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Media Servers

Strictly, Media Servers are hardware and software to manipulate and run media (audio, video, still images) which can be remote controlled by lighting consoles. But then, the Media Servers listed here are usually controlled like any other intelligent fixture via DMX/Art-Net/sACN: you patch them and set their attributes. Hence, this is only a list of media servers and media control software which are available to standard control mechanisms. Most of those have various control inputs, i.e. react to Art-Net, MIDI and timecode. Details are available in the respective manual.

Name	Manufacturer	Remarks
Ai	Avolites	since Titan v12 closely integrated via Synergy. can be controlled by DMX, Art-Net, MIDI and some network protocols transmits thumbnails via CITP
ArKaos Mediamaster Pro	ArKaos	only the pro series does Art-Net, CITP etc.
Catalyst	Developed by High End Systems aquired by Barco now most info available at SNP Productions Ltd.	As far as I know Catalyst still doesn't CITP and has only limited means of control - but has other strengths.
Disguise	Disguise	formerly known as d3 technologies. Very versatile highend media sverer
Hippotizer	Green Hippo	does also CITP thumbnails
Katrin Media Server	Alexander Logvinov	free-of-cost media server with Art-Net control for Mac
KluitNET - ArtNet for PowerPoint	Kluit.net	very simple yet effective Art-Net plugin for PowerPoint
Madrix	Inoage	very popular in clubs. Very strong in pixelmapping. Can do lots of protocols.
Maxedia	Martin	Discontinued. One of the first popular media servers.
Mbox	PRG	Sorry, I cannot say anything about it. Seen it on big events already.

Pandoras Box	Coolux by Christie	very professional media server with mighty editing capabilities, There are personalities for it and it can do CITP but as the DMX functionality can be changed by the user, personalities are of limited use.
Screen Monkey	Screen Monkey	affordable, very versatile solution. Popular in houses of worship but also in clubs and exhibitions. Can also be used to trigger Powerpoint etc.




vvvv	vvvv group	multi-purpose toolkit which can be used for almost everything - but be warned, it has a steep learning curve. You need to build everything yourself in vvvv's node-based engine. There is now pre-made personality - you can make it listen to Art-Net and then build a personality as required.