Zurich-based festival to share live content to listeners over the air and over the internet

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, August 12, 2013 — IP audio and control specialist Barix will help the International Radio Festival getting its message out to the world this September: Radio is the world’s most consumed medium, and it’s time that the industry celebrates its greatness.

The International Radio Festival is the world’s largest public on-air festival, offering global audiences the chance to “Listen to how the World Sounds” over a four-day period – and on a single channel. The programs will broadcast live content representing different cultures every two hours, with over-the-air signals in Zurich and the cities and regions of festival guests including BBC Radio ONE, Ibiza Global Radio and Medina FM of Morocco. The programs will also stream online worldwide at http://www.internationalradiofestival.com.

The event, now in its fourth year, extends well beyond on-air celebrations. The festival offers a unique networking platform to share knowledge, explore audience trends and engage with global consumer and music business audiences onsite – including the B2B Forum, a hub for industry thought leaders and attendees to develop closer business and cultural relationships. The festival takes place September 4-8 at Schloss Sihlberg in Sihlberg, Switzerland.

Barix, which offers complete IP audio solutions for studio-to-transmitter links, online radio broadcast, syndicated program distribution, dynamic ad insertion and more, serves as the sole industry sponsor from the vendor side.

“This year the IRF invites more than 25 music radio shows, their creators and the radio stations that broadcast their shows – and otherwise engages with all stakeholders in the industry from presenters and program managers to music labels and technology leaders,” said Miguel Alvarez, co-founder, International Radio Festival. “Barix is a clear leader in the area of enabling broadcast solutions for radio, and the IRF has its sights firmly set on working with industry leaders and authoritative voices in this exciting industry.”

Alvarez’ partner and co-founder Darryl von Daniken adds that the IRF embraces all forms of radio and related broadcast and audio technology, and aims to act as a knowledge center for attendees that are pressured to keep up with leading edge technologies and developments.

“Barix feels strongly about representing a forum like the IRF that is open to all who love music-oriented radio,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “It is an honor to sponsor this event, which is happening in our hometown. We are very happy to help the International Radio Festival to offer an opportunity for those interested to attend this festival, network with peers, and physically watch and experience how radio is made.”

Solution enables peer-to-peer device communication between Rava-enabled touch screens and analog door stations while minimizing costs and infrastructure

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, July 1, 2013 — IP audio and control specialist Barix, which in January announced its intent to support Crestron Rava™ SIP intercom and phone technology, today announces the availability of the Annuncicom 200-Rava — a unique, bidirectional IP audio interface for door stations that allows PTT (push-to-talk) intercom with Crestron Rava-enabled touch screens. The Annuncicom joins an elite list of Crestron Connected™ devices embedded with Crestron control intelligence to enable native communication and seamless operation with Crestron control technologies.

Combine Crestron Rava-enabled touch screens with an analog door station and the Annuncicom 200-Rava for a complete residential, office and small business IP intercom solution. The Barix Annuncicom 200-Rava device is built specifically for these environments, and includes specialized SIP firmware to simplify integration of Rava-enabled touch screens with analog devices, such as intercom panels. The device also includes built-in amplification, reducing infrastructure at installation points and minimizing equipment costs.

Crestron Rava touch screens leverage SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) to permit voice intercom, telephone and paging (point-to-point and group) among other applications. The Barix device uniquely establishes compatibility between Rava-enabled touch screens and door stations without a central server. This allows customers to continue to use existing devices when upgrading to Rava touch screens, providing seamless IP to analog integration.

Systems integrators, meanwhile, eliminate the time and labor associated with configuring servers to enable SIP compatibility between Rava touch screens and connected devices. Barix firmware allows these devices to discover each other on the network, making the Annuncicom 200-Rava the first Crestron-approved solution to offer such seamless peer-to-peer device connectivity. The result is a reliable, SIP-compatible solution that effectively bridges analog and digital components within Rava environments.

The bidirectional, push-to-talk functionality offers an additional benefit in residential and commercial neighborhoods where street noise adversely affects door station communication. This eliminates exterior noise when a homeowner or business employee is talking to an outside target, effectively enabling clearer communication between the two parties.

To learn more about the Annuncicom-200-Rava visit: http://www.gobarix.com/.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, June 5, 2013 — Leading corporate music provider DMD2 of Switzerland is bringing fresh energy to newly remodeled Victorinox retail stores on two continents using IP-based in-store media solutions from Barix. The Barix devices reliably play out a unique and exciting DMD2-programmed music mix that meets the retail giant’s new branding requirements.

