LE5 ST 2110 NIC and SDI I/O cards facilitating the development of industry-leading on-premise solutions
• Matrox media framework helping broadcasters build virtual equipment rooms in the cloud that deliver an on-the-premise experience with zero compromises. Ask our experts for a sneak peek of the media framework solution.
• The IP Showcase (Booth W5222), where Matrox will once again be a participant and leading contributor to the advancement of ST 2110 and IPMX open standards-based IP infrastructures. Visit the IP Showcase to see ConvertIP and VERO alongside the industry’s latest ST 2110 and IPMX-ready technologies.

The Monarch EDGE 4K/multi-HD encoders and decoders are designed to help organizations produce more broadcast-quality content with fewer resources by transporting multiple synchronized camera feeds over dedicated WAN, LAN, or internet and back to the studio—with glass-to-glass latency as low as 100 ms—for SDI-based productions. 

Equipped with tally and talkback to facilitate bi-directional communication between on-site camera operators and in-studio personnel and genlock support to keep signals in synch, Monarch EDGE is purpose-built for REMI productions. Monarch EDGE Command Center further streamlines the REMI deployment process by allowing broadcast operators to configure and customize streaming, recording, and decoding settings and operating modes from any device on the network that supports a web browser.

The Extio 3 IP KVM extenders permit post-production facilities, control rooms, and OB vans to deploy secure and seamless 4Kp60 4:4:4 and up to quad 1080p60 4:4:4 video extension and switching support over a standard Gigabit Ethernet network, enabling remote connectivity for distributed teams and personnel. Extio 3 also comes equipped with Aggregator Mode, allowing users to operate multiple source computer systems from a single Extio receiver unit located at a remote multi-display station and control them with a single keyboard and mouse set. Furthermore, by enabling the Tile View feature, users can access, monitor, and control up to four separate systems on one Full HD or 4K monitor to benefit from productivity-enhancing remote workspaces.

For more information, visit https://www.matrox.com/video.

CRANBURY, N.J.—IHSE USA will feature its newest keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) solutions and showcase a frame rate extender during a live eSports demo during the 2022 NAB Show, April 23-27, in Las Vegas.

The company will highlight its Draco MultiView 4K60 and tera flex matrix switch to satisfy the demand for high-resolution video and fast switching among broadcasters and in eSports. The Draco ultra 240 high-frame-rate extender series also will be demoed during a mini eSports tournament during which two players will compete in a number of multiplayer games. The competition will be broadcast live, it said.

"KVM systems are workflow staples in broadcast studios and in-venue presentations for eSports tournaments, both of which are demanding applications requiring the distribution of video content at the highest possible resolution and with no latency or video artifacts," said Dan Holland, sales and product marketing at IHSE USA. 

"Our Draco MultiView 4K60, tera flex matrix switch and vario DisplayPort extender are up to the task, ensuring that content is transmitted in pristine quality while delivering extremely fast switching for increased efficiency. Combined with our miniature eSports tournament, it's going to be an amazing show, and we can't wait to see everybody there in-person again."

The Draco MultiView 4K60 enables simultaneous operation of four computers displayed on a single display with full access from a single keyboard and mouse. Offering four inputs and two outputs, the 1-RU solution is capable of handling four video sources up to a 4K/UHD at a 60Hz frame rate by moving the mouse from one display region to another. Programmable keyboard commands enable real-time switching between video sources, the company said.

Display layouts can be arranged freely and displayed in different modes: full-screen, quad-screen, picture-in-picture, preview, 2+2 and free mode. Presets allow for instant switching between layouts. External control options are available via API or the GPIO interface, it said.

The company’s Draco tera flex KVM matrix systems bring advanced features found in IHSE's larger-scale matrix frames. Port options range from 16 ports to 160 ports and can be packaged in 1-RU, 2-RU or 4-RU frames sizes, it said.

The 2RU and 4RU frame sizes can be populated with a minimum port requirement and expanded to full capacity at a later time. Expansion modules can be mixed between Cat X and fiber-optic types in either 1 Gbps or 3 Gbps bandwidth, and multiple switches can be interconnected using the optional matrix grid technology, the company said.

Advanced features include SNMPv3, LDAPS, multilingual on-screen display, encrypted communication for maximum security, and fast booting.

