Savant, distributed in A/NZ by Emersive Technologies, has started to ship its Pro 8.0 update for the brand’s software along with the availability of its new Pro Remote and 4K video products.

New software updates include an enhanced version of the Pro App, an embedded Autonomics server for streaming music and Sonos integration capabilities.

Savant Pro Remote
The new Pro Remote, which was first showcased at the 2015 CEDIA Expo in Dallas, is intended for the integration channel and features simple voice control of services, scenes and favourite channels.

The Pro Remote can be personalised with different scenes for each user and is programmed via Savant Blueprint, where it auto-configures after being introduced into the home environment.

Savant Pro App
The Savant Pro App, which was originally released in the Spring of 2014, has been upgraded based on end user and dealer feedback.

Enhancements to the look and feel of the App and faster ways to achieve the control action are the most apparent changes. The app’s popular Rooms View has been enhanced to include a whole-house view via a new home screen that allows users to access from one place everything the home was designed to do.

‘Micro-Actions’ is a new feature that provides a one-touch, press-and-hold function to provide instant access to the available controls for a service directly from the home screen. This feature significantly reduces the button presses needed to access a command, simplifying the user experience.

Sonos Integration
Savant’s 8.0 release also adds direct Sonos integration allowing the user to access playlists, favourites and recently played songs from their Sonos devices throughout the home.

Savant Music
The new Savant Music feature of 8.0 embeds an Autonomic streaming music server into the SmartHost, the device at the centre of every Savant home that enables wireless communication between other devices in the home.

This provides access to streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Rhapsody, TuneIn and Deezer. The audio stream is available via a Tos-Link port on the SmartHost for connection to an AV receiver or multi-room audio matrix. A revamped Savant Music interface in the Pro App and Pro Remote completes the solution.

Savant 4K for every job
Savant is now shipping two 4K video solutions to meet the needs of all projects. New VIM and VOM cards are available for the Savant SmartMediaPro chassis enabling 4K video at rates up 30Hz while also supporting the latest HDCP 2.2 specification. The input card includes audio signal down-mixing, and simultaneously provides both a 4K and down-converted 1080p video signal to the output to enable a mixture of TVs in the project without additional converters.

Additionally, in collaboration with PureLink, Savant has begun shipping custom-designed 4×4 and 8×8 HDMI switches for applications where a fixed configuration is more appropriate.

Savant Blueprint enhancements
In addition to these hardware introductions, Savant’s 8.0 release provides new Blueprint Tools such as a Pro App preview function. This time-saving feature allows a system designer to preview the Savant App user interface in the Blueprint design software before uploading the configuration to the host.

Blueprint also includes Siedle integration for intercom service in MDU applications. Lastly, Savant now offers a BacNet profile tool featuring a setup assistant tool with tester. The tool creates a unified BacNet Data Table, for dealers where BacNet is the data communication protocol for building automation and control networks.