Magewell Control Hub Lite

About this product

Twenty encoders and decoders mean twenty web pages to log in to, and twenty firmware updates to work through. Control Hub Lite replaces that with one dashboard. It is the device management version of Magewell’s Control Hub software: you install it on a server and use it from a web browser. One licence covers up to 20 devices, which makes it a good fit for sites that want central control of their encoders and decoders.

What Lite includes

• Device management for up to 20 devices. Every registered encoder, decoder or other supported unit counts as one device, which suits a single venue, school building or small studio.
• A focused feature set. Lite is for customers who need device management on its own. Control Hub can also convert live streams from one protocol to another; for that, choose one of the three full versions below.
• Try before you buy. A 14-day trial is available, so you can see your own devices on the dashboard first. Lite itself is supplied through channel partners such as ForeFront Imaging.

What device management does for you

Once a device is registered, you can look after it from the Control Hub dashboard instead of visiting it:

• See status at a glance. One dashboard shows the state of your devices, so you can check the whole site before a lecture, service or event.
• Change settings remotely. Device parameters are configured from Control Hub, saving a login to each unit.
• Start and stop. Operations such as starting or stopping encoding are triggered remotely, which means the operator stays at one desk.
• Update firmware in batches. Several devices can be upgraded together instead of one at a time.

Which devices it manages

Control Hub manages Ultra Stream and Ultra Encode encoders, Pro Convert encoders and decoders, Pro Convert audio converters, Modator chassis and modules, USB Fusion and the Director family, so the Magewell network devices across your site sit in one list. Each product needs a minimum firmware version, and we are happy to check yours before you order.

Control Hub is built for Magewell’s network devices. Pro Capture, Eco Capture and USB Capture cards are outside its scope.

Stream conversion, if you need it later

Lite keeps to device management. If your work grows to include changing a stream from one protocol to another, the full versions add that. The full versions convert between RTMP, SRT, RTSP and transport streams over UDP or RTP. Control Hub Basic adds 5 conversion channels with up to 20 outputs for the same 20 devices. Control Hub Plus covers 50 devices, 25 channels and 50 outputs, and Control Hub Pro covers 150 devices, 50 channels and 150 outputs.

Installing and licensing

• Runs where you choose. Control Hub is delivered as a Docker container, so you can host it on your own server or on public cloud infrastructure.
• Operating system. Linux is recommended, and the software is also compatible with Windows and macOS. The recommended server examples use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
• Licence. You add the licence in Control Hub’s settings by entering its name and serial number. The licence page then shows the permitted number of devices, streaming channels and active outputs. Each licence runs on one Control Hub installation at a time.
• Trial. A 14-day trial is available, covering 5 devices, 5 channels and 5 outputs, so you can also try stream conversion before deciding which version suits you.