For high-end, multi-display workstations, the Draco ultra DisplayPort 1.1 dual-head KVM extender enables visually lossless extension of two high-resolution DisplayPort signals across a single duplex fiber cable or copper Cat X cable. This simplifies installations and lowers costs by reducing cable requirements and matrix ports, the company said.

IHSE also will show its KVMoIP solutions, which the company acquired from kvm-tec and host VuWall and its TRx 3.1 centralized video wall management platform, it said.

See IHSE USA at NAB Show booth N6913.

More information is available on the company’s website. 

LAS VEGAS—Black Box has announced that it will be showcasing its high-performance KVM-over-IP solutions at the 2022 NAB Show from April 23 to 27 in Las Vegas. 

The solutions are tailored to the unique requirements of modern control rooms, media production and postproduction facilities, and broadcast playout environments and are designed to lower users' cost of ownership, enable greater workflow optimization and contribute to more agile IP-based operations, the company reported. 

"With more than 40 years in the business, robust R&D operations and an extensive portfolio of interoperable, state-of-the-art KVM systems, Black Box has a solution for any challenge,” explained John Hickey, senior director of R&D and KVM Systems at Black Box. “The industry's migration to IP workflows, virtualization and remote work continues, and the 2022 NAB Show offers a great opportunity for us to showcase our latest additions to the Emerald KVM line and to demonstrate how the entire product family can help media organizations realize greater flexibility, efficiency and reliability in mission-critical workflows."

The products it will be highlighting during the NAB Show include:  

• NAB Showcase: Black Box Emerald KVM-Over-IP Platform. The Black Box Emerald KVM-over-IP platform serves as an infinitely scalable universal access system, giving users the flexibility to connect to both physical and virtual machines from any location at any time, which allows for optimized studio infrastructure and workflows. Advanced security and market-leading low bandwidth consumption allow maximum expandability, incorporating remote users, remote productions and distributed control rooms. Interoperability between 4K and HD video and one-touch setups of control rooms, combined with a high degree of automation through Emerald's APIs, give users valuable flexibility and ease of use in managing signals and format types to deliver content with an innovative look and feel, while Emerald preserves the existing IT equipment.
• Black Box Emerald GE PCoIP® Ultra Gateway. The new Black Box Emerald GE is the industry's first and only solution to leverage cutting-edge PC-over-IP (PCoIP) Ultra technology to enable multiple users to connect simultaneously and control a virtual machine (VM) just as they would a physical system. With extremely low bandwidth requirements, the system supports remote access through both local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs). Pairing seamlessly with the Emerald KVM-over-IP platform, Emerald GE supports VM sharing while ensuring a secure, high-definition and highly responsive computing experience. Unlocking collaboration across physical machines and VMs, Emerald GE empowers broadcasters to work together more efficiently in remote production scenarios.
• Black Box Emerald VUE 4K Multiviewer. The Emerald VUE 4K multiviewer unites KVM switching with quad multiviewing to enable simultaneous monitoring of four DisplayPort video sources across two screens at exceptional 4K60 image quality. The system is ideal for production environments where space is limited, as it allows users to arrange windows freely on the screen or in preconfigured screen layouts such as full-screen, quad-view or picture-in-picture (PiP). Real-time switching between sources via keyboard, API or GPIO — or with the Black Box Glide & Switch capability — gives producers, engineers and editors convenient control over the production process.
• Black Box Boxilla KVM Manager. The Black Box Boxilla enterprise-level KVM manager makes it easy for users to control and monitor an unlimited number of Emerald® devices and software solutions. With its intuitive and visually appealing dashboard, Boxilla offers a simple, complete solution for monitoring system performance, configuring proactive security alerts, checking on real-time device status and identifying active devices, connections and users, as well as their current bandwidth usage. To offer a precise view of network bandwidth, Boxilla also provides at-a-glance access to dropped frames, round-trip time and other critical system and device data. With these capabilities and the system's ease of use, administrators can proactively identify and resolve issues before they compromise performance and the user experience.

The company will be exhibiting at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Booth W4117. 

More information is available at at www.blackbox.com.

FRANKFURT, Germany—IHSE GmbH (“IHSE”), a Brockhaus Technologies AG group company, has announced that it has acquired a majority stake in kvm-tec Holding GmbH (“kvm-tec”). 

