Singapore, 11 June 2020 – Barco’s industry-leading image processing platform gets 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. Today with the advent of the pandemic and the subsequent impact, live events need to consider alternative options and the need to deliver to audiences both live and virtual.

The brand-new addition to the Barco 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 rental and events industry into the workplace for the first time.

The next generation PDS

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.

In addition, the new generation PDS relies on the power of the tried and trusted Event Master processing product line. The PDS-4K incorporates the Athena^TM 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, confirms: “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.”

Simply switch

What’s more, this new switcher guarantees unsurpassed performances and outstanding visual experience while also being exceptionally easy to operate. Simplicity, intuitive ease-of-use and user’s convenience are key.

The PDS-4K is compatible with all the familiar Barco visualisation solutions (LED, LCD and projection) and collaboration devices for a smooth integration without compromising on video quality. And thanks to the API, the PDS-4K can also be combined with the Event Master Toolset, Barco Overture, or other third-party control panels.

A switcher for the workplace environment

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

For some time now, 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 well-known 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, lobby and auditorium, sure to impress and have a lasting impact.

“The PDS-4K brings the outstanding quality and standard routinely expected in professionally organised events to the workplace and the boardroom. The ease with which corporate presenters can now switch between sources and platforms will wow the audiences both live and virtual. It is going to redefine corporate events and presentations as organisations focus on events with pre-qualified audiences in Singapore and the region,” concluded Ta Loong Gan, Managing Director, Barco, South east Asia.