Avolites Introduces Most Powerful Range of Media Servers to Date: Ai R Series

Avolites has out done themselves again with the introduction of their latest series of media servers, the Ai R Series.  Avolites is toughing the new servers as their more most powerful range yet with the latest in processors, solid state drives and AMD graphics cards.

More from the Ai Press Release

The Netherlands – Avolites is on stand 8-K330 at ISE Amsterdam, which opens today at the RAI Exhibition and Conference Centre, to launch its powered up new range of Ai R Series media servers.

The Ai R Series is Avolites’ most powerful range of media servers to date, and comprises the Ai Infinity R4, Ai Infinity R8, Ai Infinity Rx4 and Ai Infinity Rx8. All servers in the range take advantage of the increased speed and power of the latest processors, solid-state drives and AMD graphics cards.

“We’ve packed the very best technology into the Ai R Series so we can be sure it satisfies even the most demanding of applications,” says Avolites’ MD, Steve Warren. “The servers offer smooth playback of up to 8K media using the leading AiM Codec plus 4 or 8 full 1080p HD outputs. The Ai R Series is the future of media technology now, direct from Avolites. We can’t wait to showcase what they can do for your project.”

Avolites’ redesigned, bespoke ISE booth features a ‘Media Integration Focus’ area where visitors can get hands on with the latest in integrated lighting and video.

Visitors will also be among the first worldwide to get a sneak preview of the much-anticipated Titan V10 software, which enhances the best loved features of V9. The most striking addition is the full 3D visualiser from Capture now fully integrated into the software. We will also be demonstrating the now much loved V9 features including pixel mapping, Key Frame Shape engine and fully featured theatre functionality.

If that is not enough we are launching (exclusive to ISE) our new user designable control surfaces for Titan software. Especially designed for installers this new API allows you to create your own touch control surfaces using basic HTML skills. Use your creative skills to generate a user interface tailored for your specific use which then harnesses the power of the Titan software. It is also compatible with popular control systems such as Q-Sys and Crestron. With this new ability to tame Titan to your specific requirements you can start using our leading lighting software in situation you never before thought possible.

Also on show will be the Arena console with Optical Titan Net Switch and Avolites’ complete Titan Net solution.

“The Arena console has attracted a huge amount of attention since launch – we’ve been inundated with lighting designers, rental companies and specifiers,” says Avolites’ Sales Director, Koy Neminathan. “Feedback has been fantastic on the vast array of faders and buttons alongside an integrated touch screen, and second, smaller touch screen and the rotary encoders. The unique Optical Switch built in to the console was hailed as an incredibly useful tool.”

Arena is the ideal console for festivals, theatres and anywhere that a larger control surface is required. It combines the popular interface of the Tiger Touch II with 30 additional Playback faders and expanded live control options and features.

The Optical TNS is perfect for connecting FOH to stage using Cat5E Ethernet cables for distances under 100m, and an Optical input for fibre connections over distances exceeding 100m. The 1Gb network switch also features a built in UPS to ensure the stability and resilience of your show setup.

To learn more about the new Ai R Series of media servers or any of Avolites other products, visit www.avolites.com.

New AV Nation Podcast – Live Life, Episode One

This past week, I was invited on to the first episode of one of AV Nation’s latest podcast, The Live Life. Don’t let the title throw you, Too Many Mikes.  We talked about Media Servers and projection technologies for the entertainment industry. The title came from having three Mikes on the podcast.  We joked around before we started recording and the name stuck! Here is a synopsis of what we talked about.

On this the very first episode of Live Life host George Tucker, Mike Fahl of Dataton SE, Micheal Bridwell of Digital Projection, Mike Postupak of Perspective and Justin Lang of PLSN  discuss the dramatic changes Media Servers and projection geometry have had on the event staging industry.  We have a question and answer session on how first time and independent companies can start to work with these systems and debate just how to make a certification and education program for image mapping skills.

On the podcast was, Host: George Tucker with Guests Mike Fahl, Micheal Bridwell, Mike Postupak, and yours truly, Justin Lang. You can check out the podcast here or subscribe to the podcast through iTunes.

Coolux Releases Version 4.7 for Pandora’s Box

The Pandoras Box Version 4.7 software update features some major improvements like the groundbreaking FluidFrame™ Technology, the new Pandoras Box Warper and Windows 7 compatibility. This latest version of Pandoras Box is more versatile and powerful than ever before.

NEW FluidFrame

FluidFrame Technology addresses a common topic in live video processing as well as signal processing in general. Imagine you run genlocked HD-SDI Streams @59.94hz and output them at 60hz via DVI.

With FluidFrame Technology Coolux has created a solution that offers a smooth cross-conversion that can take any input and output frame rate, supporting both interlaced and progressive sources and clips.

FluidFrame Technology is a new powerful feature for both 2D and Stereo3D (S3D), it supports 50/60 fps videos and live streams with Pandoras Box Servers. Coolux’s proprietary encoder now supports 1920×1080@60p and 1920×1080@50p.

NEW ScreenMask

The new Warper allows the user to create cut outs and mask while painting onto the projected surface from within PB Warp. The new zoom and pan features allow precise texture based warping.

NEW Windows 7 compatibility

Both the Coolux Pandoras Box Manager and the Pandoras Box Player are now fully compatible with the Windows 7 operating system.

Learn more about version 4.7 by visiting Coolux website at www.coolux.de.

Zinman Co Announces IYBP Viewer – Loops for Media Servers iOS App

So there I was sitting next to my good friend Michael Zinman, the developer of so many popular lighting apps, at the Phone it in Session at LDI.  I am waiting for me turn to say a little bit about the iSquint iPhone App when Michael just causally announces to everyone, “Hey, I have a new app coming out!”

My jaw dropped.  After eight iPhone apps, Zinman Co is releasing another app! It isn’t a “Lighting App”, but yet an app for the entertainment production, media server and video worlds.

“In Your Back Pocket”, is a collection of 400 HD loops for LED screens, digital lighting and HD projection; pre-rendered for MAC and PC based media servers. “It’s not a replacement to your existing library, but a resource in your back pocket when you can’t find “that” clip in your existing library,” explains developer Michael S. Zinman.

“We designed every clip to be easily keyed, tiled and colorized painlessly, we’ve also rendered many of these clips to play at a slower speed, as most media servers do a better job speeding clips up,” says Michael Zinman. “Everything about In Your back Pocket will make sense to programmers. To our knowledge, this is the only collection of royalty-free loops that have been designed specifically for media servers, and the programmers who operate them.” All loops are categorized into 14 file folders, sorted by color; making it efficient to scroll through content by following along with the lighting designers color schemes.

In Your back Pocket has pre-rendered the clips in either MAC or PC format so they just have to be ingested into a media server, saving hours of work. The original source files created in Adobe® AfterEffects® are provided for users that want to customize their loops, easily adding their own design styles. Users can modify or re-render any of these projects.

A companion iPhone/iPod touch viewer application is available free on the iTunes App Store. “As a designer in the truck or a programmer looking for a great clip, In Your Back Pocket Viewer is a very efficient way to browse this library, or collaborate with the rest of the design team.” says Michael Zinman.

Media programmers and vendors interested in In Your Back Pocket can download fully rendered sample files from www.loopsformediaservers.com to test with their systems before ordering. Users can download the free iPhone app, IYBP Viewer, from Zinman Software online at www.zinmansoftware.com or directly from the iTunes  App Store. For more information, please visit Loops For Media Servers online at www.loopsformediaservers.com.

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