Founded in 2006, kvm-tec develops and distributes flexible, high-security KVM-over-IP solutions (KVMoIP) to extend and switch computer signals. The company enables the high-performance, latency-reduced transmission of the signals via the standard IP protocol in existing networks, the companies explained. 

IHSE said that the deal will help IHSE, a leading global technology provider for KVM solutions (keyboard, video, mouse) via proprietary network protocols, expand its product portfolio and customer base at a time when there is a growing demand for KVM and IP solutions. 

With the acquisition of kvm-tec, IHSE is also accessing a worldwide KVMoIP customer base which will benefit from the international IHSE distribution network, with offices in Germany, the USA, Singapore and China. In addition to joint sales forces, the management of IHSE and kvm-tec see further synergies in purchasing and production, IHSE reported. 

Ing. Dietmar Pfurtscheller, founder and CEO of kvm-tec, will remain with the company after the transaction is completed, along with his wife Ingrid Pfurtscheller MSc, head of sales and marketing, and drive growth together with the IHSE team. kvm-tec is based in Tattendorf, Austria, and currently has 28 employees.

“With kvm-tec’s IP-based product portfolio we are strengthening our strategic competitive position in the market for further growth,” said Dr. Enno Littmann, CEO of IHSE. “Now we offer the right KVM solution for every customer need. Our joint technology platform also means we are reinforcing our innovation capabilities in a rapidly changing market.”

“Our international subsidiaries enable us to be close to our customers also. In the IT security space, local personal contacts are a key success factor,” added Michael Spatny, managing director at IHSE. 

“Since kvm-tec was founded some 15 years ago, we have continuously developed the technology behind our KVMoIP products and are proud to supply numerous international customers today,” said Ing. Dietmar Pfurtscheller, founder and CEO of kvm-tec.

“We are confident that in IHSE we have found the right partner to support our ongoing growth; with its global footprint and KVM expertise we are well positioned to become a ‘KVM Global Powerhouse’ together,” added Ingrid Pfurtscheller MSc, head of sales and marketing at kvm-tec.

As broadcasters move more toward the cloud and virtualization, demand for KVM switches to operate in that environment will continue to grow. Broadcasters are seeing improved workflows by consolidating and automating systems, and are increasing their use of touchscreens and apps for a new generation of employees who are used to more simplified operations. 

With more 4K content being created and distributed, higher bandwidth demands are also helping spur increased use of more sophisticated and flexible KVM switches across the media and entertainment landscape. The market is growing worldwide, and is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion in a few years. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on manufacturing, the popularity of remote production prompted by the pandemic of the past 18 months will help increase the demand for KVMs.

In our latest guide to KVMs, we look at how these systems are helping a myriad of industries adapt to changing workplaces and workflows.

The guide is available here. 

SIEGEN, Germany—Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) has launched VisionXS, a compact multipurpose KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) tool with 10 Gbps of bandwidth and the ability to support video resolutions of up to 4K.

Previous G&D products have relied on compression techniques developed by the company to support full 4K video over 1Gbps.

However, VisionXS opens up a new dimension of possibilities by offering 10Gbps support, including transport of fast-changing 4K video using less compression, thereby improving the user’s experience, the company said.

VisionXS relies on the lossless High Dynamic Image Processing compression technique to enable an authentic video experience.

G&D will first provide the extender modules for KVM-over-IP, followed by traditional KMV systems for direct transmission.

The VisionXS extenders can be combined with G&D’s matrix systems, offering operational flexibility because they can be operated in pairs or integrated into matrix installations. This flexibility makes it easier to plan new facilities or expand existing ones at a later date, the company said.

The initial version of VisionXS will support DisplayPort UHR with a transmission bandwidth of 10Gbps. Devices with HDMI and DVI support will follow, the company said.

G&D will offer dual head modules to allow transmission of two video signals via one transmission cable. 

The new VisionXS-IP-DP-UHR system is compatible with the central ControlCenter-IP appliance. Combined, these units form a powerful matrix for KVM-over-IP. Each connected workstation can be granted access to any computer connected to the KVM system, it said.

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, the company said.

Secure and reliable operation is ensured by AES-128 encryption and the regular exchange of security keys. VPN, VLANs and G&D's UID locking are already implemented, it said.