DMD2, which also handles Barix device configuration, service monitoring and music licensing, chose Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoders for playout due to their high audio quality and reliability. DMD2 delivers the program as a single stream across seven stores in Europe and five in Hong Kong.

Habegger AG, a Swiss event and corporate architecture supplier, engaged with DMD2 to develop an in-store music concept that matched the new Victorinox store designs. The channel development phase gave birth to the “Victorinox music mix,” constantly updated with new releases as part of an eclectic music mix from the 70s to the early 2000s.

This was a new concept to the Victorinox stores as many used CD players, FM tuners or iPods to play music. DMD2 considered Barix an ideal partner to transition the stores to IP audio delivery, as many of the tools to support the new stream were well suited for Barix hardware. The music originates from datacenters in Bern, Switzerland and is delivered to Barix Exstreamer devices in each store as 64kb/s mp3 streams, with expectations to add AAC+ streams moving forward.

“We’ll eventually switch to AAC+ 48kbps encoding to increase stream stability for retail stores in the more remote areas,” said Alexander dal Farra, owner and president of DMD2. “The flexibility of Barix devices is a big benefit in this regard, as the Exstreamer offers both MP3 and AAC+ decoding functionality. This makes migration to AAC+ an easy task.”

With stores in such cities as Zurich, Dusseldorf, Hong Kong and Geneva, Victorinox now has a corporate audio solution that gives exceptional control to the brand management department.

“It’s no longer an ‘everybody is a DJ’ approach within the different store locations,” said dal Farra. “This streamlined process has also brought a fair amount of convenience to the store staff as there is no more music editorial work, licensing or normalizing of tracks.”

Dal Farra added that the new solution also provides Victorinox headquarters with the option to introduce real-time advertisements using ad injection software — a potential revenue generator that would quickly monetize the new in-store audio network.

New enhancements to radio broadcast, partyline intercom solutions enhance quality and streamline configuration

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, April 2, 2013 — Barix comes to the 2013 show with new enhancements to its professional two-way IP audio solutions for broadcast radio and intercom, improving quality in sound and communications. Barix also continues to simplify system setup for customers, eliminating traditional IP configuration processes to have customers streaming audio within minutes.

The company will show its Partyline Intercom solution at the 2013 NAB Show, highlighting open-channel communications across multiple parties without audio interference — especially ideal in fast-paced video production environments. New enhancements eliminate the need to configure IP addresses and servers, stripping away the complexity often associated with multipoint IP audio system setup.

Barix will demonstrate how camera operators and other production personnel can use the compact Annuncicom PS1 on the move, utilizing a push-to-talk button with selectable audio channels to facilitate communications amongst directors and production personnel.

Radio Broadcast Solutions
Barix enhances its Exstreamer 500 bi-directional audio device at the 2013 NAB Show to improve audio quality and streaming flexibility. The device now supports both constant and variable bitrate, with the former added to simplify streaming to Shoutcast and Icecast servers – pertinent for extending how broadcasters incorporate Barix IP audio solutions for live streaming and syndicated program distribution. A new chip improves quality of the analog-to-digital conversion path to enhance professional broadcast sound.

The Exstreamer 500 is a multiprotocol encoder and decoder with balanced audio and professional I/O options for signal relay and control. In broadcast, it is ideal for STL and remote contribution applications. Broadcasters can simplify configuration using the Exstreamer 500 with the Barix Reflector Service, creating a complete streaming audio solution that replicates a received stream to an unlimited number of destinations through the public internet. The Reflector Service is based on a simple server-client architecture that removes IP address, server and other configuration hassles.

The start of the year is always busy at Barix, with trade shows and 1001 new ideas to work on! This year we had the added work of rebranding the company – no small task as we have grown in the last years!

Keeping track of industry developments and getting feedback from customers can be difficult in such circumstances, and in the last year we have turned increasingly to social media as a source of information and a place to give and get feedback.

