Firmware 4.24.6: Native Dante audio support, plus Q-SYS and Crestron plugin updates

Available now, firmware 4.24.6 for the Pearl family of encoders brings native Dante audio support, new EchoVideo controls for Q-SYS and Crestron, and additional recording and storage options.

Native Dante audio support

Pearl Mini, Pearl Nexus, and Pearl-2 can now natively receive and decode Dante audio over the network.

This has been one of the most requested features from Pearl customers. Previously, bringing Dante audio into a Pearl system meant running an external dongle and an additional cable. With native support, that hardware and cabling are no longer needed. Audio comes in over the same network connection as everything else, simplifying installation and cutting a point of failure out of the deployment.

A Dante license is required to use this feature, and some devices will need a separate add-on purchase. Jump to Dante Licensing at the bottom of this post for details.

EchoVideo enhancements

This release also adds:

• Pause and resume EchoVideo recordings from Pearl web, the touchscreen, Epiphan Edge, or in-room control systems such as Crestron and Q-SYS via the Pearl REST API
• Create EchoVideo ad hoc events directly from Pearl, using Crestron/QSYS systems, or using the Pearl REST API
• Start EchoVideo ad hoc events from the Pearl web interface or the built-in touchscreen
• One-click session re-upload: Re-upload all recordings for a session directly from the Pearl web interface with a single click. This removes the need to manually locate and upload individual files when restoring content in EchoVideo.

Recording and storage improvements

Pause and resume local recordings

Users can now pause and resume a recording that’s already in progress. Previously, pausing meant stopping the recording and starting a new one, leaving multiple files that had to be stitched together afterward. With pause and resume, the recording stays as a single file with unwanted portions excluded, cutting down on post-production work and shortening the time needed to prepare a recording for handoff or publishing.

Pause and resume Kaltura recordings

Kaltura recordings can now be paused and resumed directly from Pearl or using the Pearl REST API, giving users more control over lecture and presentation recordings. Pause when content shouldn’t be included, and resume when the session is ready to continue.

Upload recordings to custom S3-compatible storage

Pearl can now automatically upload recordings to custom S3-compatible storage endpoints, giving organizations flexibility to choose a storage provider based on cost, existing infrastructure, or data sovereignty requirements.

Reliability improvements

Firmware 4.24.6 also includes a number of reliability improvements and bug fixes to improve the overall stability and performance of Pearl.

Firmware 4.24.6 is available now as a free update for Pearl-2, Pearl Mini, and Pearl Nexus. To install, download to your device with a free Epiphan Edge™ account, which gives you cloud control of your devices, or update with the local web UI on your device.

Q-SYS and Crestron plugin updates

Alongside the firmware, Epiphan has released new versions of the Pearl Q-SYS plugin and Pearl Crestron module, both giving in-room control systems full visibility into EchoVideo events running on Pearl.

Pearl Q-SYS plugin

The latest version adds support for EchoVideo events. From the Q-SYS plugin, users can now:

• Create and start EchoVideo ad hoc events directly from the plugin
• Monitor the status and progress of all types of EchoVideo events running on Pearl
• Start, stop, pause, resume, and extend EchoVideo events running on Pearl

Pearl Crestron module

The new version of the Pearl Crestron module adds:

• Support for Pearl configuration presets
• Support for EchoVideo CMS events running on Pearl, including the ability to create and start ad hoc events, monitor event status and progress, and start, stop, pause, resume, and extend events
• Improved UI/UX

How to get the Control Modules

Module download links are now available in the Control Modules tab of the Pearl product support page.