Qvest unveils Versatile Makalu Automation

Qvest has unveiled the newest member of its Makalu product line: the enterprise-level Makalu automation playout control system. This advanced automation solution offers exceptional flexibility for media playout workflows, enabling control of third-party playout products in both cloud and on-premise environments simultaneously.

Frank Mistol, Managing Director at Qvest.Stream, commented, “This latest version of Makalu has been designed to tackle key challenges that we know a lot of media organizations are having to deal with in today’s landscape. Production environments are more distributed than they’ve ever been. And playout operators always need to switch between control systems depending on whether their playout servers are in the cloud or on-premise. Until now that is.”

Makalu automation's environment-agnostic architecture allows it to manage any third-party playout workflows, regardless of their location. This capability brings significant operational and economic efficiencies, which are critical for media organizations investing in new technologies.

Versatility and Cost Savings

Operators no longer need to learn multiple systems for different production environments; everything can be managed through Makalu automation. This not only reduces the upfront cost of the technology but also lowers training expenses. Additionally, the Makalu family offers a flexible 'pay as you grow' subscription or usage-based pricing model.

**Operational Benefits**
Makalu automation is designed to be reliable for linear, OTT, FAST channel playout, or disaster recovery scenarios, providing continuous, high-quality service around the clock. Its 'single pane of glass' design simplifies use for both experienced operators and newcomers, while its 'access from anywhere' feature supports collaborative remote work, allowing control of playout workflows from any location.

Mistol added, “Our products are used by broadcasters and media organizations all over the world. So we make sure that in any new product release, we’re creating truly benefits-led technology. That’s why one of the key features of Makalu automation is its ability to open media playout workflows and remove vendor lock-in which we know is a frustration to many. We’re looking forward to this new playout control rolling out to users all over the world and seeing it make significant impacts on their workflows.”

Makalu automation joins the Makalu family of products, which includes solutions for enterprise automation, linear playout, event/pop-up playout, and disaster recovery operations, all aimed at delivering compelling content quickly, reliably, and at the highest quality on any device.