This blog is one example, and for years we’ve offered support to the Barix community through our forums. Just over a year ago we set up the “BarixAG”- youtube channel, which contains a mix of Solutions ideas and practical howtos. Specialist groups on LinkedIn are also a great way to keep abreast of issues, and to give and get advice from other industry professionals. Here are a few that we have found useful:

– Audio over IP for broadcast
– Broadcast Engineering and Technical Professionals
– Broadcast Professionals
– In-Store Music and Messaging Professionals
– On Hold Messaging Association – OHMA

… of course there are MANY more … but be careful! It is easy to let such things steal too much time as well!

Barix are audio over IP; it’s what we do.
Over the years, we have worked closely with our customers to develop products that excel. Now we move to extend that synergy, simplifying life for our customers by delivering easy to use, targeted solutions for specific applications.
Join us as we take the first steps in the journey at our new website www.barix.com

One little known feature of the Barix INSTREAMER is it’s built in support for live streaming in a Cisco environment – easy to overlook in such a feature packed device!
Nonetheless, word is getting back to us more and more frequently of customers using the functionality, primarily in one of two configurations:

– as a ‘Live Stream’ where users can dial an extension and hear the Instreamer audio; a dealer room is one example of where this can be useful, the Instreamer is streaming a live feed of market data.

– to stream live audio for music on hold; for example a local radio station (make sure that you have the rights / have paid the royalty fees before rebroadcasting any radio channel!). A great customer story here: http://www.netcraftsmen.net/resources/blogs/live-stream-music-on-hold-and-cisco-uc-on-ucs-barix.html

This second option is distinct from ‘traditional’ Music/Messaging on Hold supported by the Exstreamer MOH Client firmware, where a fixed file is played repeatedly to callers on hold. More here: http://www.moh-technology.com/news/161/

Powerful audio-over-IP solution based on the networked Barix Annuncicom 155 and Annuncicom VME enables programmed recordings, live announcements and intercom functionality

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, September 18 2012 – Barix AG, a leading supplier in the field of IP-based audio transmission technology, is using this year’s InnoTrans (September 18-21, Berlin Exhibition Centre, Stand 4.1/224) to highlight a prestigious project of its Swiss customer Ortics GmbH in Brazil, in which around 400 Barix components from the “Annuncicom” family are being deployed.

Ortics, together with a European partner, is supplying a key part of the new passenger information system for the Metro trains in São Paulo, Brazil. The modernisation project, being realised by a Brazilian consortium, has already started and is set for completion in 2014. 25 trains, each comprising six carriages, are being fitted out by Ortics with modern voice communication, system software and vehicle diagnostics systems. Opened in 1974, the São Paulo Metro operates five lines, with 64 stations, having an overall length of about 74 kilometres, some sections of which are underground.

The project sees 16 Annuncicom 155 units and 2 Annuncicom VME cards installed in every train. The Annuncicom 155 is a robust device for VOIP, intercom and IP-paging that Barix has developed specially for harsh everyday operation in trains, buses and ships. Its deployment in the São Paulo Metro enables the train driver to initiate manual as well as automated announcements, and to communicate with passengers via emergency intercom points. The Annuncicom VME is a variant in card format for 19″ VME racks, deployed by Ortics as an interface module with digital and analogue signals for the actuation of local amplifiers.

To Lorenz Trachsel, CEO of Ortics GmbH, Barix components are ideal in complimenting his own passenger information systems. “Following very positive experiences with the integration capabilities, the functionality and the reliability of Barix products, it stood to reason that we should once again opt for the members of the Annuncicom family for the current project in Brazil.” Amongst the benefits of the Barix solutions for Mr. Trachsel are custom programmability, enabling perfect alignment to customer requirements, potential prioritisation of safety-relevant announcements and integrated functions for line monitoring.

Demonstration to emphasize significance of audio integration into IP video systems for life safety and security

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, September 4, 2012 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, in-tercom, control, and monitoring, will exhibit at ASIS International (September 10-13, Philadelphia Con-vention Center) for the first time – bringing its range of IP audio and control solutions to the profes-sional security end user.

Barix will exhibit within the Milestone Systems booth (#3126), underlining the increasing significance of audio in surveillance operations, and the importance of improving audio quality and flexibility of distribution for live paging and public address.

“Security professionals have realized that video is no longer enough,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and founder of Barix AG. “Human beings have ears and a mouth to go with the eyes, and there is a clear advantage when all three of these senses are used in surveillance and other security-related appli-cations. The ability to cleanly integrate high-quality audio and video over a common IP network delivers cost savings and greatly simplifies installation for the user.”

