AV control platforms move to converged, software-first ecosystems
Next-generation AV control platforms are software ecosystems that unify media management, AV-over-IP routing, automation and device control so integrators can design, deploy and support complex systems from a single, connected environment. At InfoComm, that definition came to life across a wave of platforms aimed at converged AV and IT infrastructures, live event technology and long-term support workflows. Stage Precision’s SP Grid, Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem, Green Hippo’s Estuary Series, D-Tools’ project suites, XTEN-AV’s AI engine and Disguise’s updated toolset all point in the same direction: AV control is becoming data-driven, network-native and tightly linked to integrator workflow automation. Instead of one-off control processors and siloed media players, the show floor highlighted ecosystems that manage content, routing, monitoring and service under a unified interface, reshaping how integration teams approach design standards, commissioning checklists and lifecycle support.
Stage Precision, Green Hippo and Disguise target live event technology
Live event technology is a prime testbed for new AV control platforms, and several vendors focused on unifying media management software with flexible control layers. Stage Precision’s SP Grid ecosystem, anchored by Grid Studio 2.1, adds password-protected projects, always-on background monitoring and a new warning system to make control environments more secure and recoverable, while redesigned camera calibration speeds mixed reality alignment. The addition of Grid Extensions and NMOS support pulls third-party connections into one control fabric. Green Hippo’s Estuary Series positions itself as a next-generation media control platform, delivering up to 256 layers, four canvases at 64,000 × 64,000 pixels and one-frame latency, while speaking familiar lighting control “language” via MA Lighting grandMA3, DMX/sACN, HippoNet and REST APIs. Disguise updates Mapping Matter, Designer and its server lineup, tying content management, scheduling and infrastructure monitoring into ISAAC so operators can run immersive shows and projection mapping from integrated AV control platforms rather than piecemeal tools.
Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem and AV-over-IP routing at scale
AV-over-IP routing is increasingly central to control design, and Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem pushes that trend toward converged AV and IT environments. According to Visionary, the platform combines AV-over-IP routing and switching, audio DSP processing, room and enterprise control, device discovery, workflow orchestration and user-interface development under one software layer. Its Flex Architecture DSP and integrated Audio Engine support template-based workflows, with Dante and AES67 integration to bridge room-scale and campus-wide audio. Built on Node-RED, the control environment uses a flow-based, open framework instead of closed scripting, supporting continuous improvement through community-driven nodes and integrations. For integrators, this shifts AV control platforms from fixed, black-box controllers to modular software that lives alongside IT tools. Designing around operational requirements rather than fixed hardware constraints means they can standardize on a common AV-over-IP routing core and then configure DSP, control logic and user interfaces per site, rather than rebuilding from scratch each project.
D-Tools and XTEN-AV push integrator workflow automation and AI
Integrator workflow automation is moving beyond drawings and proposals into the full lifecycle of AV projects. D-Tools is expanding its System Integrator v24 and D-Tools Cloud platforms as an “Integration Business Platform” that supports everything from CRM to invoicing. D-Tools Cloud’s new Inventory Asset Management gives every device a digital identity with serial number, warehouse location, firmware version, MAC and IP addresses, and a GUID-based history, unifying warehouse intake, project allocation, installation and service into one data model. AI-powered search and scope-of-work generation reduce manual proposal work while keeping documentation consistent. XTEN-AV focuses its AI-powered platform on both pre- and post-install workflows. X-PRO Service links design, proposal, documentation and project delivery with service coordination, maintenance scheduling and ongoing support, addressing the reality that, as Sahil Dhingra notes, integrators continue managing service calls and long-term support long after installation, not across scattered spreadsheets and tickets.