VJ Pro NEW

Visual radio Automation

Introducing VJ Pro, the revolutionary Visual Radio solution by AxelTech, empowering radio stations to captivate audiences on TV.

In today’s diverse media environment, traditional and digital media are striving to capture larger audiences. Radio has the potential to broaden its impact through visual media by transmitting on television or web platforms. This presents an opportunity for stations to engage with individuals at home and in various public settings. Visual radio serves to strengthen stations at specific locations and VJ Pro enhances the visibility of your station.

VJ Pro seamlessly integrates with your existing setup, requiring no additional technicians or workflow adjustments. With minimal training, you can broadcast live radio programming and shows on both radio and TV, eliminating the usual costs and efforts associated with traditional TV production. Experience the power of Visual Radio without the need for TV expertise and with minimal investment. VJ Pro operates with the same technical staff and talent, ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting your radio station’s workflow. VJ Pro can be easily connected to any Radio Automation system and Digital Mixing Console, making it seamlessly integrate with your existing setup.

Why Should Radio Go Visual?

Radio is a versatile and strong media. In today’s competitive media market, both traditional and digital media are vying to reach bigger audiences. However, Radio has a unique opportunity to expand its reach going visual. Broadcasting Radio on a TV or Web Channel is a new frontier that allows stations to reach more people, including those at home and in public places such as malls where large monitors are available. Since Radio is already the go-to source for on-the-go media consumption, Visual Radio reinforces stations at fixed locations where it’s needed the most.

VJ Pro makes it possible for your station to be seen.

Benefits of simulcasting Radio on a TV channel:

  • Expanding from a single media platform to a multi-media approach
  • Reaching different audiences, thereby increasing the overall audience
  • Managing multiple media platforms (Radio, TV, Web)
  • Increasing advertising opportunities, leading to more revenue
  • Cross-promotion and cross-selling

VJ Pro, the Visual Radio solution by AxelTech, has no impact on Studio Workflow, no need for additional technicians, and only quick training for the system setup. Live Radio programming and shows can be broadcast simultaneously on both Radio and TV without incurring the costs and efforts usually associated with traditional TV production. You don’t need TV expertise, the production cost is close to zero, and it involves a one-time minimal investment. Visual Radio runs with the same technical staff and talent used at the radio station. Radio keeps its workflow and equipment since VJ Pro can be connected to any Radio Automation system and Digital Mixing Console.

How VJ Pro Helps Radio Go Visual?

While a song is on the air VJ Pro coordinates to play the video, and switches the cameras when hosts activate the microphones or when journalists air the news. VJ Pro drives an intelligent switching for cameras: it can be manual or automatic according to the many criteria and combinations of status, and cameras can be controlled by the fader status or the microphone levels on the Radio mixer. VJ Pro does it at best with both simplicity and accuracy. Auxiliary sources from the Web or Desktop can be imported, such as video calls from Skype, clips from YouTube, etc. It is also possible to have a social network integration to display content from Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and more. The VJ Pro Console is the engine and the control panel of whatever happens to the VJ Pro System and the connected devices. VJ Pro gets the info from the Radio automation system of any audio played (song, jingle, ads, news, recorder program, etc.), any live programs (talk shows, news, feeds, etc.), and any action on the audio mixer (fader, GPI, etc.) and consequently activates the related video content and graphics. The fully automatic production workflow can always be switched to manual.

The radio channel operations will go on running as usual because the VJ Pro Console seamlessly handles the synchronization between the TV and the radio stream. Any desired system behavior can be configured in the settings panel of the VJ Pro Console by the station manager or system administrator, who determines the style of the channel.

No matter how you name it – Radio Vision, Radio over TV, Visual Web Radio, Live Visual Radio, or Live TV for Radio – VJ Pro is the best way to achieve it!