Production of the VisionXS is scheduled to begin in September, the company said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

SIEGEN, Germany—Guntermann & Drunck has announced the release of the RemoteAccess-GATE, a stand-alone device that enables customers to remotely operate KVM systems via LAN, WAN and the internet.

The RemoteAccess-GATE provides unblocked, BIOS-level access to connected computers worldwide, per G&D. This allows for remote operation from remote locations and improves IT support and collaboration between employees, the company said.

The RemoteAccess-GATE supports 4K and UHD resolutions with a 4:2:2 sampling rate, as well as HD resolutions up to 1920x1200 at 60 Hz with a 4:4:4 color depth. It uses HDMI video signals and embedded HDMI audio. There are also adapters for VGA, DVI, Mini DisplayPort and USB-C. USB data can be transferred from the remote workstation via RemoteAccess-GATE and the KVM installation to a local computer using additional hardware.

The new G&D unit also provides configurable bandwidths to work over the internet, LAN or WAN and to enable remote IT support at any time. The device can connect a single remote computer or an entire KVM system, according to G&D. Up to eight users can access it simultaneously. Configuration is possible via HTML browser or the serial service interface.

In addition, G&D provided the RemoteACESS-GATE with AES encryption, IP access control, user and group permissions, KVM session encryption and other security features.

For more information, visit Guntermann & Drunck's website. 

PITTSBURGH—Black Box has introduced its new KVD200-2H 4K HDMI dual-head desktop KVM switch, which is designed to let professionals control two computers with a single keyboard and mouse.

The KVD200 can handle dual HDMI and DisplayPort signals from the computers (Microsoft Windows/Mac OS X/Linux) and dual output video signals (up to UHD 4K at 60 Hz) to one or two 4K HDMI monitors. The DisplayPort and HDMI inputs can support advanced video cards.

The switch supports speaker and microphone audio and features two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.1 Gen.1 ports and one USB Type-C 3.1 port to support high-speed peripherals like storage devices, flash drives and cameras. HDCP 2.2 support also enables users to stream 4K video from online streaming platforms over the computer.

Push-button control and keyboard hotkeys assist with switching, while keyboard/mouse emulation ensures compatibility with HID devices, per Black Box.

For more information, visit www.blackbox.com.  

WASHINGTON—A KVM system’s presence in a facility is hardly acknowledged until it stops operating, but it is often the invisible workhorse in a production environment. 

As the industry moves to IP and virtualization, a KVM system’s reliability, latency, security, flexibility, control of digital devices and support of higher video resolutions are at the forefront of development.

In TV Technology’s latest ebook, “Guide to KVM,” we look at how capabilities of KVM technology have expanded and improved over the past several decades as well as how increasing flexibility introduced with IP virtualization coupled with the rigorous demands of remote production have made the technology more vital than ever.

“Guide to KVM” is now available for download online. 

BURBANK, Calif.—Guntermann & Drunck has added new features to its ControlCenter-IP matrix for KVM-over-IP. Among the new features are integration of generic USB devices and high-speed USB 2.0 in KVM-over-IP installations, as well as the implementation of the MatrixGuard function for added security.

With the new ability to integrate generic USB devices, G&D now says it is easier for users to connect ControlCenter-IP with mass storage devices. Operators can also decide whether the matrix should support HID (keyboard/mouse) or mass storage devices in the configuration interface.

In addition, via the U2-LAN-04 extender, users can integrate high-speed USB 2.0 signals with a speed of up to 480Mbit/s into a ControlCenter-IP installation. U2-LAN-04 end devices can be paired with KVM-over-IP extenders and switched synchronously or separately via the IP-Control-API.

G&D has also equipped ControlCenter-IP with the MatrixGuard function as security for failure scenarios in KVM-over-IP installations. In a clustered installation of ControlCenter-IP, if the master fails, MatrixGuard enables a backup or database slave ControlCenter-IP to automatically take over the role of the master.

For more information, visit www.gdsys.de/en.   

COLOGNE, Germany—With Sky Sport HQ as the new broadcasting and production center in Munich, Sky Germany rightly adorns itself with one of the most modern sports broadcasting centers in Europe. Sky Sport HQ covers 4,600 square meters, of which 1,700 are used by four high-tech live studios. The broadcasting center has 41 rooms. Sky can produce and broadcast up to 12 programs in parallel on one weekend. Sky Germany operates five sports channels that broadcast around the clock.

