The latest update to Merging's show control platform adds native video playback and bidirectional Pyramix automation to an already formidable live production tool.
Merging Technologies has released Ovation 12, a major update to its Ovation audio playout and show sequencer platform. Already trusted in theme parks, museums, broadcast facilities and complex live productions worldwide, the software steps into new territory with this release – most notably, native video playback built directly into the show environment.
Catch up on all the latest news here.
Key features at a glance
- Native video playback integrated directly into playlists and cue lists
- Drag-and-drop video file support, with trimming available in Ovation or Pyramix
- Up to four simultaneous video streams via standard graphics cards
- Multiple LTC outputs with independent timecode per external sequencer
- LTC routable to any audio output at any frame rate
- Bidirectional automation exchange between Ovation and Pyramix
- Expanded simultaneous I/O in Native mode across ELEMENTS, PRO and PREMIUM editions
- MassCore support for extreme channel counts
Video files can now be dragged and dropped into playlists and treated like any other cue, even mid-show. Audio fade-ins and timing align to the picture through Ovation’s active cue window, keeping everything locked during rehearsals and live operation. Ovation 12 supports all common video formats; files can be trimmed within the software or prepared in Pyramix, and up to four video streams play simultaneously via standard graphics cards. No additional hardware required.
For larger productions running multiple systems for lighting, video, special effects and automation, Ovation 12 introduces native generation of multiple LTC outputs. Each external sequencer can now receive its own independent timecode, routed to any audio output at any frame rate. Timecode readouts sit anywhere on the operator’s screen, and the source can be drawn from show time, timed cue lists or individual cues. Productions that previously needed workarounds to keep everything in sync now have a cleaner, more direct path.
The Ovation–Pyramix relationship has always been a strong one, and Ovation 12 strengthens it further. Automation data now flows both ways between the two platforms, meaning engineers can refine cues in Pyramix during rehearsals and bring them back into the show environment without losing any automation detail. For productions that are still evolving right up to showtime, that flexibility matters.
On the performance side, Ovation 12 expands simultaneous input and output counts in Native mode across the ELEMENTS, PRO and PREMIUM editions, with the option to scale to extreme channel counts when paired with MassCore. More headroom for large, multichannel productions without touching the low-latency performance Ovation is known for.
For full details, head here.
