MONTREAL — April 10, 2013 — X2O Media, a provider of visual communications software, today announced that its President and CEO David Wilkins will present “Innovation in Cross-Channel Technology Beyond Payment” at this year’s Payment Landscape conference in Las Vegas on April 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. more

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — April 9, 2013 — BTX Technologies (BTX), a value-added distributor and manufacturer of interface, integration, and system products, today announced the availability of its 2013 Fiber Solutions Catalog. Featuring one of the widest product offerings in the marketplace and some of the latest industry advances, BTX’s comprehensive new catalog contains a product range designed for professional integrators and systems contractors in markets such as A/V, digital signage, broadcast, and security. more

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, U.K. — April 9, 2013 — At the organization’s 2013 NAB Show conference session, held April 8 in Las Vegas, the IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) released the latest data gathered from the IABM End User Report, Industry Index, and Benchmark Report. This market intelligence on the state of the industry complemented the panel dialogue, in which executives from leading media technology supply companies discussed and debated the reinvention of the broadcast industry.

“Over recent months the growth in overall sales in the market for broadcast and media technology products and services has steadily improved to 4.7 percent per annum,” said IABM Director General Peter White, describing highlights of the new IABM data. “This is the highest annual growth rate since October 2011. However, profits are still falling in real terms and are down 12.7 percent when the latest company records are compared with those for the previous year. Total sales for the sample companies amount to more than $8.7 billion based on 46 sets of qualifying company results.”

“Aggregate operating profit-to-sales is running at 12 percent, although this masks the fact that in overall terms the small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are loss-making and the profit-to-sales ratio is -2 percent. Two-thirds of the companies reporting are showing an operating profit in the past 12-month period,” added White. “Over the past four months, the growth rates of larger companies have continued to rise while those of the smaller companies have fallen sharply. In this Industry Index, large companies are growing at 5.4 percent compared with -5.4 percent (coincidentally) for the SMEs.”

Following White’s presentation of these and other key research findings, John Ive, IABM director of business development and technology, led a panel discussion among senior industry executives Brick Eksten, founder and CEO at Digital Rapids; David Ross, CEO of Ross Video; Louis Hernandez, president and CEO at Avid; and Geir Bryn-Jensen, CEO at Nevion. The four panelists addressed different aspects of the industry, from creative production through to distribution. All acknowledged that in these times of financial and technology volatility, investment decisions depend more than ever on good objective industry information and close relationships with end users. In fact, they repeated a theme heard elsewhere — that the nature of selling is moving toward long-term partnerships with customers.

Commoditization of technology also featured in the discussion. Several panelists felt this shift represents an opportunity rather than a threat; however, they agreed that business models need to change if companies are to benefit.

Moving beyond these topics, all panelists were open about their vision of the industry going forward and how they intended to respond. In short, that response involves breaking down many of the divisive approaches both within and between organizations to realize a more collaborative approach.

Further information about the IABM and its market research activities is available at www.theiabm.org.

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About the IABM:
The IABM, the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers, is the authoritative voice of the broadcast and media technology supply industry worldwide. Its wide range of services to members encompasses market research and intelligence, expert representation at standards bodies and broadcasting unions, executive networking opportunities, and preferential purchasing. A presence at every major broadcast tradeshow, the IABM also provides a valuable channel for communication among broadcast manufacturers, government, and regulatory bodies. Additional IABM activities include awards programs for innovation and scholarships designed to stimulate the development of the broadcast and electronic media industries on an international basis. For more information, please visit www.theiabm.org.

All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/IABM/PeterWhite.zip

LEEDS, U.K. — April 9, 2013 — NUGEN Audio, creator of intuitive tools for audio professionals, announces a preview of MultiMonitor, its new, standalone software program that enables users to monitor loudness on 16 different channels at once. NUGEN Audio is demonstrating the software at the 2013 NAB Show using Solid State Logic broadcast mixing desks in the Solid State Logic booth, C2617.

“Relying on hardware to monitor multiple audio streams is costly and takes up space because it requires a physical meter to be plugged into the console for each channel,” said Jon Schorah, creative director of NUGEN Audio. “MultiMonitor will give broadcasters a compact, convenient way to measure loudness on every channel on the mixing console, simultaneously, all in one place.”

Available for Mac(R) or Windows(R) operating systems, the MultiMonitor software integrates with audio consoles to measure loudness in a variety of situations, from live TV or radio broadcasts to complex post-production mixes. MultiMonitor is capable of measuring up to 96 audio inputs in mono, stereo, or 5.1 surround sound in a single window.

NUGEN Audio plans to release MultiMonitor in the fourth quarter of 2013. More information about other NUGEN Audio products is available at www.nugenaudio.com.

