Audio over IP pioneer’s first new Instreamer encoding device since 2007 delivers big benefits to new and existing customers – at a much lower cost

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, June 11, 2012 — Barix comes to InfoComm 2012 (June 13-15, Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth C11722) with its first new Instreamer hardware device in five years — delivering big audio improvements at a lower cost in a greener, more energy-efficient package. The device retains its familiar compact, bulletproof design and feature set for long-time customers while bringing reliable, high-quality IP audio encoding to a new generation of users across many markets and verticals.

The previous-generation Barix Instreamer 100 is an industry standard for IP Audio deployments, used today in thousands of installations worldwide for radio broadcast links, confidence monitoring, audio surveillance and real-time audio encoding among other applications. The new Instreamer enhances audio performance through a new digital signage processor that delivers remarkable signal-to-noise ratio improvements.

This is also the first Instreamer release to support constant bit-rate monitoring, which improves MP3 streaming quality and buffering times on Windows Media and other server-based media players. The combined improvements diversify how the new Instreamer can be used, such as real-time IP encoding for video walls and digital signage systems.

Perhaps most notable for end users and systems integrators is the cost, which slashes the Instreamer 100 price by 15 percent. New energy-efficient advances that optimize power consumption and power supply — the new Instreamer uses a ‘mini-USB’ switch-mode power supply — also deliver ongoing value through reduced operational costs.

Barix CEO and Founder Johannes G. Rietschel notes that the low cost, ultimate reliability and ease of use separates the new Instreamer from anything else in the marketplace.

“The Instreamer remains a very versatile, network-enabled generic IP audio encoder that supports open standards and multiple formats, while minimizing latency and bandwidth usage,” said Rietschel. “No one does this as efficiently as Barix; the Instreamer is easy to use with minimal boot times, delivering reliable startup within seconds. The new Instreamer now supports MP3 encoding at constant bit-rate, which works more effectively with web-based media servers. With its much improved audio performance, the device stands apart from solutions that are ten times more expensive, fan-cooled and take forever to start up.”

The new Instreamer is ideal for a wide variety of applications, including:
Low-latency video wall encoding (digital signage, control room monitoring)
Classroom and lecture recording in universities and corporate applications
Scientific and technical audio
Audio injection into IP phone and paging systems for on-hold and background music
Live encoding for internet radio and broadcast signal confidence monitoring

The Instreamer also offers network alarms via SNMP traps to generate notifications for audio loss, ensuring that quality issues are immediately pinpointed and easily addressed.

New low-cost, reliable VoIP and IP Audio devices optimize features and functionality set for universal applications

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, June 7, 2012 — Barix has successfully marketed its two-way Annuncicom IP audio and SIP/VoIP devices around the world, bringing bidirectional audio streaming and control solutions to various markets within the commercial, entertainment, private sector and residential worlds.

Barix now builds on that success with the introduction of two new Annuncicom devices at InfoComm 2012 (June 13-15, Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth C11722) that are priced to compete in large-volume projects and applications.

The new Annuncicom 50 is built specifically for OEM applications. Barix is now shipping to OEM partners, including a key player in the education and classroom automation market. The device delivers Barix’s trademark rock-solid reliability, open standards design and multi-format audio capability at a very low cost for OEM customers.

Furthermore, Barix breaks new ground with the Annuncicom 60, a universal, programmable and ultra-compact device that offers the industry’s lowest cost today for reliable IP encoding and decoding. The small form factor is roughly 40 percent the size of existing Annuncicom devices, which are already renowned for offering a compact footprint to systems integrators and end users.

In simple terms, the Annuncicom 60 is an ideal single-zone paging interface device that can decode VoIP codecs as well as MP3, AACplus and PCM audio. Its inclusion of a built-in speaker amplifier, balanced line output and microphone interfaces, serial and contact closure control interfaces, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) support is unique to the market — delivering universal functionality at a competitive price.

“The Annuncicom 60 brings full-fledged functionality for low-cost paging and intercom while providing the high audio quality and format flexibility required for background music systems,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and founder of Barix AG. “With advanced capabilities like built-in, efficient amplification and PoE support to simplify installation, the Annuncicom 60 is ideally positioned to support the continuously growing number of IP Audio applications.”
The Annuncicom 60 enables striking cost and technical advantages for applications suited for many markets:
Reduces cost of entry for Barix IP intercom applications by at least 25 percent
Reduces high quality microphone encoder costs by at least 25 percent, whether for technical or security-related audio surveillance; or classroom lecture audio capture
VoIP and MP3/AACplus audio decoding capabilities enable merging of paging and background music applications
Lowest cost balanced output audio decoder solution for “mono” output applications (paging gateways, AM radio stations, etc.)

