aQ is the only British company to design, develop, manufacture and support an integrated set of software, firmware and hardware, providing scripting, newsroom, prompting, automation, scheduling and media management functionality running on flexible video server, production and processing platforms.
We offer a wide range of solutions for use in all areas of media production and broadcasting - we can provide almost anything, from a single piece of specific functionality to a complete station solution.
Our customers include broadcast stations in all sizes and markets, as well as schools, colleges, universities, churches, corporate media groups and government departments.
We offer:
- Software: multi-user, client-server applications designed to enable effective collaboration on all types of programme production
- Firmware: an integrated set of processes, including a flexible user interface, designed to provide extensive media handling under both Linux and Windows
- Hardware: flexible platforms supporting multiple workflows, suitable for all use throughout the entire broadcast environment
- Services: installation, configuration, training, workflow design and technical support, both remote and on-site
- Bespoke: providing custom workflows at a viable cost, including tailored configurations and dedicated software development
Our main product areas include:
- Scripting
- Newsroom
- Prompting
- Graphics
- Automation
- Media Management
- Video Servers
- Production Systems
- Transmission Solutions
- Bespoke Applications
Our functionality encompasses:
- Collaborative Scripting
- Newsroom (NRCS)
- Integrated Prompting
- Studio Playout Automation
- Info-Graphics (data processing & display)
- Script Workflow Tools (annotations & mark-ups)
- Media Asset Management
- File Transcoding & Processing
- Signal Conversion
- Video Servers (ingest, storage & playout)
- Studio Production (mixing, playback, graphics & recording)
- Live Event Systems (streaming, file transfer & delay)
- Review Tools (slow-motion & multi-angle replay)
- Graphics (captions & branding, generation & insertion)
- Programme Scheduling
- Transmission / MCR Playout Automation
- Backup / Disaster Recovery (automated redundant playout)
- Archiving (script & media, hard drive & tape)
- ‘In-a-box’ Solutions (Studio, Channel & Station)
- Unique ‘video pipeline’ System
- Virtual Private Networking
- Bespoke Applications
- Custom Software Development
- Business-to-Business Solutions
We offer a huge range of features, including:
- scripting & newsroom: multi-column scripts / rundown management / prompting / script archive / agency feeds / contacts / assignments
- studio automation: low-res preview / clip selection / caption entry / image selection / event list management / MOS integration / playout control
- info-graphics: traffic, travel & weather / elections / closings / sports results / news updates / automatic data retrieval / device control / graphics display
- script workflow: NRCS integration / script annotations / script mark-up / status display / graphics preview
- media management: asset tracking / single & multiple instance handling / thumbnail generation / point-to-point transfer / manual push / automatic pull / storage gateway / store mirroring / repurpose / convert-during-record / delivery / access control / playout restrictions / auto-delete
- file transcoding & processing: sub-clip / trim / transcode / conform / audio levelling / watch-folders / delivery to video platforms & websites
- signal conversion: input-to-output processing / format conversion / frame rate conversion / channel remapping
- video server recording: simple / continuous / looped / time-lapse / multi-channel / edit-during-record
- media storage: on-line storage / near-line storage / network (SMB/SAMBA) access / FTP transfers
- video server playback: simple / looped / playlist / sequence / variable-speed / multi-channel / play-during-record / stills / graphics / squeeze-back / fade-to-black / fade-to-silence / audio level control / tally integration / time-zone delay
- studio production: vision mixing / audio mixing / transitions / still store / playback / picture-in-picture / effects / key / captions / graphics & branding / recording / multi-viewer display / studio-in-a-box
- talkback: IP-based / supports standard off-the-shelf accessories / local and wide-area coverage
- live event systems: site-to-site stream / store-and-forward / live streaming / profanity delay
- review tools: slow-motion / multi-angle record & replay
- graphics: generation & insertion / standalone / integrated / captions / branding / results / informational
- programme scheduling: full-feature or quick-and-simple / third-party imports (schedule, break, spot, as-run) / EPG generation & delivery / direct playout integration
- transmission / mcr playout automation: dynamic updates / intelligent gap handling / fixed-start & -end timings / calculated resume / live feeds / signal monitoring / auto-failover / fade-to-black / snipe inserter / promo squeeze-back / integrated graphics / as-run logs
- disaster recovery: automated schedule import / automated media pull / automated restart
- archiving: media backup & restore / auto-archive / hard drive & tape / direct interface to complex devices
- ‘in-a-box’ solutions: studio automation / channel playout / complete station
- unique ‘video pipeline’ system: multiple inputs & outputs / numerous processor types / custom configuration / virtual routing / any combination of live production and transmission automation functionality
- virtual private networking: providing integrated functionality across multiple distributed sites via private tunnels on standard internet connections
- user interface: local client / remote client (networked PC) / remote desktop (any platform) / multiple layouts / multiple pages / numerous gui plugins / completely customisable
- platform: linux / windows / web / flexible hardware – consumer workstation to high-end server / standard components
- control & interfacing: simple-to-interface / simple-to-device / xml / serial deck control / vdcp / amp / mos / time synchronisation / ups link & auto-shutdown / system-wide monitoring / email alerts
- bespoke, custom and business-to-business: flexible solutions built from existing components / new features and functions developed upon request / middle-ware for third-party solutions
Broadcast Workflow Software
Video Server Hardware
Cost-effective, flexible and innovative video and audio server hardware, for ingest, storage, archive, play-out, delay, replay and analysis solutions.
Production Suite System
The only channel-in-a-box solution to include scripting, pre-production, live multi-camera control and automated playout, all with multi-user access.