The VJ Pro Console

The VJ Pro Console is the GUI that allows to control part or all of the features through a few Widgets:

  • LAYOUTS, intended to manage the behavior of the whole system
  • SWITCHER, dedicated to the Video Mixer control
  • MASTERS, for choosing which automation is commanding the Visual Radio
  • PLAYERS, to show information about playing clips. The playlist comes from the Radio Automation
  • GRAPHICS, to manage superimposed graphics
  • CAMERAS, to manage PTZ cameras
  • STATUS, to view the status of all the system components
  • RECORDER, to record what is currently on-air

The video format can be selected between PAL or NTSC. The resolution can be standard (SD), high resolution (HD), and 4K; in the case of SD, 4:3 or 16:9 can be chosen while in the case of HD, vertical 1080 or 720 pixels can be switched.

Versions

  • VJ Pro
  • VJ Pro Live

Add-Ons

  • DML-X Compliance Recorder, useful for legal purposes and content repurposing;
  • XMAM, for a structured management of the Video Clips to be put on-air with the Visual Radio;
  • MXC, which extends the routing of the VJ Pro output to any IP output and manages SCTE signals.
  • Fully Automatic or Manual workflow to produce a Visual Radio live video channel.

Figure 1 – VJ Pro Architecture

  • VJ Pro is virtually compatible with any video and file format: DV, HDV, DVCPRO, MJPEG, MPEG-2, TS, MPG, VOB, H.264, H.265, AV1, MP4, QuickTime, PRORES, DNxHD, AVI, WMV, ASF, MXF, XDCAM, IMX, GXF, LXF, FLV, MKV, WebM, HuffYUV, VP8, VC3, JPEG2000, DPX in any resolution or frame rate with automatic adaption.
  • Video Playout and Capture – 2 channels playout with video mixing/crossfade/effects. Perfect Audio/Video synch 1 channel recording.
  • Graphics engine – Multi-layer CG for graphic generation with Fill and Key. Automatic titling (song author and title). Animations, logo, Ticker, Clock, etc. RSS feeds, Weather information, News, etc.).
  • Free CG Composer software for graphic layout creation.
  • User Interface – Smart GUI for manual control of graphics, layouts, video switcher, cameras, recorder, and studio switch. Hardware Instant keyboard with 64 hotkeys.
  • Video Switcher control – Native integration with Atem, VMIX, Tricaster, etc. Connection: SDI/NDI/Stream (according to video switcher features). TCP/IP and serial connection.
  • Integrations with external/third-party products are typically part of a Visual Radio setup:
  • Radio Automation – Native integration with DJPro and Xradio automation from AxelTech;
  • Middleware module to integrate third-party Radio automation (Zenon, Netia, etc.);
  • Radio Console – Native integration with Oxygen digital radio console. Custom modules to integrate third-party mixing consoles (Studer, Axia, Lawo, DHD, Wheatstone, etc.). GPIO management;
  • Cameras – Camera control (Sony/Visca/Panasonic protocols). Intelligent switch for automatic camera switch (multiple configurations and rules).

Figure 2 – Audio & Video typical routing

  • Advanced Audio Routing: It allows to mixing of the studio audio live contribution, microphones, with the audio track of the video clip on air. This technicality adds a big value to the Visual Radio product, making possible a user experience identical to traditional radio broadcasting.

Figure 3 – VJ Pro Advanced Audio Routing

Free tools included in VJ Pro:

  • XTrimmer > Metadata injector and quality control
  • CGComposer > CG template creator

 

Video Out:

  • Supported Video Cards: BMD DeckLink, AJA, Bluefish, Deltacast;
  • Resolutions: SD, HD, 4K;
  • NDI outputs;
  • CG KEY and FILL output;
  • BMD ATEM, NEWTEK TRICASTER, VMIX and others.

 

Video Codecs:

  • MPEG 4 part 2;
  • Cisco OpenH264;
  • Intel Quicksync H264;
  • Nvidia NVEnc H264;
  • Nvidia NVEnc H264 lossless;
  • Nvidia NVEnc H265;
  • MPEG 1;
  • MPEG 2;
  • DV;
  • DVCPRO;
  • MJPEG;
  • FLV Sorenson;
  • HuffYUV;
  • WMV 8;
  • Google VP8;
  • Apple Prores proxy, LT, 422, HQ;
  • QuickTime ANIM;
  • Uncompressed 422 8-bit;
  • Uncompressed 422 10-bit;
  • DNxHD;
  • VC3;
  • OPEN JPEG2000;
  • DPX.

