With so much more power available in the newer chipsets, the interface has been simplified dramatically. Anybody can jump on it.
Encore3: built for the main stage
Immersive systems · Encore3 · 5 min read
AV professionals don’t usually throw a party for a new image processing platform. But the arrival of our new Encore3 came pretty close – one customer even made a hilarious social video about it. The reason for all that enthusiasm? Encore3 is better, faster, stronger … and, importantly, simpler. The secret ingredient? Software-led power.
Under the hood, everything has changed
Encore3 is Barco’s third generation Event Master Platform. “While it follows in the footsteps of Encore and Encore2, it’s not simply a sequel,” says Harry Patel, Product Manager for Encore3. “Under the hood, almost everything has changed.”
He explains: “Earlier generations of Encore relied on complex, modular hardware packed with boards, cooling systems and physical components. Encore3 is driven by software.”
Part of that software lives at a very low level: it’s the logic that controls real-time video processing inside the box. In practice, it means that Barco can add intelligence and performance through updates, without changing the hardware.
More power, less to think about
The benefits? In first instance, hardware that’s simpler by design: fewer components and fewer supply-chain constraints. More than that, Encore3 is fully 4K native – across every input, output and layer – and delivers four times the processing power of its predecessor. But the real breakthrough is the completely redesigned user interface.
“In the past, users had to configure everything themselves,” Patel says. “Screen types, resolutions, layers, HD versus 4K: you really needed certification to get the most out of Encore2. Today, that’s no longer necessary. Thanks to the available processing power and memory, Encore3 adapts automatically, so everyone can learn it on their own and get started.”
Feedback straight from the field
To make sure Encore3 would perfectly meet the needs of its users, Barco worked closely with customers through beta testing and continuous feedback loops.
“We always say Encore3 is a joint success,” says Patel. “We build the product, but it’s built to help our customers make money. No one knows better what they need than they do. So, we invited freelancers and operators to test pre-release software in real-world conditions, listened to them and made they changes they suggested.”
Built to keep evolving
That collaboration continues. Encore3 is already evolving through regular patch releases, software updates and new features and the team has a long roadmap ahead.
“This is just the beginning,” says Patel. “Our aim is to make Encore3 the most versatile screen management system in the world.”
Our aim is to make Encore3 the most versatile screen management system in the world.
Encore3 isn’t the only example of how Barco is embracing the power of software in live events and themed entertainment. Another is SwiftAgent: a fully software-based platform that brings switching, camera production and live workflows together in one system.
Originally sparked by a conversation with a BBC director, SwiftAgent grew as a seed project in BarcoLabs, from a simple question. “In broadcast, there’s always a human director guiding the cameras,” explains Carla Munoz. “But in corporate event settings, such as conferences, award ceremonies, townhalls, or seminars, or in breakout rooms and panelist discussions, budgets are tight, so the production crew is small, sometimes just one operator.”
“We explored how software, AI and computer vision can step in, and developed SwiftAgent,” Carla continues. “Our brand-agnostic system automatically analyzes scenes, generates and selects the optimal angles, frames and shots in real time, and switches views.”
Built on network connectivity and CPU/GPU-based compute, SwiftAgent was tested extensively in real-world environments: internal demo rooms and auditoriums, Fortune 100 experience centers, and live event scenarios. The result is a flexible, software-driven solution for live productions that reduces complexity while keeping creative control where it matters.
SwiftAgent automatically analyzes scenes, generates and selects the optimal angles, frames and shots in real time, and switches views.
