SAM: Snell Advanced Media

Next-Generation Solution Brings Integrated, Enterprise-Level Control and Monitoring to Complex Media Operations

AMSTERDAM, IBC2010— Sept. 10, 2010 — IBC2010 will mark the global launch of Snell’s Centra, a control and monitoring solution that introduces new levels of content monitoring, system intelligence, and reporting to multi-vendor media environments. In addition to complete integration of all Snell products, Centra provides one of the industry’s most comprehensive third-party driver libraries and uses open protocols such as SNMP — bringing a new unified approach to controlling media technology.

Centra leverages Snell’s many years of experience and core of expertise in control and monitoring, as shown in the company’s MCM Workbenchand RollCallsuite of products that deliver robust control and monitoring of Snell routing and modular ranges, switchers, multi-viewers, and third party devices. Recognizing that flexible control and monitoring is much more than device control and simple alarms, Snell developed Centra to serve as a powerful real-time solution that not only manages multi-vendor equipment failures, but also includes simple interfaces and wizards for the easy setup and configuration required of a typical broadcast operation. Offering more than just configuration, Centra provides a truly operator-focused interface in which simple recalls are possible with the press of a button, and built-in intelligence eliminates confusion and increases efficiency. This makes Centra the ideal choice for broadcast and real-time production environments, as well as OB trucks, studios, and post-production facilities.

Also making its debut at IBC2010 is a new range of 1RU pushbutton, keypad, and LCD control panels designed to operate with Centra. Initially focused on router control, the panels will ultimately enable configuration of a wide range of Snell products. The highly flexible panels deliver customized user interfaces for standalone operation and can also be used with Centra’s GUI to seamlessly expand the options of control interfaces. 

“As today’s environments become increasingly complex, with multi-vendor infrastructures and multiple concurrent productions, Centra is a decidedly new and innovative approach,” said Neil Maycock, chief marketing officer at Snell. “We designed Centra as a truly flexible, scalable and customizable system that brings new levels of control and visibility to our customers.”