 

File format wrappers:

  • Mpeg Program (MPG);
  • Mpeg Transport (TS);
  • MPEG4 part 14 (MP4);
  • QuickTime (MOV);
  • DNxHD (MOV);
  • IMX MPEG4;
  • MXF;
  • MXF D-10 (IMX);
  • GXF;
  • DV;
  • FLV;
  • DVD VOB;
  • ASF;
  • iPod Mp4;
  • AVI;
  • Matroska (MKV);
  • WebM;
  • Image Sequence (DPX, PNG, JPG).

Audio codecs:

  • WAV (16, 24, 32, Cinema, signed, floating, etc…);
  • MP2;
  • MP3;
  • AC3 (ATSC A/52A);
  • AAC;
  • ALAC;
  • ADCPM;
  • VORBIS.

 

Graphic Formats:

  • PNG, TGA, BMP, TIFF, JPG, GIF;
  • Quicktime ANIM, Prores 4:4:4:4, bitmap sequences.
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    Input & Output

    • 3 microphone inputs
    • 4 stereo analogue inputs
    • 4 stereo analogue outputs
    • 1 built-in telephone hybrid,
    • 1+4 telco interface with GPIO
    • Bluetooth audio interface (optional)
    • 1 digital Out (AES/EBU)
    • 2 USB audio interfaces (disabled with Dante option installed)
    • 8 stereo inputs + 8 stereo outputs via Dante (optional)

    General

    • Fully Digital Broadcast Console for Radio Broadcasting with 6 faders
    • A/B Fast source switch buttons for each fader
    • 4+1 busses (PGM, SUB, Aux1, Aux2, PFL)
    • Near 0 latency (< 0,7 ms I/O)
    • Digital Signals Routing via the 48×48 internal matrix
    • Complete Remote Control by means of an application replicating the surface
    • Remote configuration and maintenance via Web Interface
    • User-definable Presets & Snapshot
    • 5 bands fully parametric Equalizer on every input
    • Dynamic Processor with expander and compressor section on each microphone inputs
    • Advanced and configurable Monitor Facilities for Control Room and Studio
    • Customizable RGB colored buttons
    • High Resolution (120 leds) meter bars for outputs
    • HDMI Out for console status display
    • 2 Timers (Ctrl-Room and Studio microphones timers on HDMI Monitor)
    • TalkBox for guest and presenter (optional)

    Versions

    • Oxygen 1000
    • Oxygen 1000 – Bluetooth
    • Oxygen 1000 – Dante
    • Oxygen 1000 – Dante – Bluetooth

    Options

      • Talk Box
      • RJ45 adapters for:

    o Mic with GPIO
    o Line In
    o Line Out with GPIO
    o Telco with GPIO

    Microphone Inputs

    • 3 Microphone Inputs
    • Mic 1 on XLR, Mic 2 & 3 on RJ45: 2-3, all balanced with + 48V Phantom and GPIO
    • Independent ON AIR Lights and Cut Off control, when opening Control Room and Studio microphones
    • PFL button switches to private conversation on Hybrid/Telco/Bluetooth mode
    • Enable TalkBack feature on any Studio or Control Room microphone
    • Parametric Compressors/Expander (drive, threshold, attack time, release time) for MICROPHONE and MONO inputs
    • Save and recall microphone presets including Compressor/Expander settings
    • Phase inversion on microphone inputs
    • MONO inputs assignable as EXT source
    • Ducking / AutoFader assignable to all sources (automatic attenuation of music on speech)

    Analogue inputs

    • Line Stereo Inputs: 4
    • Balanced on XLR for Line 1, Balanced on RJ45 for Line 2-4
    • Channel mode selection: STEREO, MONO, L, R, INV-L, INV-R, INV
    • Stereo-1 & DANTE-1 inputs can be configured as 4 Telco Inputs

