ADENA Hack: How to hide the GUI on AREC stations?

Every AREC Media Station from versions 2.6 and newer comes with an inbuilt way to control it — the graphical user interface, shortened to GUI. We covered this interface in detail in the very first ADENA Hack, and mentioned additions to it in subsequent posts. GUI can be opened and closed easily by left-clicking anywhere away from it with a computer mouse or by touching on a USB-connected interactive display. You can also use the dedicated hide/show buttons in the corners of the GUI. Starting from firmware versions 2.11 and on stations with the MCU version 4.3 or 4.4, it is now also possible to completely disable the GUI until it is needed again. To do so, open the “Administrator” web page of your station, go to “Media I/O” -> “Display”. You will find two settings dedicated to this: “OSD Menu'' and “OSD Menu - Playback Video”. Toggling off “OSD Menu” will shut down the GUI until this option is toggled on. Toggling off only “OSD Menu - Playback Video” will keep the GUI, but remove the playback feature from it. If you want to keep the GUI available, but remove the ability for your operators to see previously recorded videos, make sure to toggle off this option.

As of May 2024, the option to completely disable the GUI is available on LS-2, LS-200, LS-300, LS-400, LS-410, LS-860 and KL-3T models, with plans to include it in LS-110 and LS-US2 in the coming months. Would you like to know more about this or other AREC Media Station features? Make sure to reach out to us at www.a-dena.com and we will be happy to arrange a call with you!

Case Study: Enhancing Transparency — Kirkkonummi Municipality Chooses AREC Systems

Dear ADENA Partners, in this case study we are looking at a municipality in Finland that has started using AREC systems to stream council meetings. This project was carried out by our partner F-Musiikki and system integrator ATEA, who helped the institution choose the LS-400 Media Station for all their media needs.

The Kirkkonummi municipality is committed to being open and meeting the needs of its residents in all its communications. They manage various social media accounts and regularly share updates, news, and events on their website. To make information more accessible, the municipality decided to improve their live streaming capabilities by using professional AV equipment that can be automated, making the production process simpler and cost-effective.

For this purpose, the municipality chose the AREC LS-400 Media Station. This model can handle up to 4 video sources at the same time. Users can connect computers, network and conference cameras, document cameras, phones, and more to it. The station can arrange these devices into preconfigured and custom video layouts for recording and streaming. These video layouts can also be enhanced with custom logos and backgrounds to make the videos more visually appealing or to display important information. The station can simultaneously record a video layout and individual video sources, additionally providing the institution with materials for post-editing. Lastly, the station has the capability to display a particular video source on a local display or projector while simultaneously recording and streaming a different video layout.

One of the main benefits of the LS-400 is its user-friendly approach to recording and streaming. This device can be controlled using a standard computer mouse or touchscreen, through RS-232 and TCP control panels, via its own web interface, cloud service, mobile devices, and more. It's also possible to schedule recordings, streams, and backups, which is incredibly convenient for council meetings. Municipalities can easily integrate their event calendar with the station, allowing it to manage media processes automatically. As a result, the station can replace the need for a live crew, significantly reducing recording and streaming costs.

With the station in use, Kirkkonummi municipality has improved its communication by delivering clearer messages without requiring an operator's assistance. Discover how your organisation can streamline and automate media production with AREC on our website at www.a-dena.com. We're available for live chat support and welcome any questions, so please don't hesitate to get in touch!

ADENA Hack: How to choose between AREC Media Stations?

There are currently 8 Media Station models in the LS/KL series. All of these devices share core features, such as recording, streaming, automatic backup, calendar scheduling, video layout, overlay, background controls and more. But there are certain differences that can help you choose the right model for your needs. We’ve previously covered some of these unique differences in the ADENA Hack №54, and so this time we are diving deeper into the topic.

To begin with, we can divide the Media Stations into three categories - 2, 3, and 4 video

channel models. By channels here we mean the maximum simultaneous number of video sources that a Media Station can work with. 2 channel models are LS-US2(N), LS-110, LS-2, and LS-200, 3 channel models are LS-300 and KL-3T, whereas 4 channel models are LS-400 and LS-860(N). Within these categories, these models are different from each other in terms of their AV inputs and outputs, as well as certain unique features.

For example, we’ve highlighted the unique feature of LS-110 in ADENA Hack №33. LS-US2’s unique feature is its ability to work with USB video inputs and also an optional NDI-HX licence. LS-2 and LS-200 are both rack-mounted stations, with the LS-2 being a more budget model. As for the 3 channel models, KL-3T is defined by its inbuilt touchscreen, which makes it perfect for placements on lecterns, podiums, and mobile usage. Lastly, in the 4 channel category, LS-860 is defined by its multiple HDMI and 3.5mm line/mic inputs, optional NDI-HX licence, and inclusion of a specially integrated accessory called ARECast.

Precise differences between the Media Station models can be examined via our comparison table. Take a look at it by clicking here, or access it anytime through our main page www.a-dena.com -> Resources -> Catalogues -> AREC Media Station Comparison Chart. And if you would like to know more about any of our products, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.