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About NUGEN Audio
NUGEN Audio creates innovative, intuitive professional audio tools for high-end music producers, post-production engineers, and broadcasters. Reflecting the real-world production experience of the design team, the company’s products make it easier to deliver better quality, save time, and reduce costs. NUGEN Audio’s tools for audio analysis, loudness metering, mixing/mastering, and tracking are used by the world’s top names in broadcast, music, and audio production. More information is available at www.nugenaudio.com.

The SMPTE 2034 AXF Working Group has Submitted Its AXF Draft Specification for Final Review and Balloting on Its Way to Standardization

LOUISVILLE, Colo. — April 6, 2013 — Front Porch Digital, the global leader in cloud-based content storage management (CSM) solutions, today announced that the Archive eXchange Format (AXF) open-archiving technology has reached a major milestone on its path to standardization. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) 2034 AXF Working Group has submitted its final draft of the AXF specification for two-week review, which is the final step before balloting to become an official SMPTE standard.

“This is an especially proud moment for Front Porch Digital as it represents the culmination of years of work and dedication to the invention, development, and deployment of AXF,” said Brian Campanotti, chief technology officer at Front Porch Digital. “As a founding member of the SMPTE AXF Working Group, Front Porch Digital has been a driving force behind AXF since its inception.”

The process has been in the works since the 2011 NAB Show, when Campanotti announced that he and his team at Front Porch Digital had completed the design and development of AXF based on the original SMPTE Working Group concept and agreed to contribute the company’s specification back to SMPTE. This work forms the basis for the specification currently making its way through the standardization process.

AXF supports interoperability among disparate digital content storage systems and ensures the content’s long-term availability no matter how technology or applications evolve. AXF also acts as a content carrier for network-based transfer of valuable file-based content between systems, an especially important capability for cloud-based applications such as Front Porch Digital’s LYNX(SM).

“The submission of the AXF specification for its two-week review comes at a time when other approaches continue to fragment the market, which makes is difficult for content owners to make decisions regarding long-term storage, archive, and preservation,” said Campanotti. “For example, the Linear Tape File System (LTFS), endorsed by a number of manufacturers, is often referred to as a standard although it is nothing more than a set of open-source tools that each has customized for various proprietary applications.”

AXF includes all of the functionality of LTFS, overcomes its well-known limitations — lack of spanning support, capacity constraints, applicability to data-tape only, etc. — and adds key resiliency and preservation characteristics such as encapsulation, provenance metadata, fixity, and more. AXF is a universal, IT-centric format that applies to all current and future storage technologies, including data tape, spinning disk, flash media, optical, and others, and is focused on the protection, transport, and preservation of any type, number, and size of files — not just media files.

“Industry standards are of paramount importance as content owners struggle to ensure protection of their valuable assets now and into the future,” said Campanotti. “With a decade of experience in content storage management, Front Porch Digital was able to bring a lot of depth to the development of this standard. The AXF standard will continue to revolutionize the way content owners store, preserve, transport, and protect their valuable assets, now and in the future, regardless of the storage technologies selected.”

Since the company launched AXF two years ago, Front Porch Digital has amassed nearly 20 customers around the world — including film archives, production houses, and major studios — that rely on AXF to store, protect, and secure petabytes of valuable media assets. The success of AXF in real-world applications will accelerate its implementation by other manufacturers in this and other industries while minimizing risk for content owners adopting it.

More information about the AXF format and Front Porch Digital products is available at openaxf.org and fpdigital.com. More information on the SMPTE AXF specification can be found at smpte.org.

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About Front Porch Digital
Front Porch Digital is the global leader in solutions for migrating, managing, and monetizing media content. Operating on site and in the cloud, the company’s purpose-built software employs the latest technologies to deliver truly flexible and scalable media workflows. Solutions delivered by Front Porch Digital appropriately manage large and complex media files and workflows while ensuring optimal performance and utmost security. More information is available at fpdigital.com.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/FrontPorch/BrianCampanotti.zip
Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/FrontPorch/AXFlogo.zip

Three-Slot Chassis Available as Desktop Model or 2U Rackmount Model With Optional Kit to Mount Two Mobile Rack Accessories Inside

IRVINE, Calif. — April 8, 2013 — Sonnet today announced the Echo(TM) Express III-D desktop and Echo Express III-R rackmount Thunderbolt(TM)-to-PCI Express(R) Expansion Chassis, the newest members of the company’s award-winning Echo family of Thunderbolt expansion chassis for PCIe(R) cards. Featuring three PCIe slots, a 300W power supply, and 75W auxiliary power connector, both new Thunderbolt-to-PCIe expansion chassis enable the use of a wide variety of high-performance PCI Express cards — originally designed for use in desktop computers — with any Mac(R) computer with a Thunderbolt port. These Sonnet products support every Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe card available.

