NAB 2024: Arkona to introduce Blade//master control and orchestration service
Arkona Technologies is cutting through the complexity of live production workflows with the introduction of Blade//master. Blade//master is an intuitive and scalable software-based service that is included for free with the company’s Blade//runner suite of live broadcast production hardware and software tools for ease of control and orchestration. It is being shown for the first time at NAB 2024.
Blade//master is said to simplify integration of the Blade//runner ecosystem into legacy broadcast control systems by exposing a customisable subset of its tools as an Ember+ parameter tree, a protocol that allows devices to be remotely controlled via the network.
In addition, Blade//master can combine the functionality of multiple Blade//runner apps and present it as one homogenous video and audio router, capable of clean and quiet switching with a single crosspoint command.
Designed around a flexible and modular software framework, Blade//runner’s suite of tools include audio/video routing, compression and processing for professional broadcast and live productions. The platform, designed for today’s broadcast facility where flexibility and scalability are essential, allows for the creation, control and deletion of all processing functions on the fly through the company’s web-based UI, open APIs, as well as through NMOS IS-04/-05.
“With Blade//master, it’s never been easier to integrate and make use of all of the advanced SDI and ST 2110 features of the Blade//runner platform,” explained Erling Hedkvist, sales & business development, arkona. “Blade//master significantly simplifies both the integration and operation of a ST 2110 IP infrastructure by providing a basic interface to traditional broadcast control systems that looks just like a traditional audio/video router. Blade//master minimises the complexities of IP routing and exposes a simple crosspoint architecture that is intuitive to both operators and control systems. We look forward to demonstrating this powerful new control and orchestration tool so visitors can see firsthand how it helps provide smooth workflows with traditional broadcast systems.”
Blade//master runs either on a COTS server or on the arkona AT300 programmable acceleration card (PAC). Multiple instances of Blade//master can run concurrently for maximum redundancy.