Barix to Introduce Professional Instreamer/Exstreamer Combination Device for Radio Broadcasters
EnglishNew platform to be debuted at IBC and NAB Radio; company to also display Annuncicom 1000 voice over IP device for STL transport/monitoring of talk programming
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, August 8, 2007 – Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom and monitoring, today announced it will introduce a new device for radio broadcasters at IBC 2007 (RAI Convention Center, Amsterdam, Stand # 8.117) that combines its Instreamer and Exstreamer technology into a single device. Barix will also debut the Exstreamer 1000 to U.S. audiences a few weeks later at NAB Radio 2007. (Charlotte Convention Center, September 26-28, Booth 113.)
The Exstreamer 1000 adds several new features, including a host of inputs and outputs not available on previous models, that are designed specifically for the professional radio broadcaster. The one-half 19“ rackmountable box will begin shipping in late Q4.
“The Exstreamer 1000 was born out of feedback we have received from broadcast engineers who were asking for more professional features in an easily rackmountable device,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “The fact that the same device can be used as either an Instreamer or Exstreamer means fewer spare parts are needed for STL, RPU, monitoring and Internet audio transport applications. And the addition of features like balanced inputs and outputs eliminates additional conversion equipment, ultimately reducing complexity and maintaining superior audio quality throughout the transmission chain.”
The Exstreamer 1000 also marks the first time contact closures are included within an Instreamer or Exstreamer device. Eight contact closures allow broadcasters to transport data information with the audio to trigger and control local announcements, such as station identification, an EAS signal, or even local studio cut-ins to a national feed. The addition of contact closures eliminates the need to use additional automation equipment to trigger local inserts.
In addition to balanced I/Os and contact closures, the Exstreamer 1000 adds a high quality signal converter (analog>digital and vice versa) with a significantly higher dB level to reduce noise and improve audio quality; and a professional AES/EBU interface to capture a digital signal at the source and maintain it throughout the chain. Most importantly, the Exstreamer 1000 retains Barix’s philosophy of providing inexpensive, low-power devices that are scalable to the growth of the operation; reliability through a PC-FREE design with no moving parts or power hungry components; and a flexible platform for integration into virtually any operation requiring audio transport and delivery.
Barix will also showcase its new Annuncicom 1000 device to broadcasters for the first time. The Annuncicom 1000, which is a sibling of the Exstreamer 1000, is designed for integration into complex, professional intercom and paging environments. It offers eight relay contact closures for the operation of external devices in addition to eight supervised contact closure inputs for audio control and monitoring. In radio broadcast, the Annuncicom 1000 may be most attractive to AM stations with talk formats. The Annuncicom 1000 begins shipping in late September.
“Many AM engineers have expressed an interest in a mono STL solution that allows them to transmit the program on one channel and monitor the audio on a second channel,” said Rietschel. “The Annuncicom 1000 offers full duplex audio as part of its two-way, enhanced voice over IP architecture that is an ideal, cost-effective solution for both STL transport and monitoring of monoaural AM broadcast streams. The Annuncicom can provide excellent, audio quality with PCM transmission at 24 kHz sample rate at a reasonable bitrate, much superior to typical ISDN solutions.”
Barix will continue to offer programmable software to engineers and end users for universal custom programming. Local control, audio relay, and low-latency streaming are a few examples of custom programs using Barix’s BCL software environment.
About Barix AG (www.barix.com)
Barix AG, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, specializes in the
research, development and manufacture of IP-based audio and data
distribution, communication, monitoring, control, and automation
hardware solutions for commercial, industrial, security and military
applications. Barix’s smart, reliable, compact, stand-alone components
stream and communicate over standard network infrastructure and
Internet, for local or worldwide networked solutions, eliminating the
need for extra wiring and PCs. Barix provides customers with a wide
range of additional services, including private labeling, licensing and
OEM engineering.