    USB audio I/O

    • 2 Built-in stereo USB (Type-B) I/O Audio Interfaces allow to directly connect the PC to the Oxygen 1000 console, with no need for audio cards
    • In facts the PC detects each of the console USB as a digital audio card with 1 stereo inputs and 1 stereo outputs for simultaneous playout and recording

    Telephone hybrid and Telco

    • Telephone Hybrid: 1 POTS/PSTN telephone line with Line.In and Tel.Set connection
    • Telco: 1 in/out N-1 to connect external telephone hybrid with control via TLC/GPIO
    • 4 mono additional Telco can be obtained configuring Analog Inputs (Stereo-1 & DANTE-1) and (OUT-2 & DANTE-1) stereo outputs.
    • GPI and GPO management on all 5 Telco channels
    • RING and HOOK on F1 key for each TELCO channels
    • N-1 on Telco outputs for all BUS (PGM, SUB, AUX-1, and AUX-2)

    Analogue outputs

    • 4 Balanced Outputs:
      • OUT-1 – XLR – Fixed as PGM
      • OUT-2 – XLR – by default assigned as SUB
      • OUT-3 – RJ45 – by default assigned as AUX-1
      • OUT-4 – RJ45 – by default assigned as AUX-2
    • OUT-2 stereo output can be configured as N-1 to achieve up to 2 mono additional Telco
    • OUT-1 & OUT-2 outputs are both equipped with a GPO

    Digital output

    • 1 AES/EBU output on XLR

    Headphones and local monitor outputs

    • OUT-2-4 outputs: can be configured as Studio Presenter and Studio Guest Headphones
    • Unbalanced outputs: 2 Line out on Jack 6.3 for Control Room Headphones
    • Adjustable maximum Control Room and Studio speakers volume (Studio Speaker only via SW)
    • Adjustable maximum Control Room and Studio headphones volume (Studio Headphones only via SW)
    • Adjustable CUT or Attenuation mode (-40, -30, -20, -10 dB) on Control Room and Studio speakers
    • Independent source selection (PGM, SUB, AUX1, AUX2, EXT) for control room and studio speakers, control room and studio headphones with or without PFL
    • Independent Talk Back management on Control Room and Studio speakers
    • Independent Talk Back management on Control Room, Studio headphones
    • Same source selection for Control Room and Studio headphones, with independent level

    GPI/GPO

    • GPI: 9 in total, for Talk back, Telephone Hybrid or other features
    • GPO: 9 total, to control OnAir lamps or provide HOOK and RING commands for external telephone Hybrid
    • User custom GPIs (e.g. Ring, Talkback, channel ON/OFF, etc.)
    • User custom GPOs (e.g. Hook/ONAIR, Studio-Light, Control Room-Light)

    Surface & Management

    • Automatic firmware update via Internet
    • WEB UI for Console configuration and service features (Save, restore, update, logs, etc.)
    • Save and recall EQ presets (up to 10)
    • New real-time EQ algorithm with graphic
    • Fast and accurate Led Meters display
    • Save and recall control panel configuration with 10 Snapshots
    • Save and recall total console configuration. The configuration can be saved to internal memory (microSD), USB and PC (via WEB interface)
    • Gain adjustment knobs with adaptive speed
    • Dimmable buttons light
    • Adjustable fader ON/OFF threshold (from -50 dB to 0 dB)

    Telephone Hybrid and Telco

    The built-in telephone hybrid allows direct connection of a telephone line POTS/PSTN on RJ-11C. The audio is processed via DSP that delivers a state-of-the-art audio processing. It’s also available a Telco N-1 in/out, to connect Oxygen 1000 to an external telephone hybrid. The Telco N-1 is always available on RJ45. TLC commands are available on the same RJ45 with Hook and Ring interface.

    TLC commands for Telco-2-5 are available and configurable on GPIO-DB9 connector with Hook and Ring.

    HDMI output

    The HDMI output allows to connect a HD display monitor to the console, suitable to be used in two flavors:

      • Monitor, that displays the following information:
          • Audio input source levels
          • 4+1 BUS output levels
          • A/B source names assigned of 10 channels
          • Display On-Air sources
          • Microphone On timer (control room & studio)
          • Large Clock
          • Audio output level (Loudspeakers & Headphones)
          • On-Air microphone
          • Telephone active
        • Configure, for configuring all of the device features.
          • HDMI output combined with 4 rotary knobs allow the fast and intuitive programming of all the mixer parameters.
          • The programming GUI has been designed in order to be very easy and intuitive.
          • Selectable home page layouts are available, with many theme icons.