The Annuncicom 60 is also the lowest priced IP audio product from Barix to feature a symmetric output, making it suitable for in-store audio and general audio distribution applications requiring a 600-ohm balanced output. The 5W amplifier, when combined with an efficient 8-Ohm speaker, provides enough power for a typical room, hallway, lobby or classroom — making it ideal for single room paging zones and audio “help points” in retail stores and visitor attractions, for example.

.. we think that this is a key feature of Barix. The best IP Audio codec, STL device or automation controller won’t help you much if there is an issue “somewhere” in the system. Although an IP connection, once set up, is typically stable, things may go bad after some time .. being it a temporary issue at the ISP, the local router or an aging ethernet cable, the reasons are numerous.
Barix solutions can report various live statistics to help diagnose and are typically quite resilient to problems. However, at some stage, you, our customer, will probably have the need to talk to someone in person who is quick, competent  and able to help !
We are able to support in at least 5 world languages, and our staff does not ask about forms to be filled out and expensive hotlines to call. They just help.

We deem this an important part of Barix’ culture and it is one of the reasons why Barix is so highly regarded in the market.
Below is a recent customer feedback which speaks for itself.
We always appreciate to hear back from you, in such cases as well as in others where we could have done better !
Johannes

Good Morning!

Shawn Newman
Radio Asia – NJ/PA/DC

We really like this news about a Road Tunnel project in Israel, it demonstrates the power of open systems that we have been advocating for more than 10 years; using IP to bring together audio, video and data into a single system that simplifies the operation of what is a highly complex installation.

http://thinkinghighways.com/Pages/View-issue/Magazine.aspx?id=0682dd32-8439-4df6-92f2-35036137a149&issue=d95a1bc4-d10a-46f4-a914-a744d3d41d9d

It’s NAB this week and, as ever, we have a strong team there spreading the word! If you’re at NAB, why not swing on by booth C1139 to find out what we’re up to?

You’ll be able to see the new Annuncicom PS1, which is ideal for use as a Broadcast production intercom, small footprint paging station and so much more…

If you’re not there, you can find out more here: http://www.barix.com/Annuncicom_PS1/1781/

Swedish company exclusively uses Barix to enhance the shopping experience through the power of music

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, March 5, 2012 — Barix is exclusively providing IP audio decoding solutions to Music in Brands for the delivery of unique music programming to retail stories and other public areas. The company uses Barix for both direct audio streaming and store-and-forward solutions in businesses around Sweden, providing flexible, low-cost playout solutions for in-store campaigns.

Based in Stockholm, Music in Brands creates musical identities for brands through audio, designing specialty programs that match the business and its customers. The company produces a custom radio station for each business, building unique playlists that update regularly to keep programming fresh and store environments lively.

“Music is a very important piece of the shopper experience, and we want to play music that matches the environment without repeating the same songs over and over,” said Anders Svensson, president of Music in Brands. “There is a lot of psychology involved because customers can shop elsewhere if they don’t like the music. We operate similarly to a radio station to improve the atmosphere. This results in increased loyalty, more committed personnel and increased buying behavior.”

Svensson points to several customers currently using Music in Brands audio branding with Barix in-store technology, including Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo; telecom companies Telenor and 3; retail businesses JC and Polarn O. Pyret; and the Scandic Hotels chain. Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoders reliably receive and play out high-quality audio at multiple locations for these businesses, while minimizing expenses through low device cost and simple installation. Svensson and his team configure the devices and ship them to the store locations, where employees typically install the devices themselves.

Locations with plenty of network bandwidth receive continuous, high-quality AACplus audio streams, while those with stricter bandwidth limitations — like JC and Polarn O. Pyret — use Barix’s store-and-forward capability to download the streams to the devices for MP3 audio playout.

For Scandic Hotels, Music in Brands produces five music channels streamed simultaneously to the hotel. Staff can choose jazz music in the bar or easy-listening in the lounge using the Barix channel selector function. Svensson has found the Barix Exstreamer 200, featuring a built-in amplifier (2x25W), especially helpful in smaller stores such as those operated by Telenor and 3.

