Control Blustream Multicast UHD with Mira Connect
Aveo Systems’ Mira Connect smart AV control system now controls Blustream Multicast UHD audio/video over IP switching networks through Blustream’s ACM200.
Blustream’s Multicast UHD delivers virtually latency-free distribution of HDMI video over a 1GB Network switch using lossless compression technology. The beauty of Blustream’s Multicast UHD is its flexibility and ease of installation. Coupled with the ease of use of Mira Connect, a full Blustream system (with control by Mira Connect) can be set up in minutes.
Mira Connect automatically discovers the inputs and outputs in the system, making it easy to configure and route video inputs to displays. And because Mira Connect can also manage displays, DirecTV, cable TV tuners, and more, users get a complete user experience when Mira Connect controls a Blustream Multicast UHD system.
An example Blustream UHD multicast system with four inputs (transmitters) and six outputs (receivers) is shown in the following figure.
The Blustream ACM200 connects to both the media switching network and a secondary LAN for control. Mira Connect controls the video and audio (audio follows video) switching through the ACM200.
How To Control the Blustream Multicast UHD System with Mira Connect
To get started, configure your Blustream system using the web software available by browsing into the Blustream ACM200, as described by Blustream. Using the built-in software of the ACM200, you can discover and customize the labels for the transmitters and receivers.
Next, pair a Mira Connect touchscreen appliance to the room in Mira Portal, Mira Connect’s cloud-based management platform. See our training videos for how to pair to a room. If you don’t have a Mira Connect touchscreen device yet, you can choose to preview Mira Connect in your browser to experience how the system will look and feel.
Next, add the Blustream ACM200 system as described in our integration guide.
If you don’t have a Blustream system yet, that’s ok too. You can check the ‘Simulate equipment’ box in Mira Portal, which then uses Mira Connect’s built-in emulator for the ACM200. You’ll still be able to experience how the system will look and feel in your browser.
When a Mira Connect is paired to the room with the Blustream ACM200 system, it will connect to the system and detect the video inputs and outputs automatically.
In the following figure, the detected transmitter/input channels are shown in Mira Portal on the device’s ‘Video Inputs’ tab. The detected names correspond to the channel numbers reported back by the Blustream ACM200. In our example, the detected transmitters are labeled Transmitter 001, Transmitter 002, Transmitter 003, and Transmitter 004.
Enable each desired input by checking the box next to the input. Select an icon, and enter thoughtful end-user facing labels and descriptions that will make it easy for end users to use the system and select sources.
For example, in the following figure, we’ve enabled the first input and called it ‘BLU-RAY PLAYER’ with a description of ‘Audio and Video’. Press ‘UPDATE EQUIPMENT’ when done configuring the video inputs.
To assign each receiver/output to particular displays, add one or more displays in Mira Portal. For each display, enable an input on the display. In the following example, we’ve enabled HDMI 1 on an LG display.
Select ‘Use Sources Connected to Other Equipment’ option and select the Blustream Video Switcher. For the ‘Switcher Output’, choose from the detected outputs from the Blustream ACM200. In this example, Receiver 001 corresponding to output 001 from the matrix is selected.
Once the display routing is added to the system, the user interface is built automatically on Mira Connect, and each display is shown as a tab on Mira Connect’s display menu.
Shown below is an example Mira Connect (with a customized background and logo) controlling one display. If the selected input is a TV tuner, the TV tuner controls are available directly on Mira Connect, making it easy for users to select the source and also control it.
Adding more devices to the room, such as DSP audio systems and video conferencing systems, is easy with Mira Connect. The user interface builds automatically as the system grows.
Next Steps
You can explore Mira Connect’s user interface further with our free Mira Connect self-guided tour. Navigate through an interactive sample user interface and see the many features that Mira Connect provides.
For detailed steps on integrating Mira Connect with Blustream products, see our Blustream integration guide. Integration guides for all products that Mira Connect controls are available on our supported equipment page.
To build your own system with real or simulated equipment, first create a no-cost Mira Portal account. Next, follow the steps in the integration guide, and you can build a system and experience the user interface in your browser in just a few minutes. Contact us if you have any questions.
The Mira Connect Advantage
An important advantage of Mira Connect for partners and end-users is that, unlike traditional control systems, Mira Connect requires no programming. Aveo Systems has built a platform that makes it fast and easy for partners to set up their Mira Connects using Mira Portal, our cloud-based management software for Mira Connect.
Mira Connect also has built-in remote management and equipment status notifications of the system, perfect for an IT/AV support team that may not be located near the room. Remote IT/AV teams can control the entire Mira Connect user interface for all their rooms from their browser.
And for room users who prefer not to touch a shared touchscreen or would like to control the room from anywhere in the room, we’ve designed our patent-pending Mira Connect Me, allowing users to quickly, easily, and safely access Mira Connect’s user interface temporarily on their own personal devices.
Mira Connect is an A/V control system that controls displays, audio processors, projectors, cameras, video codecs (including Zoom Rooms), video switchers, lighting systems, and much more — all without the need for custom programming. Enter the equipment in a ‘room’ created in Mira Portal, pair the ‘room’ with a Mira Connect touchscreen, and a professional user interface is immediately created. Available in tabletop and wall-mounted options, Mira Connect presents an intuitive user experience for any audio/visual application including conference rooms, training rooms, courtrooms, houses of worship, higher-education, retail, and more.
To learn more, go to Aveo Systems or contact us for a consultation/demo.
