Analog Way’s CEO Eric Delmas delves into the future of visual infrastructure; revealing how the brand is driving operator-first innovation, seamless convergence, intelligent coordination, and uncompromising reliability to redefine excellence in premium AV performance.

When it comes to high-end live productions, there are no second-chances, no do-overs, no take-twos!

Whether it is a global concert tour, a flagship corporate event, an XR studio, or a large-scale immersive installation, the expectation is always the same … everything has to work, flawlessly and without hesitation. When thousands, sometimes millions, are watching; even the smallest visual failure becomes impossible to ignore. And in environments like these, reliability is not just important; it is everything. Few companies understand that better than Analog Way.

For over 35 years, the French manufacturer has stood at the forefront of mission-critical video processing; earning global trust through powerful platforms such as Aquilon, which has become synonymous with reliability and confidence at scale. And while Analog Way’s DNA has always been defined by engineering excellence; under the leadership of CEO Eric Delmas, that legacy is being strategically expanded into something far greater: real-time visual infrastructure.

Appointed CEO with a career shaped across premium consumer electronics, automotive, and defence systems, Eric Delmas brought to Analog Way a mindset forged in industries where precision is absolute and failure carries immediate consequences. The brand’s trajectory in the past few years underscores the fact that his leadership has introduced sharper strategic clarity to an AV landscape increasingly defined by AV-over-IP, SMPTE ST 2110 workflows, immersive canvases, and distributed visual ecosystems.

Focused on creating more coherent workflows where hardware determinism meets software flexibility, and complexity is absorbed by the system rather than passed on to the operator; Delmas is steering Analog Way beyond traditional processing. And as the company strengthens its footprint across APAC and ME, including major strategic moves such as its China joint-venture and expanding regional ecosystem, his vision remains firmly centred on scale, localisation, and long-term operational relevance.

In this exclusive conversation with Entertainment Technology Asia, Eric Delmas shares his thoughts on leadership, reliability, IP-driven architectures, operator-centric innovation, and the future of professional video systems. More importantly, he offers a clear view into how Analog Way intends to define that future.

ETA: Stepping into the role of CEO at Analog Way meant leading a brand that operates at the intersection of precision engineering and high-stakes live visual performance. On a personal level, how would you describe your leadership philosophy? And how have you aligned it with Analog Way’s ethos of delivering reliability in environments where failure is simply not an option?

ERIC DELMAS: Stepping into Analog Way felt like a natural extension of my previous experience. I have spent my career in industries where precision and reliability are non-negotiable, from high-end consumer electronics to automotive and defense systems. In all those environments, failure is simply not an option. My leadership philosophy is built around that reality: performance only matters if it is predictable under pressure and across all use cases.

In live visual environments, there is no second chance. Systems are deployed in front of thousands, sometimes millions, of people, and any issue is immediately visible. That requires anticipating problems before they occur, thinking several steps ahead, and building organizations that execute with discipline.

What resonated instantly with Analog Way was this culture of reliability. My role has been to take it further by reinforcing customer-centric thinking and making reliability a non-negotiable requirement across the entire organization. This means addressing it from the earliest stages of product definition and system architecture, rather than relying on final validation steps. It also means ensuring that innovation remains grounded in real operational constraints. Ultimately, reliability is not a feature we add. It is a system-level commitment that defines how we design, build, and support every solution we deliver.

ETA: Over the past few years, Analog Way has significantly strengthened its position in high-end live production and premium fixed installations through platforms such as Aquilon. Looking at the present and beyond, how would you define Analog Way’s strategic identity today—is it still a processing company, or has it evolved into something more akin to a real-time visual infrastructure provider? And on a personal level, how have you contributed to shaping this strategic direction?

ERIC DELMAS: Analog Way has built its reputation as a leader in high-end video processing, and that foundation is stronger than ever. Platforms like Aquilon continue to push the boundaries of real-time performance, with scalable architectures ranging from compact systems to the highest-capacity configurations used in the most demanding productions worldwide. At the same time, we have been deliberately evolving our role in the ecosystem.

We are now moving beyond processing to become a provider of real-time visual infrastructure, enabling the orchestration of complex visual environments rather than simply handling signals. This shift comes directly from what we see in the field. Today’s projects, whether live productions or fixed installations, require managing entire workflows with multiple sources, formats, resolutions, and outputs, all synchronized in real time. The challenge is no longer just performance. It is coordination, scalability, and overall system coherence.

Over the past few years, my focus has been to structure this evolution by clarifying our direction, expanding our approach market by market, and moving toward more complete, workflow-oriented solutions while staying anchored in what defines us: delivering consistent execution in the most demanding environments.

ETA: With the accelerating shift toward AV-over-IP, SMPTE/ST 2110 environments, and increasingly distributed workflows, how is Analog Way rethinking its system architecture to remain relevant in a landscape that is rapidly moving away from traditional signal chains toward networked, software-defined ecosystems? And alongside this technological transition, how has Analog Way’s CXO leadership team actively shaped and influenced the direction of R&D and the development of its next-generation product portfolio?

ERIC DELMAS: The transition toward IP-based and distributed architectures is a fundamental shift in our industry. We anticipated this evolution early and have been investing for several years in technologies such as SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX.

Our approach is deliberate. We believe the future lies in combining hardware-level determinism with software-level flexibility. In live environments, timing, synchronization, and latency are critical and cannot be compromised. At the same time, systems need to become more open, more scalable, and easier to integrate into broader ecosystems. This is why we are developing hybrid architectures, capable of operating in both traditional and IP-based environments, while progressively increasing modularity and interoperability.