“We have mostly used Exstreamer 100s to this point, but the Exstreamer 200 is a very cost-effective and space-saving solution for small shops,” said Svensson. “We can provide an entire solution with an Exstreamer 200 and a few speakers, with Barix providing the IP receiver and amplifier in one device.”

Svensson also noted the importance of Barix’s open-source software, which allowed him to freely build a custom monitoring program to access information from every device in the network. “Barix takes care of all the in-store playout needs while allowing us to see everything that is happening across the network,” said Svensson. “They were clearly the best choice for cost, flexibility, audio quality and reliability.”

Hi everyone,

2 weeks ago Barix had an all hands event, which was a great opportunity to pull together our employees from across the globe – Europeans, North and South Americans. We spent 3 days not only getting lost in the Black Forest, but also exchanging ideas and learning from each other.
One lesson learnt was the importance of keeping in touch, both within the company and also with our customers. To do that, it makes sense to have more than one person contributing to the blog, hence my first post!

My name is David Gostick, I work in the Marketing team. In my time at Barix I’ve witnessed a lot of growth and seen some amazing projects come to life, from OEM projects for major multinationals like Bosch, through to helping nightclubs set up audio streaming to ‘share the scene’!

In future blogs I will share some of this with you, and I also hope that you will give feedback about your projects, so go on: tell us! We are always looking to exchange ideas and to grow the Barix community – maybe your solution could be an inspiration to others.

Happy Easter!

Cheers,
David

Swedish company exclusively uses Barix to enhance the shopping experience through the power of music

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, March 5, 2012 — Barix is exclusively providing IP audio decoding solutions to Music in Brands for the delivery of unique music programming to retail stories and other public areas. The company uses Barix for both direct audio streaming and store-and-forward solutions in businesses around Sweden, providing flexible, low-cost playout solutions for in-store campaigns.

Based in Stockholm, Music in Brands creates musical identities for brands through audio, designing specialty programs that match the business and its customers. The company produces a custom radio station for each business, building unique playlists that update regularly to keep programming fresh and store environments lively.

“Music is a very important piece of the shopper experience, and we want to play music that matches the environment without repeating the same songs over and over,” said Anders Svensson, president of Music in Brands. “There is a lot of psychology involved because customers can shop elsewhere if they don’t like the music. We operate similarly to a radio station to improve the atmosphere. This results in increased loyalty, more committed personnel and increased buying behavior.”

Svensson points to several customers currently using Music in Brands audio branding with Barix in-store technology, including Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo; telecom companies Telenor and 3; retail businesses JC and Polarn O. Pyret; and the Scandic Hotels chain. Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoders reliably receive and play out high-quality audio at multiple locations for these businesses, while minimizing expenses through low device cost and simple installation. Svensson and his team configure the devices and ship them to the store locations, where employees typically install the devices themselves.

Locations with plenty of network bandwidth receive continuous, high-quality AACplus audio streams, while those with stricter bandwidth limitations — like JC and Polarn O. Pyret — use Barix’s store-and-forward capability to download the streams to the devices for MP3 audio playout.

For Scandic Hotels, Music in Brands produces five music channels streamed simultaneously to the hotel. Staff can choose jazz music in the bar or easy-listening in the lounge using the Barix channel selector function. Svensson has found the Barix Exstreamer 200, featuring a built-in amplifier (2x25W), especially helpful in smaller stores such as those operated by Telenor and 3.

“We have mostly used Exstreamer 100s to this point, but the Exstreamer 200 is a very cost-effective and space-saving solution for small shops,” said Svensson. “We can provide an entire solution with an Exstreamer 200 and a few speakers, with Barix providing the IP receiver and amplifier in one device.”

Svensson also noted the importance of Barix’s open-source software, which allowed him to freely build a custom monitoring program to access information from every device in the network. “Barix takes care of all the in-store playout needs while allowing us to see everything that is happening across the network,” said Svensson. “They were clearly the best choice for cost, flexibility, audio quality and reliability.”

Bi-directional audio path also supports intercom communications

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, February 29, 2012 — Barix AG unveils its Annuncicom PS1 Paging Station to the security industry at the ISC West show (March 28-30, Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas, Booth 8134).  The compact, elegant device gives commercial businesses, office buildings, educational institutions, medical facilities and others a simple, fully-integrated hardware solution for paging and intercom over IP.