However, this tremendous output requires an enormous effort in technology, equipment and, of course, many employees. At first glance, it is hard to imagine the capacities and technical work involved in this project.

Qvest Media, a German-based broadcast systems architect, was responsible for the technological planning and system integration. For their ambitious project, Sky only considered the best technology currently available on the market.

CENTRAL SERVER ROOM

To ensure that the equipment ran smoothly and around the clock, high availability, reliability and redundancy were essential. That’s why we chose G&D KVM products for the broadcasting center’s IT infrastructure, since they serve as the backbone of the entire IT system and make it possible to move computers into a central server room.

In order to meet the demands for security, redundancy, workflow facilitation and give individual production teams the ability to collaborate on live reports, we developed a fully redundant structure of the production and operating computers, which also included removing them from studios, control rooms and post production.

Two completely mirrored, redundant G&D matrix switch clusters, each consisting of a ControlCenter-Digital 288, were installed in the central equipment room to provide redundant access to the various user and computer modules of the individual systems. If—in the event of a fault—switching via one of the two matrices is not possible, the second matrix is used automatically. Thanks to full redundancy, the production teams can continue to work without interruption.

The central equipment room houses approximately 100 high-performance computers, which play their part in ensuring that the Sky program runs around the clock. All systems—such as ingest servers, video servers, studio automation servers, servers and clients for graphics systems, teleprompters, servers for camera robotics, general configuration servers/clients and servers for broadcast automation—we have now been separated from their users, who can access them via KVM.

WORKSTATIONS AND THEIR TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

In order to promote collaboration and efficiency in the broadcasting and production center, all video and program control rooms, as well as ingest, playout, graphics department and several studios, are now almost computer-free. Access to the remote equipment is via KVM, in which receiver modules (CON units) for DisplayPort and DVI were installed at the workstations.

The KVM matrix ControlCenter-Digital has been integrated into Lawo’s VSM broadcast control and monitoring system to ensure uniform control and to simplify multilevel, complex processes. Thanks to G&D’s IP-Control-API, the VSM controller communicates with the KVM matrix and can execute any switching commands such as simultaneous switching of different program requirements or exchanging setups between several control rooms.

With their own production and broadcasting center, Sky Germany gains maximum flexibility and even more freedom for future in-house productions. Individual workflows have been improved, making everyday production easier. Moving the equipment into a central server room has significantly reduced noise levels in studios and control rooms as well as the maintenance requirements for IT administrators.

Find out more about Qvest Media at www.qvestmedia.com.

For more information, visit www.gd-northamerica.com.

Black Box's Emerald Unified KVM platform provides the flexibility and network security essential to KVM extension and switching. The low-latency, high-performance Emerald 4K and Emerald SE transmitter-receiver pairs connect workstations with remote computers and servers over distances up to 10 kilometers over single-mode fiber, or even farther over IP. According to the company, the Emerald Remote App facilitates convenient anywhere, anytime access without the need for additional hardware receivers. 

NEW YORK—Matrox will showcase its range of 4K IP KVM extenders including the Extio 3 at NAB Show New York, held Oct. 16–17. The Extio 3 is the latest addition to Matrox’s KVM family, which the company says is the first IP KVM extender to deliver 4Kp60 4:4:4 UHD performance and multidisplay capabilities at unprecedented low bitrates. Leveraging a standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) network, Extio 3 works with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) network switches and diminishes the total cost of ownership to deliver a scalable KVM matrix switching solution.

Matrox KVM extenders help centralize hardware in a climate-controlled server room to increase security, protect systems against environmental hazards and reduce system noise and heat emissions. The Extio 3 IP KVM extender grants seamless remote access to these secured systems, plus the added benefit of smart control of multiple systems over the IP network. This IP KVM extender is ideally suited for process control, industrial automation, healthcare, transportation, emergency and dispatch centers, military, defense, government, broadcasting and post-production, and many other industries and applications.

Attendees will find Matrox in booth N655 at the Javits Center.

