Barix unveils Exstreamer M400 IP Audio Decoder, powered by IPAM 400 audio module

28 Apr 2021

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Barix has unveiled the Exstreamer M400 IP Audio Decoder, the first model in a new generation of the company’s renowned Exstreamer IP audio decoder family.

The new hardware continues the Exstreamer series traditions as robust and reliable, but also cost-effective devices. It offers end users and systems integrators, a modern, extensible, and easy-to-deploy decoder platform, supporting the latest technology standards.

Exstreamer M400 IP Audio Decoder

Our earlier Exstreamer products helped make Barix a leader in streaming decoders"

“Our earlier Exstreamer products helped make Barix a leader in streaming decoders and earned a strong reputation for their longevity, exceptional audio quality, and feature-richness,” said Davide Nossa, Product Manager at Barix.

Davide Nossa adds, “We are excited to continue the Exstreamer family’s hallmarks on a modern hardware foundation that offers customers more of everything - more power, more flexibility, more security features, more protocols supported, and more extensibility for the future. More than 20 years of IP audio experience and market expertise went into our development of the Exstreamer M400, creating a decoder platform that integrators and users can trust for their AV needs today and in the future.”

Powered by IPAM 400 audio module

Powered by Barix’s Linux-based IPAM 400 audio module, the Exstreamer M400 has higher processing power than previous Exstreamer models and a more programmable, software-driven architecture for easier expansion, rapid prototyping, and customisation.

An increased buffer size and advanced buffer management technology improve network performance disruptions. Expanded support for IT security standards includes HTTPS, support for audio streams and the web-based management interface, plus secure, encrypted SIP (voice-over-IP) communications using TLS and SRTP.

System Configuration Tool

Installation of multiple Exstreamer M400 units can be integrated via the System Configuration Tool. A dash board enables multiple devices to be grouped in zones and to specify up to five prioritised source streams for each unit.

For example, emergency notifications can be set to override background music playback, as well as the relative volume of each stream. Settings can be copied from one Exstreamer M400 to multiple others simultaneously to significantly speed up multi-unit configuration.

Ideal for IP audio applications

The Exstreamer M400 features stereo, line-level, analogue audio output with RCA-type connections

The Exstreamer M400 features stereo, line-level, analogue audio output with RCA-type connections and can decode streams in MP3, AAC-HE, FLAC, PCM, Opus, and Ogg Vorbis formats, as well as supporting SIP and secure SIP in peer-to-peer and server modes.

Other new features relative to earlier Exstreamer models include IPV6 support, internal audio file storage with externally-triggered playback, and support for Singlewire Software’s InformaCast and Syn-Apps (now part of Intrado) emergency notification platforms with automatic endpoint registration.

The Exstreamer M400 initially targets IP audio applications in the professional AV market, including background music, paging, SIP/VoIP integration, and emergency notifications. Direct support for Barix’s flagship IC Paging and Simple Paging solutions, scheduled for release later in Q2, will allow Exstreamer M400s to be easily added as endpoints.

AES67 support for high-quality audio transport

The highly extensible device will also be expanded with robust functionality for radio broadcasters in future firmware updates, such as AES67 support for high-quality audio transport between facilities and interoperability with Dante-based devices.

Such upgradeability is a key advantage of the Exstreamer M400 IP Audio Decoder’s Linux-based architecture, supporting Barix’s mission of continual improvement, while enabling Barix engineers to quickly customise device firmware to meet customer requirements.

Modern API

A modern Application Programming Interface (API) is planned for future release for developers, replacing earlier Exstreamer models’ older CGI control specification, as part of Barix’s commitment to support the latest technology standards.

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