In Broadcast - July 2017 - 26

26

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 7 - Issue 6

InTech

Trends In KVM
Hickey adds that the growing need
for "proactive IT management" is
another reason why KVM is on the rise
in broadcasting: "Broadcast operators
must be able to monitor and control
their entire system at will. With
centralised AV and IP management,
broadcasters
can
make
faster
decisions without having to leave their
workstation. Having more agility and
achieving higher performance will help
keep the industry competitive with
digital content and live streaming."
Practical Matrix
Generically it is extenders and
matrixes that are the most common
and practical form of KVM devices that
are being implemented in television
production, including studio, outside
broadcast
and
post-production
applications. "The systems enable
producers, editors, engineers and
other broadcast professionals to
access broadcast equipment from
their own workstations," says Manuel
Greisinger, Head of Sales at IHSE.
"This brings immense convenience
and enables them to instantly change
from one device to another, without
having to move location. It allows

"...editing suites to be
used for different roles on
a day-to-day basis without
the need to designate a
specific room for
a particular role
or project"
Manuel Greisinger, IHSE

cont'd...

editing suites to be used for different
roles on a day-to-day basis without the
need to designate a specific room for
a particular role or project, bringing
a greater level of flexibility and
convenience as well as security; all of
which are of benefit to heavily-used
and chargeable facilities."
Greisinger says that as well as its
standard products, which are used
widely in the broadcast sector, IHSE
has designed interfaces for specific
equipment, such as the Draco tera |
S6 switch. This works with the Avid |
S6 audio mixing surface and Pro Tools
controller, using the soft keys and
faders on the console to connect with
the editing and recording workstation.
IHSE also produces interfaces for EVS
servers and VSM control systems.
"KVM interfaces extremely well to
allow traditional control systems to
manage the switching and operation
of the connections so that users are
unaware of the technology underlying
the operation," Greisinger comments.
"The process should be transparent
and effective, requiring no effort or
thought."
Functionality
This form of functionality is taken
further by Jochen Bauer, Marketing
Director of Guntermann & Drunck,
who says KVM should work behind the
main broadcast and IT systems. "In our
world of KVM it is about controlling
the system in the background," he
explains. Which is why KVM has to be
latency-free because there is video
and audio going in one direction from
the user's computer to other sources.
There is the transport of video but also
the mouse pointing functions and so

on, which is why there cannot be any
delay on the system."
Guntermann & Drunck produces
KVM switches but its main broadcast
product line comprises digital and
analogue matrixes, with what Bauer
describes as a "big focus on 4K".
There is also a range of extenders
for the post-production market.
Bauer observes that the company
has responded to the particular
needs of broadcast operations by
accommodating specialised features
such as tally indicator information
within its KVM systems. "We have the
transport carrier in the matrix plus a
visualisation of the tally signal, which
is transmitted remotely," he says.
As with other manufacturer's KVM
products, Guntermann & Drunck
allows for integration with commonly

used broadcast and post systems,
notably the VSM controller and Avid
Pro Tools. As part of this the company
has implemented IP for KVM, including
a controller, which Bauer explains
makes for even smoother integration
with third party main systems.
Network Flexibility
IP is a growing consideration
in general and applies to KVM as
much as any other part of broadcast
operations.
Jamie
Adkin,
Vice
President of Sales for Europe, the
Middle East and Africa at Adder
Technology, says the ability to bring
KVM on to a network using only
a single connection, with formats
including SDI over IP, USB and DVI
(Digital Visual Interface) allows for
signals to be freely moved round an
installation. "In terms of IP networks it
gives a lot of flexibility and helps bring
down the cost of implementation,
running over copper or fibre
and can be installed on existing
infrastructures," he comments. "There
is also capability for control over
some IP platforms, such as the Lawo
controller."

"KVM has to be latency-

Guntermann & Drunck
ControlCenter

free because there is
video and audio going
in one direction from
the user's computer
to other sources"
Jochen Bauer, Guntermann & Drunck
http://www.inbroadcast.com https://www.gdsys.de/en/products/digital-kvm-matrix-systems/central-modules/controlcenter-digital/ https://www.gdsys.de/en/products/digital-kvm-matrix-systems/central-modules/controlcenter-digital/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - July 2017
