Limited space is still available for the Barix Training, which is held next week in Orlando alongside the Infocomm show.

The training will provide an overview about the products offered, the markets, and the technologies used in the Barix Audio over IP as well as IP control devices.

Participation fee is US$150, the attendee gets an Exstreamer 100, Barix’ most popular product, free with the registration, so that is actually a really good deal !

Please contact Barix if you want to participate, but hurry, the event is held already next tuesday (June 1th) !

Johannes

This post is in regards to the Barionet - control products, not audio products …

As you know, the Barionet is securing infrastructure, measuring and managing energy, voltages, controlling HVAC systems and supervising power substations since many years.

And, yes, quite some systems also use it for home automation applications ..

One request we hear quite often is that the device should have a RTC (realtime clock), so that it knows the time when it starts up, even if there is no network connection (once it gets the time via NTP from a server, it can maintain it locally, so the RTC is really only needed for having the time after startup with no network).

Good news: the current firmware supports the Dallas Onewire DS1904 RTC button. You can either connect it to the onewire interface, or you can even put it inside the barionet case if you can solder and mount it with velcro or the like.

Here is a link to a wiki article which describes how to do this: Barionet with RTC

What do you get from that ? A low cost universal, network connected I/O controller with RTC, speaking Modbus/TCP, SNMP as well as ASCII protocols, fully programmable …

Please stay tuned for news on the new Barionet 50 model, coming out in the next couple of weeks.
Johannes

Barix offers an IP Audio and Barix Product presentation workshop alongside NAB, Infocomm and IBC in Las Vegas, Orlando and Amsterdam this year. This workshop runs one day and covers all Barix products and applications in various industries. Workshop at NAB and IBC is focusing more on Broadcast, whereas the workship at Infocomm is targeting more general applications.

Please check out the schedule on the website

Please register early as space is limited !

Johannes

Barix has cut a deal with DMD2, a swiss content provider, makers of hotelchannel.fm.

We will launch Barix Radio within the next days ! Official press release to follow.

Barix Radio is hosted by our friends at streamguys.com and provides a genuine mix of really good music, no ads, and is fully licensed in Switzerland, so you can listen to Barix Radio internationally for pleasure at home, in your office or even play it in your factory (you may owe local licensing in your country, something we cannot do for your or control).

Barix Radio, also serves as a nice test channel for Audio over IP applications, and we will preprogram the URL in the Streaming Client firmware so that you can instantly listen to nice music as soon as you have an internet connection (of course you can change that).

The stream is provided as a 128kbps MP3 stream, and an AACplus stream will follow soon.

Please provide feedback, either by our web contact form, or - of course, on the blog.

Johannes

It took some time, but now - finally - the Ethersound implementation in the Barix devices is ready for prime time !

Barix was able to implement the ES100/Spkr variant (output only, no daisy chaining), which integrates perfectly within an Ethersound system, in Software.

The Functionality is useable in all Exstreamer and Annuncicom products, so you now have a wide choice of interfaces from Ethersound to amplifiers, direct to speakers, AES/EBU …. everything Barix can offer !

Very low delay (much less than 2ms with Exstreamer 1000), 2 independent channels per device which can be configured and dynamically controlled to output any of the 64 Ethersound Channels, and a very affordable solution are the key reasons for using Barix devices in an Ethersound installation.
And, of course, the same device can also be used for standard IP Audio distribution (but not at the same time, Ethersound needs exclusivity of the network).
If you want dynamic channel selection, you can combine the Exstreamer with an IR remote control or the VSC - volume source control.

The first customer project has been successfully installed and announced: Barix Ethersound installation

Typical applications include

- audience speaker interface in theaters, dance floors, stadiums
- listening stations in dressing rooms in theatres
- Ethersound based transportation audio systems - speakers
- Retrieve an Ethersound audio channel/signal and feed into an IP network (2 Barix devices back to back)

Please contact Barix for any questions !

Johannes

Barix has published a collection of test tones and test files, available for free download for everyone, on the website.

http://www.barix.com/downloads/Tools_and_Accessories/1791/

These are intended for testing purposes in the IP Audio and IP Intercom applications, and sampled/generated in high quality. A wide choice of sample rates and codecs is available.

Please share with whoever may be interested.

Johannes

Tomorrow DSE opens in Las Vegas - Barix showcases its Audio over IP distribution solutions at booth 1648.

