We’re really excited to announce the first of many Apps to be coming your way, The Barix Reflector iPhone app is now available for download from the App Store!

The app enables Reflector customers to listen in to their station, check the status of all their registered devices, see stats for network performance and monitor the state of the encoder contact closures. Broadcast engineers on the go can stay informed!

Watch this blog for announcements of other Apps!

Instreamer v3.17

http://www.barix.com/downloads/Instreamer_Standard_Firmware/1981/
- Mic audio input allows the FW to run on HW with Microphone input (e.g. Annuncicom)
- Use of DNS name in Streaming destination table (previously only numeric IP address)
- Support for Cisco Call Manager for Music on Hold applications

Streaming Client v2.24

http://www.barix.com/downloads/Streaming_Client_Firmware/1381/
- Triggered playback via metadata for Advert insertion controlled by the Broadcaster
- ASCII discovery for integration with ICgraph PC application
- Line-in support for the new Exstreamer 205, for local playback

SIP Client v1.12

http://www.barix.com/downloads/SIP_Client_Application/2331/
- Multicast socket for priority audio notification messaging, used for emergency and evacuation systems.

STL v2.12

http://www.barix.com/downloads/Studio_Transmitter_Link_STL_Application/2321/
- Mic audio input support for Annuncicom family devices
- SPDIF support for Instreamer HW
- Contact Input and Relay Output extension for Annuncicm1000

Folks,

a new STL firmware is now available here. This software provides a host of new features, yet simplifies the use. It can be downloaded freely and installed on all our standard Barix IP Audio devices (Exstreamer, Instreamer and Annuncicom). Not all features are working on all hardware (for example, on an Exstreamer 100 you can only use the decoding functionalities, obviously). Best performance and full features are available if you use it on Exstreamer 1000 or Exstreamer 500 hardware.

Here’s a screenshot:

STL Firmware screenshot

Major improvements and new features:
- New WEB User Interface with profiles (Locations) and single Apply
- Full Duplex PCM (uncompressed), up to 48KHz sample rate
- Analog Audio Output Silence Detection
- Analog Audio Input/Output VU meter bars
- Low Latency Frame Buffering
- Selectable high quality A/D converter (at 32 and 48 KHz)
- USB playback as fail-over or by relay trigger
- Reflector Client included in same load (either/or selection)

The camouflaging algorithm which takes care of dropouts has been further improved as well, brief dropouts due to RTP useage (which is unidirectional) are practically unhearable. It’s probably a quite well hidden secret that our devices do this since many years …

Greetings

Johannes

Company ships latest Exstreamer device, introduces new firmware for IP Audio links

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, September 1, 2010 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom, control, and monitoring, continues to innovate for the radio broadcast industry.  The company will showcase its latest hardware and device firmware at IBC 2010 (Booth 8.B16, RAI Exhibition Center, Amsterdam, September 10-14), giving broadcasters more options in the way they use Barix for delivery of program audio between studios and transmission points.

Now shipping, Barix will display its Exstreamer 500 IP audio decoder to international audiences for the first time at IBC.  The Exstreamer 500 is a professional Audio over IP hardware device designed specifically for radio broadcasters, offering a one-half, 19-inch rack mount solution with encoding and decoding capability.  It is essentially a lower-cost version of its high-end device, the Exstreamer 1000, while retaining important features like balanced inputs and outputs and contact closure interfaces.  Broadcasters can purchase the Exstreamer 500 through the Barix global network of established broadcast distributors, accessible at www.barix.com.

Barix will also introduce new easy-to-configure device firmware that provides more technical options and functionality for program audio transport.  The new “STL software package,” pre-loaded onto new 500 and 1000 devices, is also available as a free update at the Barix website and can be loaded onto all existing Barix Instreamer encoders and Exstreamer decoders.  This enables new features including full-duplex audio transport (48kHz sample rate PCM, full-duplex devices only) and trap-based alarming, while reducing external hardware requirements previous necessary for such enhancements.

“The new universal, feature-filled Barix software is a fully configurable application that fits well into many different scenarios a broadcaster may have for program audio transport, such as directed or unidirectional microwave-carried IP, remote contribution, and internet-based low-bandwidth applications,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG.  “Through manual fine-tuning of the software, we offer many of the professional features that broadcasters rely on for high-quality audio transport between locations.  This, along with quick set-up, is especially ideal for Exstreamer 1000 users that want more freedom to configure various options onto their devices.”

Barix has included the Reflector Service client on the same software load.  This previously announced service simplifies connections for broadcasters via a plug-and-play scenario.  The Reflector Service completely removes any need for user configuration:  The hosted application serves as an online center to configure and monitor the audio transport bridge while also providing a straightforward relay of the audio feed, enabling almost immediate audio streaming between two devices.  Users of the STL software package can switch between the new STL software (the default on Exstreamer 1000) and the Reflector client (default on Exstreamer 500) via web browser.

All Barix products are inexpensive, low-power devices that are scalable to the growth of the operation; offer high reliability through a PC-FREE design with no moving parts; and serve as a flexible platform for integration into virtually any operation requiring audio transport and delivery over IP networks.   Barix also offers its programmable BCL standard open to all customers to easily customize applications for specific needs.  Local control, audio relay, and low-latency streaming are a few examples of custom programs using Barix’ BCL software environment.