VJ Pro

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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“We offer advanced broadcasting technology that combines visual and social media features to enhance user engagement. As a supplier, we have provided AxelTech’s products and solutions to various broadcasting companies, ensuring seamless integration into their existing infrastructures.

We are extremely satisfied with AxelTech as a partner and supplier. Their innovative solutions have consistently exceeded our expectations. The team at AxelTech is highly professional, responsive, and dedicated to delivering high-quality products and services that meet the unique needs of our clients.

Their ability to integrate advanced technology with practical broadcasting solutions has significantly enhanced the user experience in our projects.

AxelTech has demonstrated exceptional reliability in both the quality of its products and the timeliness of its support services. We are confident in their capacity to deliver high-level projects, such as the SABC tender, and we highly recommend them without reservation.”

Bahamus Limited – Ghana

Radio2 is the flagship FM/DAB channel of RAI, focusing on entertainment with a schedule primarily composed of live shows and music performances featuring both national and international talents.

The project aimed to create a Visual Radio channel for distribution on the national DVB-T 202 channel and streaming on the Raiplay portal (https://www.raiplay.it/dirette/rairadio2). RAI Radio 2 uses Netia Radio Assist for radio automation.

AxelTech provided the Visual Radio subsystem and advisory services for the commissioning. The centralized Visual Radio Control Room was configured to go on air with one of the 6 studios equipped for Visual Radio productions, including cameras, lights, monitors, and more.

“The project’s challenge was to launch the first RAI Visual Radio channel within a short timeframe. This involved integrating with existing automation and consoles, as well as collecting and post-producing 5,000 video clips. It also required defining the channel’s branding and establishing protocols for various scenarios such as automatic on-air, live studio, news bulletins, and advertisements. AxelTech played a crucial role, going beyond being a mere supplier by leveraging their experience to proactively guide through the production start process.”

Rai Radio2 – Italy

SBS owns and operates radio stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Orlando, Tampa, and Puerto Rico.

SBS has decided to implement Visual Radio for some of its stations to oversee live shows. During the shows, the DJ operates the broadcast consoles, while the VJ Pro manages everything else, such as camera switching, character generation (CG), animations, and other visual elements.

They have integrated Rubicon and Axia digital broadcast consoles for this purpose.

“After conducting several POCs with other vendors, we ultimately chose AxelTech as our Visual Radio solution provider due to its simple integration into our existing ecosystem. The support we received from the company throughout the system deployment was incredible.”

SBS – USA

Radio Kiss Kiss, part of the CN Media Group, commissioned AxelTech to implement a Visual Radio system with specific requirements: no impact on current production processes, handling of live broadcasts and music videos, creation of independent advertising segments, management of video clips for jingles and stingers, automation of graphics production, frame-accurate synchronization of content, TV automation for nighttime slots, integration of Studer On-Air 2000 mixer & Zenon Media automation, audio signal distribution via Dante, and 4K visual channel production.

“Radio Kiss Kiss is well-known for its dedication to producing high-quality content with precision. We were worried that incorporating Visual Radio could compromise the meticulous work we do for our radio broadcasts. Additionally, we were concerned that integrating with the Zenon radio automation might lead to additional issues. However, AxelTech once again proved to be a reliable supplier, capable of assisting clients in finding the best solutions to meet their technical, editorial, and timing objectives.”

Radio Kiss Kiss – Italy