Arkona Integrates BLADE//runner AT300

Arkona Technologies GmbH has announced native integration between its BLADE//runner AT300 platform and Bitfocus Buttons, enabling operators to control key functions through a physical button interface.

Available now in Bitfocus Buttons version 1.8.2 and later, the arkona module (v1.0.0) supports workflows across both SMPTE ST 2110 and SDI environments. The integration connects directly to the AT300 BLADE//runner, allowing users to access routing, monitoring and hardware management functions at the touch of a button.

A central feature of the integration is the ability to manage internal blade routing and external connections to third-party devices. The module can automatically discover available sources and destinations, which can then populate the Buttons interface or be selected according to individual requirements.

Operators can use the interface to route signals between blades and devices, covering straightforward SDI input-to-output connections as well as more complex breakaway routing, such as directing SDI audio inputs into an audio shuffler.

The integration also provides monitoring of blade status and system performance. Users can view whether inputs and outputs are locked, connected or routed, alongside hardware information including Precision Time Protocol (PTP) lock status, power supply voltage, CPU usage and uptime.

Multiple blades can be connected to the Buttons system, with operators able to monitor their status, identify individual units and reboot them when required.

The companies have developed BLADE//runner-specific configurations and preset templates within the Bitfocus control environment to reduce setup time and simplify deployment.

Automatic discovery, interface population and preconfigured collections for common workflows allow operators to begin using the system without extensive manual configuration. Users can also create, adapt and save personalised presets to meet the needs of specific productions.

Tarald Moe Bjølseth, Key Account Manager Europe and Africa at Bitfocus, commented: "The strength of this partnership lies in the complementary expertise of our engineering teams and their shared understanding of real-world production challenges. By developing BLADE//runner-specific configurations and preset templates within the Bitfocus control environment, we have gone beyond basic interoperability to create a genuinely practical solution. Autodiscovery, autopopulation and preconfigured collections for common workflows allow operators to get started immediately, while the intuitive Bitfocus interface makes it easy to customise, adapt and save individual setups. We’re proud of what our teams have achieved by combining their technical expertise and look forward to building on this success with new features in future releases."

The integration forms part of Bitfocus's wider development of its Buttons platform, which now incorporates additional capabilities for tally, timelines and virtual routing alongside its established show-control functions.

The integration brings BLADE//runner AT300 into Bitfocus's wider ecosystem of connected broadcast technologies, providing operators with a configurable control interface for managing routing and monitoring across mixed SDI and IP-based production environments.