From Hardware Islands to Connected AV Control Platforms
Next-generation AV control platforms are unified hardware and software environments that combine AV-over-IP routing, media control software, automation and project management tools to streamline how integrators design, deploy, operate and support audiovisual systems across their entire lifecycle. At InfoComm, the story was clear: AV is converging with IT workflows, live event automation and long-term service operations. Instead of stitching together isolated tools for design, control and reporting, integrators are moving toward connected platforms that treat AV systems as living services. That shift is reshaping expectations for scale, uptime and repeatable delivery in corporate, hospitality, live entertainment and immersive attractions. The new platforms introduced on the show floor target different parts of the workflow, but they share the same goal: reduce friction, make complex systems feel simpler and give AV teams better visibility from first drawing to ongoing support.
Media Control at Scale: Green Hippo Estuary and Disguise Workflows
Live production demands media control software that can keep up with massive canvases and short timelines. Green Hippo’s new Estuary Series, introduced by ACT Entertainment, is a next-generation media control platform built on tvONE’s CALICO architecture, delivering one-frame end-to-end latency, 10-bit/HDR processing and up to 256 layers of real-time control across four canvases as large as 64,000 × 64,000 pixels. According to ACT Entertainment, Estuary “unifies the entire visual stack under one roof,” tying into DMX/sACN, HippoNet, Companion and REST API workflows and speaking the same language as grandMA3 lighting consoles. Disguise focused on projection and immersive experience control. A new version of its Mapping Matter web app adds an extended projector library, LED tile and projection mirror integration, plus layered project files for comparing setups. New Designer “Looks” and “Compositions” features, along with ISAAC integration, push Disguise deeper into live event automation and centralized experience management.
Converged AV-over-IP Routing and Software-First Control
On the infrastructure side, Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem shows how AV-over-IP routing is merging with broader control and DSP needs. The platform is built for converged AV and IT environments, combining AV-over-IP switching, audio DSP, room and enterprise control, device discovery, workflow orchestration and user-interface development within a single software stack. Visionary says this lets integrators design around operational requirements instead of vendor limits. At the core is a Flex Architecture DSP framework and integrated Audio Engine, which use template-based workflows so teams can deploy faster yet still customize for specific rooms or campuses. Native Dante and AES67 support make it fit cleanly into networked audio environments, from single spaces to large facilities. Control is based on Node-RED, the open-source flow environment, giving programmers a familiar, extensible foundation for automation and integration that can evolve quickly without waiting on closed firmware cycles.
AI Automation and AV Project Management Beyond the Install
XTEN-AV continued to expand its AI-powered automation platform for AV design, proposals and project workflows. The company is pushing beyond pre-install phases with X-PRO Service, a framework that brings service calls, maintenance agreements, technician scheduling and recurring support into the same connected environment used for system design and documentation. That shift aligns with how many firms earn recurring revenue, turning one-off projects into managed relationships instead of scattered tickets and spreadsheets. D-Tools focused on scalable AV project management across its System Integrator (SI) and Cloud products. SI v24 continues to support larger, complex firms, while D-Tools Cloud adds Inventory Asset Management that gives every device a digital identity, including serial number, firmware version and network details. New AI-driven search and scope of work generation cut proposal effort and help standardize documentation, while a native mobile app and Interconnect Diagrams bring CRM, service, invoicing and wiring documentation into one web-based operations hub.
User-Led Workflow Refinement: Jetbuilt’s 84 Enhancements
Jetbuilt’s Launch List #2 underlines how AV control platforms now evolve hand-in-hand with integrator feedback. The release delivers 84 user-requested enhancements aimed at workflow and reporting optimization for integrators, consultants and enterprise teams. Reporting visibility gains include more filtering options, better detail reports and clearer work-in-progress views at the project level. Project and purchasing control now cover expanded tax settings, margin and markup controls and factor management down to room and change-order level, plus new notes across purchasing workflows and flexible bill-of-material quantities. Installation and service workflows benefit from bundle-level install tasks, mobile task creation, time tracking across stages and calendar-based scheduling. Stock management adds inventory tracking, higher quantity limits and improved visibility into received, pending and delta items. Customization improvements, such as additional custom fields, help teams tailor Jetbuilt to their AV project management style while keeping a consistent data model across sales, installation and service.
