More than 700 professional devices and applications already integrated through open software
Bitfocus, the specialist in media control and monitoring, is showcasing the complete feature set for Buttons, its professional platform, at IBC2025 (stand 8.A91 co-exhibiting with Elgato, Amsterdam RAI, 12–15 September). Buttons brings an innovative approach and huge third-party support to the task of managing complex media systems and workflows with minimum demand for skills and resources.
Launching at IBC2025, the enterprise edition of Buttons brings enhanced resilience, security and scalability to mission-critical environments. Built for flexibility as an app and as a Kubernetes architecture for enterprise-wide systems, it is designed for ready implementation on any server or host and integrates with single sign-on authentication for secure, centralised web-based access.
Bitfocus led the way with Companion, an open-source development for the AV market which attracted large numbers of vendors to develop interfaces, allowing Companion to provide a single point of control. Now Bitfocus has taken that rich knowledge to a new level with Buttons, engineered to meet the rigorous demands of enterprise users through a more robust, protected framework and a refined user experience.
The enterprise edition of Buttons builds on the existing library of interfaces, with Bitfocus now developing more broadcast-specific integrations in-house. At the same time, Bitfocus remains committed to the open-source Companion platform, with ongoing contributions and shared knowledge flowing between the two systems.
“We have taken two streams of knowledge to create Buttons,” said Ole-Andreas Løvland, Bitfocus CEO. “First, our team has a real, deep-down understanding of what happens in live production, master control and other pressurised media environments. Second, we have a rich library of interfaces to all the key equipment from all the key vendors – there are already more than 700 interfaces in our library.
“That means we can give broadcast and media operators what they really need – a simple, logical, clear and intuitive control surface that puts everything they need into their hands,” Løvland said. “Buttons is packed with intelligence, so it knows about both people and positions and presents only the relevant controls, it allows you to simplify panels with popovers for more detail, and the workflow tools mean you can build complex conditional paths and salvoes on a single button.
”Bitfocus works closely with Elgato and the Elgato Stream Deck is an ideal control surface for use with Buttons, taking advantage of its dynamically reassignable buttons and rotary encoders. The platform is completely control surface agnostic, so it can also interface with other GUI devices from vendors like Densitron, Skaarhoj and Riedel. Alongside dedicated panels, users can build user interfaces for computers, laptops and tablets, as required by the application. The design of each screen and the construction of workflows is completely intuitive with no programming required.
The core software can be hosted on Mac or Windows computers, or as virtual machines on a server network. Buttons is also designed for federated implementations, allowing multiple locations to be linked in a single control environment. The single sign-on security includes tokens for Stream Deck and biometrics on laptops and tablets.
“Whatever branch of media – whether it is live broadcast or events, corporate or houses of worship – wants to focus on the content and the message,” Løvland said. “No-one wants to think about controlling all the devices and hoping they all switch or transition at the right moment. Buttons takes all that heartache away.
“And to underline that Buttons is leading the way in system control, we are participating in the IBC2025 Accelerator Programme,” he added. “We are working with champions including RTÉ, BBC, BT Media & Broadcast, ITV and VSF on the Master Control Cloud project – a cloud-based routing and monitoring system for live streams. It is a hugely exciting project, and we are excited to show visitors to IBC the ideas coming from this, and how we can already solve today’s control and monitoring challenges with Buttons.”