A New Wave of Unified Media and AV Management Platforms
Next-generation media control platforms and AV management software are integrated solutions that centralize video, audio, control, and device monitoring into unified, software-driven environments designed to scale across live events, studios and enterprise installations while simplifying day-to-day workflows for integrators and operators. At InfoComm, that definition came to life as vendors focused on converged AV-IT ecosystems rather than one-off boxes. The headline theme was convergence: visual control, AV-over-IP routing, digital signage control and service operations all moving into connected platforms. For AV integrator tools, this shift promises fewer silos, more repeatable designs and tighter links between project delivery and ongoing support. From Green Hippo’s Estuary Series for large-scale media control to Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem and new platforms from Stage Precision, 22Miles, XTEN-AV and others, the show floor signaled that software-defined control is becoming the default expectation, not a premium feature.
Green Hippo Estuary: Media Control for Massive Pixel Canvases
Green Hippo’s Estuary Series stands out as a media control platform built for scale and creative flexibility in demanding live productions. Based on tvONE’s CALICO video processing architecture, Estuary supports up to four canvases at resolutions reaching 64,000 × 64,000 pixels, with one-frame end-to-end latency and 10-bit/HDR processing to keep large LED environments visually consistent. Operators can manage up to 256 layers of real-time visual control, making it suitable for concerts, touring shows, immersive spaces and large fixed installations. Estuary integrates with familiar control ecosystems including DMX/sACN, HippoNet, Companion and REST API, and is designed to “unify the entire visual stack under one roof.” According to ACT Entertainment, it also aligns media workflows with MA Lighting’s grandMA3 console so lighting and media operators can work in the same control language, reducing handoffs and setup time for integrators.
Visionary nexAV We-Cosystem and Stage Precision SP Grid
Visionary’s nexAV We-Cosystem targets converged AV and IT environments by bringing AV-over-IP routing, audio DSP, room and enterprise control, device discovery and workflow orchestration into a single AV management software platform. Built around a Flex Architecture DSP framework and integrated Audio Engine with native Dante and AES67 support, nexAV uses template-based workflows to speed deployment while still allowing customization. Its control layer is based on Node-RED, giving integrators a flow-based, open environment for automation and UI development. Stage Precision’s SP Grid ecosystem complements this trend on the live events and experiential side. The updated Grid Studio 2.1 introduces password-protected projects, always-on background monitoring, a new warning system and redesigned camera calibration, all aimed at keeping complex control environments secure and recoverable. New Grid Extensions, including NMOS for SMPTE 2110 discovery and routing, tie SP Grid deeper into broadcast-grade networked video systems.
22Miles DX Pro: Unified Digital Signage and Immersive Experience Control
22Miles’ DX Pro is a web-native media control platform for visual communications that unifies digital signage control, wayfinding, immersive experiences and space management in a single browser interface. The platform centralizes content creation, device management, fleet monitoring and governance with support for both cloud and on-premises deployment, letting organizations standardize on one stack from pilot rollouts to complex, multi-site networks. DX Pro introduces fleetwide tools such as an Alert Center and Device Overview for at-a-glance player health, plus self-service device and license management for IT teams. Mass scheduling, map editing and screen grouping help integrators handle large deployments, while an emergency overwrite capability enables instant, full-network content takeover that can tie into enterprise emergency notification services. Native integration with Microsoft Places, Zoom Enterprise, Teams, Outlook Space Finder, SharePoint, Office 365 and Google Workspace, along with AI-driven template and map creation, lowers the barrier for timely, on-brand content.
XTEN-AV and D-Tools: AI-Powered Workflows from Design to Service
For AV integrator tools, XTEN-AV’s latest move highlights that the project lifecycle does not end at commissioning. The company’s connected operations platform extends its AI-powered design, proposal and documentation engine into post-install service with X-PRO Service, a framework for managing service coordination, maintenance workflows, technician scheduling and long-term support within the same environment used for upfront design. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, email threads and isolated ticketing systems, teams can keep a single source of truth for customer relationships and installed systems. At InfoComm, XTEN-AV also emphasized enhancements to AI-assisted project workflows, proposal generation and AV design automation, aiming to shorten turnaround times on bids and standardize documentation. Together with similar moves by competitors such as D-Tools, this signals a broader shift toward continuous, software-driven management of AV projects, where design, deployment and lifecycle service are linked in one integrated workflow.