You have several screens in a lobby, a shop or a corridor, and you want each one to show the right video, price list or announcement at the right time, without walking to each PC and swapping files. AV Manager is a Windows digital signage program built for exactly that: you build the content and schedules in one place and send them out to the display PCs.
Quick facts
- Version: 9.0
- Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP
- Price: Network Version license (1 AV Manager and 2 AV Scheduler licenses) is EUR 800; extra AV Scheduler licenses are EUR 250 each
- Trial: a free trial can be downloaded
- Fees: one-time cost, no monthly or annual subscription
Key features
Split one screen into several zones
Instead of one video filling the whole display, you can divide the screen into two or more zones. Each zone has its own schedule and can show a different type of content at the same time. You can also type in the pixel size and position of each zone.
Mix video, text, web pages and slides in one playlist
Supported content includes MP4, MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, M2TS and F4V video, pictures, websites, flicker-free scrolling text, RSS feeds, a digital clock, PowerPoint files, Flash files and TV or cable channels. It can also show a live broadcast from Microsoft Expression Encoder. MKV and DIVX playback needs the separate HD decoder plugin.
Plan events with sequences and a schedule wizard
Sequences group contents into a play order. The Schedule Wizard walks you through creating events step by step, with no scripting syntax to learn.
Manage every display from one computer
You upload schedules and content to remote display units over the internet or a LAN, immediately or at a time you choose. A network tree lets you lay out an unlimited number of locations and signs the way your organization is arranged.
Start from 38 layout templates and preview before you publish
You can pick from 38 layout templates or create your own, and add a frame when you use a background image. The preview pane shows content and schedule entries as they will appear. Emergency messages can also be pushed to your signs.
Who it's for
It suits businesses, shops, schools and offices that run a handful to a few dozen screens and prefer to pay once rather than rent a cloud signage service. Each display must be connected to a PC with its own fixed IP address, so you should be comfortable with basic network setup.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-time license with no recurring fees
- Multi-zone layouts and many content types
- Central scheduling and upload to remote screens
- Free trial available
Cons
- Windows only, and every display needs its own PC with a fixed IP address
- PowerPoint content has resizing limits on Windows 8 and Windows 10
- MKV and DIVX playback needs an extra decoder plugin
- An OEM license is sold separately if you want to rebrand the software
FAQs
Do I pay a monthly fee?
No. The license is a one-time purchase.
Can I show different things on one screen?
Yes. Split the screen into zones and give each zone its own schedule and content.
How do the displays get their content?
The displays run AV Scheduler on connected PCs. You upload schedules and files to them from AV Manager over a LAN or the internet.
Can I try it first?
Yes. A free trial of the Network Version is available.
System requirements
Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista or XP. Every display unit needs a PC workstation with a fixed IP address. PowerPoint content needs the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.