Many video-centric security industry vendors have already integrated Barix audio over IP into their solutions, including industry leaders such as Milestone Systems. Milestone integrates Barix Exstreamer one-way and Annuncicom two-way IP audio devices into Milestone XProtect IP video management software to support paging and public address (one-way); and audio surveillance and intercom (two-way). Milestone also supports Barix Barionet IP control devices within its XProtect software to bridge physical device and software layers, effectively triggering camera movements and activating video recording based on motion, lights, doorbells and other events.

Barix will show its latest IP audio and control devices on the Milestone booth, including the Annuncicom 60 introduced this June and being shown to security audiences for the first time. The Annuncicom 60 is a low-cost IP audio device that serves as a gateway between VoIP, IP paging and intercom systems, and traditional components including call boxes, loudspeakers and microphones. The device offers plenty of flexibility, with operators able to issue verbal warnings or instructions to people under surveillance; or to communicate with callers at an SOS help point, for example.

Barix will also demonstrate how its latest Exstreamer audio output devices with Power over Ethernet (PoE) and built-in amplification can help end users consolidate and minimize technology components at end points — simplifying infrastructure and reducing deployment costs while offering very high audio quality for voice clarity.

Marcel van der Meijs, vice president of sales and marketing for Barix, will offer a presentation on Barix integration to XProtect at 11am, Wednesday, September 12 at the Milestone booth. Attendees will learn how IP audio can help security personnel more effectively draw attention to criminals, monitor activity and communicate, reliably trigger video recordings and alarms, and even deliver background music over the same network — with priority interruptions for page messages, warnings and security announcements.

“There is no limit to the benefits that audio can bring to video-centric security systems,” said van der Meijs. “The ability to talk back to a location in a city surveillance project, for example, can easily prevent a crime from taking place. And the ability to trigger lights and video in dark areas based on audio events can offer security personnel a clear picture into what is happening. Meanwhile, gunshots, screams and other emergency situations captured by these devices can automatically trigger alarms for immediate attention from monitoring centers. These are all important benefits that can make a real difference.”

M.M.S. Srl (Milano Music Service) selects Barix as Audio over IP streaming solution for VII World Meeting of Families

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, July 24, 2012 – Audio over IP pioneer Barix AG provided a high-quality streaming solution at the VII World Meeting of Families at the Bresso Airport near Milan, Italy, wirelessly delivering religious services in real-time to more than 300 loudspeakers positioned throughout the grounds.

The Catholic Church organizes the World Meeting of Families every three years. This year’s five-day event was held May 30 through June 3, including two main services led by Pope Benedict XVI. An estimated one million people were on hand at Bresso Airport to witness the services, which were also broadcast on television worldwide.

M.M.S. Srl, a premier Italian audio/visual company, provided the audio distribution installation and selected Barix IP audio products for their reliability and cost-efficiency. Four Barix Exstreamer 500 devices encoded the audio for streaming over an Ubiquiti Nanostation 5 AirMax 5.4 Ghz network, feeding four transmission towers.

The Exstreamer 500 devices provided the very low latency required to deliver pristine-quality audio streams in real-time.

M.M.S. Srl also connected 22 Barix Exstreamer 100 to Ubiquiti Nanostation receivers for reliable audio decoding at the loudspeaker points. The loudspeakers were distributed amongst 24 towers to cover numerous audio paths, with the most distant end points located approximately three-quarters of a mile from the stage.

“It was imperative that the audio was carried wirelessly, and the other products we tested did not come close to the consistency of the Barix products,” said Domenico Carnuccio, sound engineer, M.M.S. Srl. “They allowed us to deploy a strong audio network in a short amount of time and at a reasonable price.”

About Barix AG (www.barix.com)
Barix AG, headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, specializes in research and development of state of the art IP based communication and control technology. The company is a long-term and reliable supplier of IP audio and control devices, with more than 150,000 devices shipped in its first decade of business. Barix products are stand-alone and able to remotely connect worldwide over standard networks / Internet offering new and improved solutions to the commercial audio distribution, communication and automation industry. Barix products provide solutions in Audio over IP (audio distribution and monitoring, communication, security) and automation (remote controlling, monitoring and maintenance).

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Barix AG, Seefeldstrasse 303, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 43 43322 11, Fax: +41 44 2742849
Barix Technology Inc, St. Paul, MN – (866) 815-0866
http://www.barix.com
http://www.ip-audio.info