A broadcast environment is a complex affair. It takes an enormous, coordinated effort to ensure viewers receive content without interruptions, delays, or degradation. As viewers enjoy the program, a beehive of activity is taking place in a command and control (C&C) center, with technicians managing multiple video streams simultaneously to process, consolidate, and deliver the content.

It’s controlled chaos. At the command center, technicians sit in front of screens and get bombarded with content from an array of sources. They have to make split-second decisions, often switching between various inputs.

A lot of technology is needed to make this barrage of content presentable. Command centers rely on fleets of high-performance servers, workstations, and a stack of audiovisual (AV) applications to make it all happen. Technicians need flexibility to frequently switch between screens and collaborate to handle the barrage. Traditionally, the hardware technicians use in command centers has been costly, delivering limited flexibility, scalability, and customization. Broadcast organizations can benefit from high-performance KVM-over-IP solution which supports high-performance audiovisual use cases while reducing costs and improving efficiency without cutting effectiveness.

Most legacy solutions use static or inflexible products that handle one or two inputs, requiring users to manually switch between sources to access multiple feeds. The issue with this approach is obvious: In a high-pressure situation with multiple content streams, switching between various systems is cumbersome and confining.

Thankfully, broadcasters today have better options in the form of nimble, flexible solutions that let engineers and producers connect to any device on the fly from their workstations while managing a live broadcast. The solutions serve as high-performance transmitters and receivers that support workflows requiring quick application switching, minimal latency, and multi-video and monitor setups.

Flexible Solutions for Complex Scenarios

The KVM and workstation solution is ideally suited to broadcasts from sports stadiums, concert venues, and other scenarios involving multiple video feeds. It also handles other settings with multiple content streams, such as military operations, railroads, air traffic control centers, and even healthcare applications. All these environments require users to collaborate and switch frequently between inputs.

Efficiency, Flexibility, and Scalability

Managing content generated in such complex environments requires efficiency, flexibility, and scalability. With so many content streams covering different aspects of an operation flowing in, efficiency is essential. With legacy systems, a user would have to move around to each individual control system. With a High-Performance solution, however, the user can handle multiple systems from a single location using a KVM-over-IP transmitter and a User Station receiver. Users can ingest more information, which drives up efficiency.

To boost flexibility and scalability, look for a solution that enables keyboards and mice to share multiple monitors so users can switch quickly. By linking various workstations together, this approach facilitates collaboration and joint decisions as each user handles their piece of the AV operation.

Also, look for a KVM and User Station option that also scales from one screen to many by linking workstations together. This capability is useful in live situations and post-production work when creative teams must access multiple digital workstations without changing their locations. As such, users can share expensive video equipment, with each remote user leveraging a KVM setup to connect to peripherals, including virtual media and USB audio.

Teams can customize their environments to access various inputs and share workstations however they see fit to support collaboration and efficient workflows. And as an organization's needs evolve, they can grow the solution as needed – something they could not easily do with legacy systems.

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Raritan’s High-Performance KVM solution checks the boxes above and addresses the complexity of high-pressure environments where users have to deal with controlled chaos. The Raritan High-Performance KVM solution combines industry-leading IP-KVM technology with an innovative user station.

Raritan’s Dominion KX KVM-OVER-IP DKX4-101 Switch Transmitter, combined with the Raritan DKX4-EUST Dominion Enhanced User Station Receiver, enables high-performance AV use cases while lowering costs and improving efficiency.

The flexibility to handle multiple inputs and collaborate remotely makes a huge difference, bringing efficiency and flexibility to these complex workflows. As a bonus, the technology costs less than legacy hardware solutions, enabling organizations to do more with less. Read the white paper, A New Way to Solve Critical Challenges: Using KVM over IP and User Station for High-Performance AV Applications, and learn more.