The PS1 features two backlit push-to-talk buttons, volume control and a built-in speaker and microphone, giving security guards, receptionists and other operators a simple way to make announcements to an entire facility.   The device’s IP addressability enables a simple connection to the network, allowing systems integrators and end users to take advantage of existing infrastructure, reducing costs and equipment requirements.  Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability further simplifies installation, requiring only a single cable to the device.

Bi-directional capability enables intercom for facility-wide, two-way communications — taking the PS1 beyond a basic paging device for ski areas, university campuses and other large areas that require talkback capability.  This feature is especially helpful for security-related applications.

Barix introduced its first master paging station, the Annuncicom PS16, in 2009 to support complex, multi-zone paging and intercom applications.  The PS1 addresses market needs for a simple and reliable, yet elegant and affordable solution.

“Many Barix customers have reported the need for a simple, compact one-to-two button desktop paging station for universal use,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix.  “Users can page or make general announcements without a learning curve.  Ease of use and reliability were of paramount importance in its design.”

The compact PS1 design accommodates wall-mount and desktop installations, with minimal real estate requirements.  This makes the PS1 ideal for central offices and control rooms, as well as secondary rooms and remote points.

Existing Barix customers can easily integrate the PS1 with other Barix devices on a network, including Instreamer IP encoders, Exstreamer IP decoders and Annuncicom two-way IP devices — enabling a complete, customized Barix IP audio and control solution that meet the requirements of the facility.  The PS1 can also merge with background music systems — ideal for retailers, restaurants, hotels, clubs and other entertainment venues that wish to break into a stream with announcements.

Professionally-produced, private-label radio station now heard in nearly 90 stores

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, February 14, 2012 — Barix is exclusively providing IP audio decoding solutions to RFC Media for its private-label, retail radio network for Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods that has grown to nearly 90 store locations across Texas.  The project underscores Barix’s expertise in Audio over IP solutions for both radio broadcast and in-store media applications.

RFC Media, managed by longtime radio broadcast professionals, creates custom-produced, Internet-delivered radio stations for private enterprises, supplying music with live breaks to create a true broadcast experience.  The company uses Barix Exstreamer 100 IP audio devices to receive and decode its professionally-produced program streams at client locations, citing ease of use and setup, stability, low cost and audio quality as key differentiators from competitive solutions.

“Barix gives us the power we need to ensure our clients have continuous, uninterrupted service of a living, breathing radio station,” said Pat Fant, co-founder and chief operating officer, RFC Media. “Plug in the Exstreamer, and it’s ready to make radio. I’m not sure we could deliver the same quality broadcast experience at the same price without Barix.”

RFC Media differentiates itself from background music services by offering a true hosted radio station experience. “Host presenters” make announcements — live or on delay — related to the business during music breaks. All clients receive customized music programs updated every 24 hours, including Spec’s Radio, the private-label radio station created for the Texas retail chain.

“We’re not a playlist company – we’re radio people,” said Fant. “We have a professional production studio with the equipment and software to put together and stream a full presentation. This stems from our background as broadcasters. We approach this differently from interruption-style media common in background music systems. We talk to the customer instead of advertising to them.”

Fant adds that Barix makes it simple to add locations. The RFC Media staff handles device configuration (five minutes or less per device) and adds new IP addresses to the network. The devices are shipped to client locations along with instructions for two simple connections.

“The fact that these are simple to use and configure makes it easier for us and our clients,” said Fant. “We minimize our costs by not sending installers to each store with a toolkit and spools of wire. The locations just need a high-speed internet connection and the ability to plug an Exstreamer into a sound system, and they are ready to go.”

“Broadcasters approach in-store media with a different twist,” said Johannes Rietschel, CEO and founder of Barix. “Playlist-based elevator music is often boring, and the personal touch RFC Media adds with individual programming and live announcements makes full use of Barix capabilities: reliable, real-time streaming with system-wide ease of use.”

Spec’s Radio can also be heard online at http://www.radiofreecruze.com/SpecsPlayer.html and via a custom mobile iPhone app. RFC Media is building a similar network for NASA, although at this time the private radio station, “Third Rock, America’s Space Station, is online only at http://www.nasa.gov.