A New Wave of AV Control Platforms
AV control platforms are integrated software and hardware environments that centralize media management, signal routing, automation and system monitoring so integrators and enterprise AV teams can design, deploy and operate complex systems at scale with consistent performance and easier day-to-day control. At InfoComm, the latest generation of AV integration tools made that definition tangible, with exhibitors focusing on workflow automation AV, software-driven routing and tighter links between AV and IT infrastructure. These new enterprise AV solutions aim to replace fragmented, device-by-device programming with unified media management software that can span everything from corporate campuses to live shows and themed attractions. While each platform targets a different part of the lifecycle—from design and proposals through playback and long-term service—they share common goals: reduce friction, expose open APIs and give teams better visibility into their AV estates.
Green Hippo Estuary: Media Control for Massive Canvases
Green Hippo’s Estuary Series, introduced by ACT Entertainment, sets an aggressive benchmark for media management software in large-scale visual environments. Built on tvONE’s CALICO video processing architecture, Estuary delivers one-frame, end-to-end latency, 10-bit/HDR processing and control of up to 256 layers across LED canvases as large as 64,000 × 64,000 pixels per canvas, with support for four canvases. Designed for concerts, touring, broadcast, immersive spaces and permanent installations, it aligns media operations with lighting workflows through MA Lighting grandMA3 integration. Bob Bonniol, chief innovation officer at ACT Entertainment, calls Estuary “the missing link” that lets lighting and media teams work in the same control language. An open control ecosystem—including DMX/sACN, HippoNet, Companion and REST API—positions Estuary as both an AV control platform and a central media hub that can anchor broader AV integration tools in complex environments.
D-Tools: Scalable Project Management for Growing Integrators
D-Tools used InfoComm to underline how business software is now as critical as signal processors in enterprise AV solutions. Its System Integrator (SI) v24 focuses on larger firms that need deeper project control, while D-Tools Cloud targets field-driven teams needing browser and mobile access. The standout addition is Inventory Asset Management in D-Tools Cloud, which assigns every physical device a digital identity capturing serial number, warehouse location, project assignment, firmware, MAC and IP addresses, and change history. This single model connects warehouse intake, project allocation, field installation and post-install service, replacing multiple disconnected tools. Barcode and QR scanning allow batch operations for up to 50 assets at a time, with a GUID and audit trail that would often require separate enterprise platforms. According to D-Tools CEO G Paul Hess, the goal is to reduce operational friction and help integration businesses scale more efficiently.
Visionary nexAV We-Cosystem: Converged AV-IT Orchestration
Visionary Solutions’ nexAV We-Cosystem illustrates how AV control platforms are converging with IT practices. The software environment combines AV-over-IP routing and switching, audio DSP processing, room and enterprise control, device discovery, workflow orchestration and UI creation within one platform. Instead of designing around box-by-box limitations, integrators can prioritize operational requirements across hospitality, conferencing and enterprise-wide deployments. At the core is the Flex Architecture DSP framework and an integrated Audio Engine, with template-based DSP designs that speed deployment while staying customizable. Native Dante and AES67 support help systems span from single rooms to campus networks. Visionary bases its control layer on Node-RED, the open, flow-based tool widely used in automation and IT integration, giving nexAV access to a broad ecosystem of nodes and continual community-driven enhancements. Visionary argues that technology should reduce friction, not add complexity, and nexAV is built to reflect that principle.
XTEN-AV and Disguise: Automation From Design to Experience
XTEN-AV and Disguise highlight how workflow automation AV is expanding both upstream and downstream of installation. XTEN-AV extends its AI-powered design and proposal platform with X-PRO Service, aiming to unify service calls, maintenance workflows, technician scheduling and long-term support in the same ecosystem used for system design and documentation. This addresses the reality that most AV revenue and customer contact occurs after commissioning, when many teams still depend on scattered spreadsheets, emails and standalone ticketing tools. Disguise, meanwhile, advances media management software for live entertainment and immersive attractions. A new version of the web-based Mapping Matter tool adds an extended projector library, LED tile and projection mirror support, plus layer-based comparisons. Deeper integration with Smart Monkeys’ ISAAC platform brings CMS, scheduling and infrastructure monitoring into browser-based control, while new Designer “Looks” and “Compositions” features expose parameters and media lifecycle control through API-driven workflows.