BlackWire Designs announced it will demonstrate its latest set of control system drivers and design assistance services at InfoComm 2023 in Orlando, Florida, from June 10-16. At booth 4688, the company will highlight how it is “adding value” to ProAV and residential AV technologies with expert training, AV-over-IP solutions, driver creation, system design for installs and more.

“Blackwire is excited to bring its ‘better than direct’ philosophy to InfoComm 2023 — adding services and value not typically offered by other distributors in the industry. We are committed to taking our manufacturers’ product lines and continuously making them easier to use, simpler and faster to install and with lower project costs for our dealers,” said Kevin Luther, owner of Blackwire Designs. “Our unique drivers and system design assistance services cover major projects in all ProAV verticals. In preparation for the first InfoComm as an exhibitor, Blackwire is excited to showcase how we are helping dealers to complete everyday installations that will lead to satisfied integrators and end users.”

Blackwire says its Yamaha MTX Universal Driver allows installers to utilize both the Yamaha MTX3 and MTX5-D audio processors with Control4 systems. The easy-to-install driver controls an MTX processor like any other audio matrix, but it is the only solution that includes a customizable mixer interface that enables end users to control the level and mix of each input across multiple zone outputs, according to Blackwire. By taking the complexity out of large installations, Blackwire says the MTX Universal Driver focuses on the experience and ease of operation for the end user, who can now mix the audio, trigger custom programming and adjust the zone and group levels without leaving the native Control4 interface.

With the MTX Universal Driver, installers can create a full custom mixing interface that is “specifically tailored to the clients’ needs,” including customizable UI buttons and support for both stereo and mono inputs and zones. In Control4 Composer, system designers can customize buttons with colors and graphics for easy identification, with custom sliders to quickly set input levels and mute statuses. The driver works with current Control4 OS versions 3.1.3 and up as well as Control4 T4 touchscreens, iPads and Android interfaces.

Depending on how installers choose to complete a video system, the interface may come with awkward workarounds that force end users to switch through rooms or use custom buttons to perform basic operations. Blackwire claims to prevent theses challenges with the Tiler and Video Wall UI Drivers for Control4 by providing an easy-to-use interface for Add Power and AVPro systems configured with video walls or tilers. The Tiler UI and Video Wall UI Drivers integrate natively into the Control4 user interface on both T4 touchscreens and mobile devices, allowing an end user to take control of these complex systems with “an easy-to-use, visually appealing interface.”

Blackwire’s AV-over-IP configuration tool allows dealers to purchase ready-to-deploy, preconfigured, labeled and fully updated video-over-IP systems available from Add Power or AVPro Edge. With this service, Blackwire claims to eliminate the possibility of deploying incorrect configurations or dead-on-arrival hardware, saving dealers time and money by ensuring they have a working system straight out of the box.

According to Blackwire, dealers can use the tool to provide Blackwire with project information for any residential or commercial installation. From there, Blackwire will configure the system and test each device based on the requested design, update firmware and label each device. Moreover, Blackwire will fully document and save the network switch settings all the way down to what port should be used for each transmitter or receiver, allowing dealers to perform updates and resolve any technical issues quickly.

Blackwire’s Network Design Assistance and Predictive WiFi Heatmap gives dealers enterprise-grade installments without spending time and effort on the design itself. By taking the guesswork out of providing great network coverage to residential and commercial spaces, dealers “no longer need to repeat the project multiple times before they get it right, making the service extremely cost-effective.

After purchasing the service, the integrator submits blueprints and specifics to Blackwire’s design assistance team. Then, Blackwire designs the project for best network quality and coverage, choosing the right products based on predicted signal strength and suggested access points. This includes best routers, switches, models, and number of access point locations that will “best fit the installer’s project.”

Blackwire’s unique PDK for Control4 driver allows complete control over PDK Cloud Node doors, gates and roller doors. Designed to work with generic relay control drivers built into Control4, the PDK driver also comes with interfaces like the Experience Button and Security Panel driver, providing touchscreen control that’s “intuitive and easy to use.” The driver also supports Door Position Sensor, providing real-time open or close status of doors.

With the PDK driver, users can enjoy secure, real-time integration with PDK.io, enabling them to easily control doors remotely, according to Blackwire. The custom Experience Button allows users to display and control their door, gate, or roller door status and optionally control the Cloud Node without a PIN code. In more security-sensitive settings, the Door Interface with PIN Code Control allows users to control any Cloud Node, with the ability to execute Forced Unlock, Do Not Disturb, Unlock, or Lock commands from Control4 Navigator. If the installation has more demanding needs, custom programming can be used to make managing doors or triggering automations based on Cloud Node feedback and variables effortless. Standard Control4 Relay and Contact bindings are available for all other programming needs, while simple installation makes it easy for installers to set up in the field.