From a leadership standpoint, one of our key priorities has been to stay focused. The market is evolving quickly, and it is easy to dilute efforts. We have made deliberate choices to invest where we can create real differentiation, particularly in user experience and close interaction with customers, so that our R&D translates into tangible value in the field.

ETA: Recent developments across Analog Way’s portfolio point toward greater scalability, modularity, and workflow integration; particularly in handling complex, multi-layered visual canvases for live events and immersive environments. Could you share how your latest innovations are addressing real-world workflow bottlenecks faced by operators today?

ERIC DELMAS: The complexity of today’s productions has increased significantly, and operators are under more pressure than ever. Our innovations are focused on removing friction from these environments. And one key area is the ability to scale systems without introducing fragmentation. We have expanded our platforms from very compact configurations to the highest-capacity systems in the industry, while maintaining a consistent user experience across all configurations. Multiple systems can be combined and operated as a single resource on the same event, without adding complexity for the user.

We also address constraints earlier in the workflow, particularly between content creation and final display. With the introduction of DisplayPort 1.4 on our Aquilon platform, we significantly increased what can be carried through a single output, enabling much larger, high-quality canvases, for example 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 30Hz, without splitting or signal compromise. In practice, this reduces the gap that often exists between what creative teams design and what can actually be reproduced on site. In the past, limitations at the output stage frequently forced adjustments, reformatting, or multiple iterations to align content with system constraints. By removing those limitations, we help ensure that what is designed is what gets delivered on site, while reducing last-minute corrections during setup.

We are also addressing one of the biggest operational challenges, which is managing large, distributed setups. For example, our global multiviewer capability allows operators to monitor an entire canvas from a single interface, even when it is powered by multiple machines. This reflects our approach of abstracting system complexity to simplify operation. In parallel, we continue to invest heavily in user interfaces. Solutions like our Web RCS environment evolve continuously based on real operator feedback and are widely adopted for their flexibility and ease of use. We have also been rethinking parts of the ecosystem, including media playback, to better align with operator workflows and simplify deployment across both live and installed environments. The objective remains the same: reduce friction, eliminate workarounds wherever possible, and give operators full control, even in the most demanding scenarios.

ETA: As visual systems become exponentially more powerful, there is a growing challenge in ensuring that this complexity does not overwhelm the operator. What are your personal thoughts on the matter, and how do they shape Analog Way’s approach in balancing between deep functionality and intuitive control, especially for users managing mission-critical shows under time pressure?

ERIC DELMAS: This is one of the most critical challenges in our industry today. Systems are becoming increasingly powerful, but if that power translates into complexity for the operator, it becomes a liability rather than an advantage, especially in live, mission-critical environments. Our philosophy is to absorb complexity within the system so that the operator experiences clarity and control.

A key insight for us is that there is no single type of event, and no single type of operator. Some environments require highly advanced setups managed by expert users, while others call for simpler, highly reliable workflows, sometimes operated by teams with limited preparation time. This diversity is shaping how we design our solutions. With our latest CorePlay media players, for example, we have focused on delivering the right balance between performance and ease of use, so that systems remain accessible without compromising capability.

More broadly, we maintain a close loop with our users, ensuring that every development is grounded in real operational workflows and constraints. Ease of use is not about reducing functionality. It is about making highly complex systems intuitive, predictable, and dependable under pressure. That is what ultimately enables operators to execute flawlessly when it matters most.

ETA: Markets across APAC and the Middle East are rapidly redefining expectations around scale, spectacle, and integration; often leapfrogging traditional production models. From your vantage point, what distinguishes these regions in terms of technology adoption, project ambition, and system design philosophy, and how is Analog Way adapting its approach to serve them effectively?

ERIC DELMAS: APAC and the Middle East are among the most forward-looking regions in our industry. What stands out is the combination of scale, speed, and ambition. Projects are often larger, timelines are shorter, and there is a strong willingness to adopt new technologies quickly. These markets are not just following global trends. In many cases, they are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Our approach has been to work closely with local partners and customers, building solutions together rather than trying to anticipate needs remotely. This proximity is essential to remain relevant and is illustrated by the joint venture we recently established in China.

Today, we see strong adoption of our systems in high-end live productions and major installations across these regions. In markets such as China, our platforms are increasingly used in large-scale productions, confirming that performance and dependability remain decisive factors even in highly competitive environments.

ETA: Looking ahead, the boundaries between video processing, media servers, real-time rendering, and immersive technologies are becoming increasingly blurred. What do you believe will define the next phase of evolution in professional video systems, and how is Analog Way positioning itself to lead in that future?

ERIC DELMAS: We are clearly moving toward a convergence of technologies. Video processing, media playback, control systems, and immersive environments are becoming increasingly interconnected. At the same time, the reality today remains fragmented. Complex productions often rely on multiple high-end systems, with overlapping capabilities and resources that are not always fully utilized as part of a coherent whole.

The next phase will be defined by the ability to bring more consistency and coordination to these environments at scale, ensuring that different technologies work together efficiently without increasing operational complexity. Systems will need to manage entire visual environments across diverse use cases, while remaining predictable, efficient, and straightforward to operate, even in high-pressure situations.

At Analog Way, we have been investing across these domains to ensure we remain adaptable as the industry evolves, while staying focused on real operational needs rather than technology trends. Looking ahead, what will matter most is not just performance, but the ability to deliver exactly what is expected, consistently, across the full workflow in the most demanding environments. That is where we intend to lead.