New PDS-4K Presentation @Barco Switcher

Andrew Neale

Barco’s industry-leading image processing platform has a new addition designed for diverse applications.

The PDS-4K is a full-screen presentation switcher meeting audience’s growing expectations towards high-quality visual experiences, but also responding to the users’ demands for flexible, long-lasting and easy-to-use solutions. The new switcher enables easy content management and allows you to engage even the most critical of audiences.

For almost 20 years, live event professionals and operators have been calling on the Barco Event Master and screen management systems as the preferred solutions for shows of all sizes worldwide. The brand-new addition to the portfolio, the PDS-4K, has been developed in close collaboration with our partners to meet today’s requirements for high-quality image processing and fast seamless switching. In addition, the PDS-4K brings Barco’s expertise from the events industry into the workplace for the first time.

With 4K growing in importance as the standard audience experience in all markets, the industry requires a switcher that manages both the legacy HD sources and the newest 4K devices. This latest generation PDS includes eight 4K inputs and two 4K fully seamless mixing program outputs. It is designed to deliver all content as intended.

The new generation PDS relies on the power of the tried and trusted Event Master processing product line. The PDS-4K incorporates the AthenaTM scaling technology for stress-free scaling and seamless mixing performance. And it is built according to the same flexible principle to ensure expandability and future-proof upgradability.

The first response from the industry is promising. Andrew Poley, CEO of Don’t Wonder Productions, said “This PDS-4K fills the dark hole of 4K processing for smaller rooms that has loomed over our industry for years. We are excited to have a simple solution for 4K switching with the reliability of Barco. It will be a game changer for the corporate event world.”
The PDS-4K is compatible with all the familiar Barco visualization solutions and collaboration tools for a smooth integration without compromising on video quality. The device can be controlled with Event Master Toolset, but thanks to the API it can also be combined with Barco Overture or other third- party control panels.

All of the above-mentioned features make the PDS-4K an ideal solution, not only for mid-sized live shows, but also for corporate presentations in larger meeting spaces, multi-purpose auditoriums and boardrooms.

Wim de Bruyne, VP Meeting Experience “With the introduction of the PDS-4K in the workplace environment, we can leverage on our expertise in the rental and staging industry to enable the most premium corporate presentations with unprecedented ease-of-use, image quality and reliability. Ensuring the viewing comfort of board members and guests, presenters only need one click to switch between content and access a wide range of layouts and a set of professional transitions”.

Enterprises have been actively looking for tech solutions that are easy-to-use and to manage in order to increase the productivity and engagement of their workforce. With the simplicity of its popular collaboration solutions, Barco has already claimed a stable leader’s position in the workplace segment. Now the company is entering that very same market with an equally seamless solution for high-end switching with premium video capabilities. The PDS-4K, optionally in combination with the Barco ClickShare devices, which are installed in more than 750,000 meeting and boardrooms worldwide, is a powerful tool for flawless presentations. The easy-to-operate full-screen presentation switcher brings the best visual experiences for boardrooms, lobbies and auditoriums, sure to impress and have a lasting impact.


Leave a Reply