ES-100/spkr, a new EtherSound™ flavor for Public Address, Paging/Background Music markets

Photo: courtesy of Digigram.

Audio Product Stories Published: 2 February 2008
When it comes to digital audio transport for Live Sound, EtherSound™ usually comes to mind as the de facto standard. Superb audio quality, incredibly low latency, mission-critical redundancy, etc. Great features, but possibly overkill for other audio markets needs such as Public Address, or Paging/Background Music.

For that very reason, EtherSound technology developer Digigram has defined a new variation of the technology. One that could coexist and interoperate with ES-100 or ES-Giga networks but for markets with different priorities. Its name is ES-100/spkr.

ES-100/spkr, a variant of the network audio standard EtherSound™, enables manufacturers to implement EtherSound™ in new devices for a fraction of the cost while keeping typical EtherSound™ control and administration features, when a fully featured ES-100 or ES-Giga implementation is not required. The implementation fits into simple microcontrollers or DSP devices.

ES-100/spkr products will fit nicely into portions of EtherSound™ networks where only unidirectional streams and audio-out devices are required such as terminal network branches. These audio-out only devices (e.g. speakers) are typically found in Public Address networks or monitoring-only systems.

As a first consequence, Barix -a major player for the PA/BGM market- recently joined the EtherSound™ community and will be the launch partner for the technology, implementing the ES-100/spkr technology in its successful Exstreamer IP audio decoder devices and OEM modules.

“Barix is pleased to join Digigram in its efforts to bring the exceptional audio quality and platform efficiency of the EtherSound™ protocol to new markets,” said Johannes G, Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “Barix has succeeded in implementing ES-100/spkr technology in software in the Audio Devices in record times, which enables our customers to use Barix products in either IP or EtherSound environments. OEMs using the Barix IPAM modules can now join the EtherSound community and offer their products in both EtherSound as well as IP installations. The combination of low cost, high reliability network audio decoders from Barix and EtherSound technology is ideal for many applications. Barix has found a professional technology partner in Digigram and our joint offering will help spreading the EtherSound and Barix offerings further in markets including security, transportation and, general paging/public address markets”, Rietschel continued.

"As a major and innovative player in the markets we target with ES-100/spkr, Barix was an ideal and obvious launch partner" explains Philippe Delacroix, Digigram's President & CEO. "We are confident that our joint efforts will speed up the proliferation of EtherSound in markets where low-latency and other typically-EtherSound features were just a Holy Grail until now. That's why we are really delighted to welcome Barix among our community of proactive EtherSound licensees and to add a new EtherSound Implementor allowing manufacturers to quickly integrate network audio connectivity in their products!"

Barix, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom, monitoring and control, will demonstrate the first ES-100/spkr implementation in the Exstreamer 100- at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), January 29-31, 2008 at the RAI Exhibition Center in Amsterdam. ISE attendees interested in seeing the ES-100/spkr solution can visit Barix at Booth R78.

Source:

Digigram

 

 

Links

EtherSound Digigram