    HDMI output can be personalized with the customer logo. Selectable display layouts are available.

    Bluetooth

    Oxygen 1000 can be equipped with a Bluetooth module. This allows airing the calls made via GSM, Skype, Viber and WhatsApp with a Smartphone, a Tablet or a PC. Oxygen 1000 has two Bluetooth connection modes: bidirectional to support phone calls; monodirectional to put on air high quality stereo audio (A2DP) streamed by Bluetooth sources.

    With Bluetooth calls, PFL enables PRIVATE conversation mode.

    Bluetooth interface is installed at the factory and must be requested at ordering stage.

    Talk Box

    It is a device dedicated to the presenter and guests. Talk Box is very simple to connect to the On Air Console: its take 2 RJ45 cables of the length that is needed to connect it to the mixer. It is possible to connect up to 2 Talk Boxes to the Oxygen 1000. The Talk Box offers a direct connection of the microphone and relative On-Air light, it is also possible to directly connect the studio’s On-Air Light. The Talk Box has a headphone amplifier with two 6.3mm outputs. Through the two large backlit buttons it is possible to activate and deactivate your own microphone (On / Off / Cough) or enable Talk back to the console.

    Dante AoIP Interface

    Oxygen 1000 can be equipped with a Dante (compliant with AES67) interface which provides 8 Stereo Input and 8 Stereo Output on a dedicated Ethernet port, with independent Level Control and Sample Rate Conversion.
    On Oxygen 1000 Dante versions the USB I/O ports are disabled.
    Dante AoIP interface is installed at the factory and must be requested at ordering stage.

    Cable Adapters

    RJ45 adapters are available for:
    o Mic with GPIO
    o Line In
    o Line Out with GPIO
    o Telco with GPIO

    Video Out:

    • Supported Video Cards: BMD DeckLink, AJA, Bluefish, Deltacast;
    • Resolutions: SD, HD, 4K;
    • NDI outputs;
    • CG KEY and FILL output;
    • BMD ATEM, NEWTEK TRICASTER, VMIX and others.

     

    Video Codecs:

    • MPEG 4 part 2;
    • Cisco OpenH264;
    • Intel Quicksync H264;
    • Nvidia NVEnc H264;
    • Nvidia NVEnc H264 lossless;
    • Nvidia NVEnc H265;
    • MPEG 1;
    • MPEG 2;
    • DV;
    • DVCPRO;
    • MJPEG;
    • FLV Sorenson;
    • HuffYUV;
    • WMV 8;
    • Google VP8;
    • Apple Prores proxy, LT, 422, HQ;
    • QuickTime ANIM;
    • Uncompressed 422 8-bit;
    • Uncompressed 422 10-bit;
    • DNxHD;
    • VC3;
    • OPEN JPEG2000;
    • DPX.

     

    File format wrappers:

    • Mpeg Program (MPG);
    • Mpeg Transport (TS);
    • MPEG4 part 14 (MP4);
    • QuickTime (MOV);
    • DNxHD (MOV);
    • IMX MPEG4;
    • MXF;
    • MXF D-10 (IMX);
    • GXF;
    • DV;
    • FLV;
    • DVD VOB;
    • ASF;
    • iPod Mp4;
    • AVI;
    • Matroska (MKV);
    • WebM;
    • Image Sequence (DPX, PNG, JPG).

     

    Audio codecs:

    • WAV (16, 24, 32, Cinema, signed, floating, etc…);
    • MP2;
    • MP3;
    • AC3 (ATSC A/52A);
    • AAC;
    • ALAC;
    • ADCPM;
    • VORBIS.

     

    Graphic Formats:

    • PNG, TGA, BMP, TIFF, JPG, GIF;
    • Quicktime ANIM, Prores 4:4:4:4, bitmap sequences.