Please come by at the booth to check out our IP Audio distribution solution, talk about the applications in your company and why you should switch from Satellite distribution to IP delivery of your shopping radio. This is probably especially interesting in these days where Muzak filed Chapter 11 and customers may wonder what is happening …
With a Barix IP distribution for retail radio, you can use the IP infrastructure for reliable distribution - you OWN the infrastructure, and you are NOT tied into one content provider or proprietary equipment.

And .. best of all, you can do very targeted streaming, individual on a per location basis.

When you come to the booth, mention the Blog for a little surprise, please

Johannes

Yesterday the news was about Muzak .. today it is the next gen satellite based delivery:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/technology/report-sirius-xm-braces-chapter/

I guess more and more users of corporate music, instore audio, retail radio applications using these services will see that they are quite well “on hook” with proprietary hardware/distribution solutions.

Using Barix IP Audio devices for delivery is cost effective, uses existing connectivity (about all locations now have IP connectivity), and, since the introduction of AACplus v2 decoding capability in the popular Exstreamer product line, can use very low bandwidth for good audio quality distribution over the internet or intranet ! No need for dishes on the roof and cabling, “receivers” can be put anywhere where there is network connectivity …

And the best part of it: If an ISP, a content provider or even Barix goes belly up (filing chapter 11 is typically the first step to do so or change service models etc), the owner of the system, the user of the IP Audio distribution system, has the choice to pick other parnters. Barix IP Audio devices are standards based and use open interfaces - anyone can control and use them !

Visit us at Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas and check out an IP based audio streaming solution in real ! Or check out our special information page about IP Audio applications, especially for retail radio.
Johannes

Look at that … Muzak under bancruptcy protection … how much money they borrowed !

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/02/09/daily22.html?ana=e_du_pub

Using IP Audio distribution devices from Barix does not need hundreds of millions of investments, and those who use an IP based audio distribution solution for their instore, on-hold or elevator music needs can easily switch content providers …

Is this a first sign of the market disruptive IP audio distribution solutions giving problems to established players ? Barix Exstreamer IP Audio devices are used in many thousand locations where satellite dishes and proprietary content feed technologies were used before …

Those interested in the concepts of IP based IP Audio distribution to stores, hotels or franchises, check out the special instore audio info pages or go check out the website of a leader in IP Audio distribution products, Barix !

Johannes

Instore Radio - shopping radio - elevator music ?

Certainly not !

Well programmed content is not percieved annoying, but rather giving the right feeling and grove in a store, mall or in shopping heaven.

This can be achieved with video much better - yes or no ?

Well … talk to the consumer. Look at human nature. When you go shopping (at least groceries), you typically have a plan, you know what you want. You may even be under time pressure.

How do you react if you get distracted .. by your friend who wants to convince you to drink a coffee with you, or - by some video in a store forcing itself into your mind ?

Let’s face it. We - at least males … according to the cavemen - can only focus on one thing. One MAIN thing …

Have you ever tried to listen to radio and work at the same time ? Yes ? Chances are high it worked for you, you even can gain focus and energy - and occasional ads, news etc don’t harm too much. But guess what - even not feeling defocused, you can remember what was spoken about.

Now - try the same thing with video — have you ever tried to watch TV while working ? If so - i almost bet it does not work out for you, unless the work is very mechanic and does not need your head (ironing for example).

A video wall in the fashion store, making lots of light and noise and pulling in the crowd from the street to purchase that jeans they see moving on the screen - that may actually work well. But in most stores, customers are already inside with a plan - a shopping list, and the idea to get things done quickly.

Audio - Shopping Radio - can help to get things done more quickly by having a positive influence on the mind, and well placed ads in the programming can trigger the right thoughts with the shoppers. Without them being distracted, annoyed or feeling hijacked.

Some scientist may figure out why that is the case. For me it is logical. While being on the hunt or in front of our cave - in earlier times - we were able to focus on prey or a task and still chat, talk, listen to the kids in the vicinity etc. That capability has not been lost … instore audio uses it !

Barix IP Audio devices stream shopping radio into thousands of stores every day, worldwide. They have been installed for a reason - low power, reliable, providing excellent audio quality and all that at a low price - no satellite dish on the roof, no media to be shipped. Instore radio over the internet or the company VPN is affordable, proven - and available from Barix.

Johannes

Visit the Barix Booth at the Digital Signage Expo, Feb. 24-26, 2009, Las Vegas Convention Center