Barix AG - Experts & Thought Leaders

Barix celebrates its 25th year in business at InfoComm with the launch of a new Annuncicom two-way audio solution that continues its legacy of bridging analogue systems with IP networks. To be shown at Booth 2832, the new Annuncicom AHE-YA404 gives integrators an all-in-one solution to modernise legacy 2 or 4-wire intercom and paging solutions without the need to replace existing cabling or call stations. Legacy intercom panels Specifically, the Annuncicom AHE-YA404 is a powerful analogue headend with integrated VoIP SIP support and onboard amplification. The 1RU device enables seamless paging and intercom functionality from standard SIP phone to as many as 16 individual legacy intercom panels. Importantly, the AHE-YA404 offers direct connection to speaker/microphone and call-button panels without the need to replace existing cabling or call stations. Upon establishing connectivity, the headend enables two-way HDX communication and room monitoring within help points, emergency intercoms, and security systems among other applications. Internet security standards The Annuncicom product line is one of Barix’s core flagship brands dating back to company’s earliest years The Annuncicom product line is one of Barix’s core flagship brands dating back to company’s earliest years, and represents the company’s legacy in bidirectional voice and audio over IP products for use in almost any application and business vertical.  The Annuncicom AHE-YA404 carries that legacy forward with a modern hardware and software architecture that ensures long-term reliability, full compliance with current internet security standards, and easy adaptation to specific customer needs. Annuncicom AHE-YA404 Like all modern Barix Audio over IP devices, the Annuncicom AHE-YA404 supports a wide range of professional audio environments including Dante®, SIP, InformaCast, and Syn-Apps, and handles popular codecs such as PCM, AACplus, MP3, OPUS, G.711, and G.722.  Advanced features include priority-based paging, background music, and scheduled or network-triggered audio file playback — features that strengthen its value proposition as an all-in-one solution. Analogue intercom systems “Barix has a rich legacy of bringing paging and intercom systems at schools, hospitals, factories, train stations and more onto IP networks. That includes building bridges to SIP functionality to efficiently manage connections for voice calls over the network,” said Reto Brader, CEO, Barix. Reto Brader adds, “Our latest Annuncicom innovation allows our customers to upgrade their analogue intercom systems without removing cables and intercom panels, providing integrators with a direct and accelerated path to IP paging and intercom that keeps costs and labour manageable for all involved.” InfoComm takes place June 11-13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

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.

Barix has announced the schedule for its newest series of webinars, which are designed to inform and inspire systems integrators, installers, service providers and AV managers with in-depth, technical insights about key trends in audio over IP. Two of the sessions will focus on key considerations and opportunities in upgrading analog speakers and audio installations to IP, while the remaining webinars explore the use of streaming audio over IP for background music systems in retail environments and other public spaces. Upcoming webinars Pros and Cons of Upgrading an Existing Audio Installation to IP – Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 10 am CET and 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). This webinar will discuss why IP is important for systems integrators in project tenders; key system design considerations; differences between analog and digital installation processes; an overview of IP-enabled functionality and applications; and security factors. It will conclude with a live demonstration of Barix’s IP Former analog-to-IP speaker upgrade solution. Effectively Making Audio Installations IP Manageable – Tuesday, May 18 at 10 am CET and 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). This webinar will explore important steps in upgrading analog audio installations to IP, including key details the IT department needs to know; effectively planning the transition; common challenges and solutions; connecting and configuring the networked audio devices; and customisation. It will wrap up with a live demonstration of Barix’s IP Former hardware and management interface. Building a Scalable Background Music System (for Music Providers) – Tuesday, June 22 at 10 am CET and 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). This session will instruct music service providers on key considerations when designing and implementing a multi-site background music streaming system for retail, hospitality, and corporate environments. Discussions will include the solution architecture; device distribution; maintenance planning; ad insertion; local announcements; and a live demonstration of Barix’s RetailPlayer platform. How to Reduce the Installation Cost and Maintenance of a Background Music System – Tuesday, July 20 at 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). Deployment and operational costs can be among the most important elements of any background music (BGM) system. This webinar explores ways to minimise installation time and costs; functions that make a BGM system more valuable; the advantages of cloud-based management; ad insertion; and more. It concludes with a live RetailPlayer demonstration. Partnering for Webinar Barix will also be partnering with AVIXA to offer an Italian-language webinar, Audio over IP for Distribution of Background Music: Planning, Management and Control, on Wednesday, May 5. This session will cover technical issues related to distributing background music for “in-store” applications, including key components and techniques; installation planning; and the interaction between embedded audio devices at multiple endpoints and centralised, cloud-based control.