Case Studies

NOVA Entertainment Fine Tunes Audio Production Workflow with Matrox Avio F125

Fiber-Optic KVM Extenders Deliver Uncompressed Dual-Monitor and Multiple USB 2.0 Peripheral Support to Audio Production Studios 120 Meters From Master Control Room

One of Australia’s fastest growing media and entertainment companies, NOVA Entertainment has drastically improved their remote audio production workflow with Matrox Avio™ F125 fiber-optic KVM extenders. Extending uncompressed desktops and peripherals to production studios 120 meters (393 feet) away from computing resources, Avio lets audio engineers produce promotional spots and commercials without latency or interruption.
NOVA Entertainment Audio Engineers
NOVA Entertainment audio engineers benefit from zero-compression, zero-latency performance at the remote desktop to record, edit, and mix promotional spots and commercials.

In Search of Pitch-Perfect Extension

NOVA Entertainment’s existing CAT5 KVM extenders did not have the bandwidth to provide the video and peripheral signal extension that their broadcast studios required. Their replacements would have to support multiple high-resolution monitors between the master control room and audio production studios, while also providing USB connectivity support for the peripheral hardware.
 
The search didn’t last long. The media network contacted Matrox and was advised on a solution that met their high-bandwidth project requirements: Avio F125. These zero-compression, zero-latency fiber-optic KVM extenders are designed to extend dual-HD or single-4K Ultra HD video as well as multiple USB 2.0 devices at a distance of up to 10 km (6.2 miles).
Matrox Avio F125 Transmitters Attach Locally to Apple Mac Pro Workstations
Housed in a master control room, Matrox Avio F125 transmitters attach locally to Apple Mac Pro workstations running Avid Pro Tools software.
 

Seamless Installation: Music to Their Ears

The Avio F125 transmitter/receiver set uniquely features 10Gbps transmission over a single fiber-optic cable, which instantly reduces cabling and deployment costs. NOVA Entertainment leveraged this design using OM3 multi-mode fiber-optic cables. After running cable for the Avio transmitter/receiver pairs, setup was plug-and-play.
 
Stationed in a master control room, Avio F125 transmitters connect locally to Apple® Mac Pro® workstations running Avid® Pro Tools® software under Mac OS X® 10. Having the systems secured in a separate location not only centralizes assets, but eliminates computer background noise, heat emissions, and electrical interference from the work area.
Matrox Avio F125 KVM Extenders Allow Computing Resources to Remain Centralized
Matrox Avio F125 KVM extenders allow computing resources to remain centralized in a separate location.
One hundred twenty meters away in the production studios, the corresponding Avio F125 receiver units run silently—connecting two 1920x1080 Samsung® monitors each, along with a wide range of high-speed USB 2.0 peripherals including keyboard, mouse, CD/DVD burner, and an external hard disc drive (HDD). Configured in parallel to the Avio hardware are the audio and audio control systems which are equipped with special processing hardware to ensure high-quality sound.
 
Avio’s installation process, according to Luke McKew, Technology Manager at NOVA Entertainment, could not have gone more smoothly.
 
“It was really as simple as connecting the Avio transmitter in our control room and the Avio receiver in our production studios,” said McKew. “Once connected via fiber, the units automatically detected each other and we were up and running in no time.”

A Chart-Topping KVM Extender

NOVA Entertainment is thrilled about their new workspace. An enhanced multi-monitor desktop with highly responsive peripherals enables producers with an optimized—and uncompromised—remote computing experience to productively record, edit, and mix the latest promotional and advertising projects.
 
“Working off a higher-resolution setup makes it easier for the audio engineers to see small changes within the editing software, while the ability to quickly burn a CD or plug in an external HDD without having to walk back to the control room greatly improves workflow and efficiency,” said McKew. “We highly recommend Avio to other stations that are looking to upgrade or install KVM solutions for their own audio production facilities as it is a truly worthwhile investment.”
Matrox Avio F125 KVM Extenders
Matrox Avio F125 KVM extenders separate dual-HD, or single-4K Ultra HD video and multiple high-speed USB 2.0 devices from the host computer by up to 10 km (6.2 mi) over a single fiber-optic cable.

For More Information

Matrox Avio F120 and F125 KVM extenders consist of a transmitter and receiver pair. The Avio transmitter unit captures I/O functionality of the host computer and sends it uncompressed over a single duplex LC-LC fiber optic cable to the Avio receiver unit, letting you separate the computer from the user environment and place it in a climate-controlled machine room. Matrox Avio is the ideal KVM extension solution for design, 3D visualization and design, process control, broadcast, post-production, industrial, and military applications where system performance and security are key requirements. Its high-bandwidth transmission maintains system performance and does not introduce any latency or dropped frames.
 
Matrox and Matrox product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Matrox Electronic Systems, Ltd. and/or Matrox Graphics Inc. in Canada and/or other countries. All other company and product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of their respective owners.
 
download PDF  Download PDF: Avio Case Study - NOVA Entertainment