Black Box will mark the European introduction of its new MCX AV-over-IP system and feature products across its Emerald Unified KVM (keyboard, mouse and video) portfolio, including a new remote app, at IBC 2019, Sept. 13-17, at the RAI in Amsterdam.

The Remote App for the Emerald Unified KVM platform enables authorized users to remotely access sources, including PCs, servers and virtual machines, at the same time across an Emerald KBM network. The app, which supports full-HD up to 45fps, is well-suited for tasks like remote process and application monitoring.

Used with the Black Box Boxilla network manager, the Remote App provides a list of connections and makes access quick and easy. Because the Remote App is not tethered to a fixed position, users can access the Emerald KVM network from anywhere.

The company will also feature its Emerald ZeroU DVI transmitter for its Emerald Unified KVM platform. Compact in size, the ZeroU transmitter works with the Emerald SD receiver, offering users a seamless desktop experience anywhere on a TCP/IP network with hardware housed in a secure corporate data center or in the cloud.

Requiring less than 40Mb/s of bandwidth for 1080p video, the transmitter enables high-performance connectivity for a variety of applications.

The company also will demonstrate the need for convenient, intuitive real-time access to multiple computers from multiple locations at its IBC stand.

See Black Box at IBC 2019 Stand 8.B59.

More information is available on the Black Box website.

LOS ANGELES—In 2009, Riot Games released its debut title, “League of Legends” to worldwide acclaim. Since then, it has become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Today, Riot Games continues to help grow esports by producing tournaments around the world. Tournaments take place in North America, Europe and Asia and are broadcast primarily on Twitch, YouTube, our own LoL Esports page and an ESPN subsidiary.

Whether it’s a roadshow in the U.S., a tournament in Asia or a weekly match Academy League (which is akin to Minor League Baseball) from our Los Angeles arena, Riot Games supports these esports broadcasts. While every region has its own engineers for its shows, a central team based in L.A. designs and manages broadcasts for most of the big international events as well as the shows around North America and beyond the studio.

A CONNECTED PRODUCTION

The Riot Games facility in L.A. was built around IHSE’s KVM platform for on-air control. We have a technical operations center, two control rooms, two audio controls, machine room, large analyst-desk studio with a couple of sets and the arena studio. For remote shows, we use one of our control rooms to produce the world feed, and then all the other regions build their shows on top of that.

We use a 64-port IHSE Draco KVM matrix and Draco extenders, which allow us to connect the machines in our machine room to workstations in control rooms and elsewhere throughout the facility. That means we can keep our machines in a climate-controlled environment where they won’t overheat and still get video, audio and control to wherever it’s needed. The count is constantly changing, but we usually hover around 50 to 60 computers and user stations connected at any time—so we’re always pushing that matrix to its limit.

I’ve always preferred IHSE KVM because it’s really easy to manage and deploy. We can add a new computer and have it running on the KVM matrix in 10 minutes or less. For the users, it feels like the computer is directly attached to their workstation; they don’t notice it’s hundreds of feet away. Some other KVM systems don’t offer such a seamless experience.

ADAPTING TO OUR NEEDS

IHSE’s ease of deployment is especially helpful for roadshows because we’re always on a very tight schedule. We have a second matrix we sometimes take on the road with us, but we usually don’t need to do that because IHSE extenders can operate without the matrix. It’s very easy to deploy all of our machines on the road because they can travel in a road case all racked up with the KVM extenders. We just run a few Cat 5 cables to plug the extenders into and we’re off. Then, when the kit rolls back home, we just plug the extenders right back into our matrix.

This dual-purpose functionality is another great benefit of the IHSE system. We get more for our investment, and we can travel with a much lighter kit and fewer people.

The IHSE system is also flexible and easy to expand. For example, most of our systems use twisted-pair Cat 5 cables, but we recently implemented a couple fiber extenders for our on-air commentators, whose stations now have telestration that can’t operate over Cat 5 at that distance.

As for support, I couldn’t imagine a better working relationship than I have with IHSE. If I want to extend the system over fiber and don’t know which products I need, I can get an answer within an hour to take to purchasing. On the very rare occasions we’ve needed tech support, we got an immediate solution. Generally, though, the IHSE system just keeps working exactly as it’s supposed to.

Kris Johnson is a broadcast engineer for Riot Games, an American video game developer and esports tournament organizer based in West Los Angeles, Calif. He can be reached atkris.johnson@riotgames.com.

