BroadcastThings Connect

BroadcastThings Connect, or BTConnect for short, is our multi-protocol converter for all kinds of broadcast equipment. Build powerful integrations across vendor boundaries, and make your studio part of the Internet of (Broadcast) Things.

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Main Features

Unified Access to Your Devices

BTConnect supports a large number of control protocols from various vendors of broadcast equipment, including DHD, Axia, Wheatstone, Ember+ and others (see below for a full list). All functions offered by the protocols (logics, channel status, routing, etc.) are presented in a unified, tree-like structure.

Protocol Converter

With the built-in Protocol Converter, you can create rules that translate parameters from one device connection to another, across device types. For example, when there is an incoming call on one of your Prodys codecs, you can send the caller’s number to a DHD global label (via REST or Ember+) to be displayed in a TFT view.

Open Interfaces

For integration with other systems, BTConnect offers a built-in HTTP/REST server with WebSockets support, an Ember+ provider, and a virtual DHD core with 4096 logics. Notifications can be sent by e-mail or through webhooks to Slack, MS Teams and other services.

The Internet of (Broadcast) Things

By supporting the industry-standard MQTT protocol, BTConnect bridges the gap between the broadcast world and the Internet of Things. All device connections have a built-in MQTT adapter, and can instantly translate all device parameters such as logics to MQTT messages and vice versa. Just a few examples of what you can do with MQTT:

• Use Node-RED to design complex control systems and beautiful dashboards.
• Build hardware devices like cough buttons or red light indicators with MQTT-enabled microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino or ESP32).
• Connect broadcast equipment from multiple sites to each other, by using MQTT as a transport layer, either with self-hosted MQTT brokers or a commercial MQTT cloud service.

With the ever-growing list of MQTT-enabled devices and applications, this takes the integration of your broadcast devices into your IT environment to a whole new level.

Supported Protocols and Devices

BTConnect currently supports the following devices and protocols:

• DHD ECP: all Series 52 devices (RX2, SX2, 52/MX, 52/TX, 52/DX, 52/RX, etc.) as well as RM4200D with TCP/IP-enabled core
• DHD REST API (52-8577)
• DHD RM2200D
• Ember+ Consumer
• Livewire Routing Protocol (Axia xNodes etc.)
• WheatNet Blade ACI
• D&R Airlite and Webstation
• Prodys ProntoNet and IkusNet
• Barix Barionet 50/100 ASCII
• MIDI input and output
• IOWarrior, Velleman K8055 and Elgato Stream Deck
• MQTT

Is your protocol missing? Get in touch, and we’ll check if we can add it.

For interoperation with third-party software and devices, BTConnect offers the following outbound protocols and facilities:

• Ember+ Provider
• REST API with WebSockets support
• MQTT Bridge
• DHD ECP server (virtual core with 4096 logics and logic functions similar to DHD)
• XML file output
• E-mail notifications via SMTP
• HTTP notifications via outbound webhooks (generic, Slack, MS Teams, etc.)
• Hotkeys and virtual keyboard
• Timers and pulses

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Editions

BTConnect is offered in three editions. The editions differ in the number of device connections and in the outbound interfaces available. Class A connections are mixing consoles and routers; all other devices are Class B.

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Buy a License

The Standard and Advanced Editions can be purchased in the online shop or through our sales department and resellers. The Professional Edition is configured to your needs; please contact us for a quote.

Add-ons for the Advanced Edition

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More Information

Download a demo version (30-day trial license included)
Online documentation
About BroadcastThings