For more information, please visitihse.comor call 732-738-8780.

WASHINGTON-- G&D North America will showcase its latest KVM products at the 23rd annual Government Video Expo, Nov, 28-29 in Washington, D.C.

Highlighting the company’s booth is its new matrix system for KVM-over-IP. The ControlCenter-IP stands out through its high flexibility and versatile functions. Used together with IP extenders, the central module forms a powerful matrix – the connected computers can be switched as an n:m connection and operated remotely in real time. While the network infrastructure takes over the transport of KVM-over-IP by using network switches and routers, the ControlCenter-IP contributes the logic. Through the network connection and the use of standard network components, the application becomes highly flexible and cost-effective. On top of this, the systems can be easily expanded and scaled. G&D IP devices are compatible with each other and let customers optimize and expand their systems at any time.

The ControlCenter-IP switches numerous signals such as DP1.2a and DP1.1a, single and dual link DVI, audio bidirectional, USB and PS/2 keyboard/mouse and RS232 transparent. Combined with G&D’s high-performance IP extender systems, even 4K Ultra HD signals can be processed at 60 Hz via the ControlCenter-IP – pixel-perfect, latency-free and fail-safe.

G&D have taken the popular features of the classic ControlCenter series and integrated them into the KVM-over-IP matrix. The ControlCenter-IP now combines the advantages of both systems. This also includes the basic administration with extensive user and rights management. In addition, there are many helpful control room features such as monitoring, scripting, scenario switching, push-get for optimal collaboration and the integration of video walls, and CrossDisplay-Switching for absolutely intuitive operation at multi-monitor workstations. CrossDisplay-Switching has been specifically designed for multi-monitor workstations that access multiple computers at the same time. The mouse acts as if on a “virtual desktop” and can be moved seamlessly across the connected displays. When moving the cursor from the active to an inactive display, the keyboard-mouse focus automatically switches to the connected computer.

G&D North America will be in Booth 400. The GV Expo takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Click here for more information on GV Expo.

CRANBURY, N.J.—IHSE will be at NAB Show New York to showcase the Draco ultra 495 Series. Built on IHSE's Draco ultra series extender platform and using the company’s Lici technology, the new Draco 495 series extenders for HDMI 2.0 provide full 4K video distribution for UHD 2160p, 30-bit 4:4:4 signals. The Draco ultra 495 transmitter/receiver set extends 4K (4096 x 2160 or 3840 x 2160) video and USB HID peripherals from the host system up to 10 kilometers/6.2 miles over single-mode fiber. They can be integrated as part of the Draco ultra series KVM switch fabric to share connections between HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort devices.

The Draco ultra 495 series extenders' visually lossless technology delivers graphics and video playback performance with the computer centrally located in a machine room via a single duplex LC-LC fiber-optic cable. The company says these extenders also support audio transmission via the HDMI interface. Also available are optional Draco vario add-on modules for digital audio input and output as well as data signals such as USB 2.0 and RS-232. For a direct video access in the server room, the CPU (TX) includes a local output to connect a control monitor. At the same time, there is a local input on the CON unit (RX) to connect a locally connected source (switchable). For mission-critical and 24/7 operations such as broadcast, 3D design, visualization and military command-and-control environments, the units can be installed in chassis assemblies for redundant power and redundant path distribution.

IHSE will also showcase its new Draco vario Remote IP-CPU extender module, an expansion of the company’s Draco vario series. This virtual KVM solution enables the integration of virtual servers into existing Draco tera KVM physical switch systems, creating a streamlined multitasking virtual environment where multiple operating systems and applications can be accessed directly from the physical consoles of the Draco KVM system.

The Remote IP-CPU extender module is particularly suited to control rooms with virtualized process automation, network operations centers that require real-time access to real and virtual target devices, and TV and film industry environments that rely increasingly on virtualized desktops. Users can access virtual machines directly from their own KVM-connected workstations via RDP (remote desktop protocol) or perform simple PC maintenance remotely. According to the company the functionality of the Draco KVM system offers options such as real-time switching; sharing; private mode; and flexible, unrestricted access to all connected computers and virtual machines.

IHSE will be on the show floor in booth N439.

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