Both the Echo Express III-D desktop and Echo Express III-R rackmount chassis feature dual Thunderbolt ports to support daisy-chaining of devices, and are designed for users needing the optimum solution for connecting three PCIe cards to their computer. Each new chassis supports up to three full-length, full-height, single-width PCIe 2.0 cards with one x16 and two x8 PCIe slots. The III-D is well-suited for use in most workflows and small enough to fit in many travel bags. The III-R mounts in a 2U tall (3.5 inches) rack space, and its enclosure is just 15.75 inches deep, making it perfect for use in a wide range of popular mobile racks, carts, and rack bags, and even server rooms, as well.

The III-R even saves space for other equipment — utilizing the optional Echo Express III-R Mobile Rack Kit, users can install two 5.25-inch form factor mobile rack devices in the III-R’s enclosure. The mobile rack supports a wide array of devices — ranging from an internal LTO tape drive plus four swappable 2.5-inch SSDs, to an optical drive plus a Sonnet Qio(TM) MR pro universal media reader, to three swappable 3.5-inch hard disk drives — without taking up additional rack space. The Mobile Rack Kit easily installs into the Echo chassis’ enclosure and houses one full-height (3.2 inches) or two half-height (1.6 inches) mobile rack devices up to 8 inches deep. A separate 80W power supply inside the Mobile Rack Kit powers the installed devices while its internal fan works to keep things cool.

Each new Echo chassis integrates a universal 300W power supply and includes a 75W PCIe power connector for cards that require supplementary power, such as the Avid(R) Pro Tools|HDX or the new RED(R) ROCKET-X. Two large, remarkably quiet, temperature-controlled, variable-speed fans and airflow management ensure that hot-running cards and the chassis’ components remain reliably cool. Because the fans speed up and slow down in steps as needed, there is no guesswork in setting a switch position, and no need for tools to change settings. Larger, slower-spinning fans make the Echo Express III-D and III-R the quietest Echo chassis yet. They also conserve energy by powering on and off with the computer to which they are attached.

The Echo Express III-D and Echo Express III-R enable iMac(R), Mac mini, MacBook(R) Air, and MacBook Pro(R) computers equipped with a Thunderbolt port to use Thunderbolt-compatible professional video I/O, audio interface, SAS and SATA HBA, 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10Gb Ethernet, and RAID controller cards. The list of compatible cards is available on Sonnet’s website and is continually expanding as more cards are tested and certified. Like the other models in the Echo family, the Echo Express III-D and Echo Express III-R were designed, engineered, and built by Sonnet in California. The systems are backed with Sonnet’s Pro five-year warranty.

“We designed the Echo Express III-D and Echo Express III-R with pro users’ requests in mind,” said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. “Building upon the design of the Echo Express Pro, adding a third PCIe slot was an obvious improvement, but designing a chassis specifically for use in mobile racks, carts, and rack-bags enabled us to think outside the box. Using the extra space in the rackmount enclosure as a mounting space for mobile rack form factor devices is just one of several features that merge customer input and creative design work.”

The Echo Express III-D (part number ECHO-EXP3F-D) has a suggested retail price of $979. The Echo Express III-R (part number ECHO-EXP3F-R) has a suggested retail price of $1,199. The Echo Express III-R Mobile Rack Kit (part number ECHO-EXP3F-R-MR) has a suggested retail price of $149.95. All are expected to be available in August 2013. More information on the products is available at www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpressiii.html.

More information on Sonnet and its other products is available at www.sonnettech.com.

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About Sonnet Technologies
Sonnet Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of storage systems, Thunderbolt(TM) technology PCIe(R) expansion products, interface cards, and media readers for professional users in the audio, video, and broadcast industries. Sonnet’s Thunderbolt expansion products enable the use of pro audio I/O and DSP cards, pro video capture and transcoding cards, interface cards, and other high-performance PCIe cards with mini, portable, and all-in-one computers. The company’s product line features a range of high-performance, cost-effective, and reliable portable, desktop, and rackmount RAID storage solutions. For more than 25 years Sonnet has pioneered and brought to market numerous innovative and award-winning products that enhance the performance and connectivity of Mac(R), Windows(R), and other industry-standard computers. More information is available at www.sonnettech.com.

All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Image Link: www.wallstcom.com/sonnet/echo_express_iiid.zip
Image Caption: Sonnet Echo(TM) Express III-D 3-Slot Desktop Thunderbolt(TM)-to-PCIe(R) Expansion Chassis

Image Link: www.wallstcom.com/sonnet/echo_express_iiir_w_kit_and_devices.zip
Image Caption: Sonnet Echo(TM) Express III-R Rackmount Thunderbolt(TM)-to-PCI Express(R) Expansion Chassis With Mobile Rack Kit

WUPPERTAL, Germany — April 8, 2013 — Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, today announced the release of a universal video I/O card for the company’s MediorNet Modular real-time network. Supporting a variety of small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceivers, the MediorNet MN-HDO-4IO universal video card enables the flexible configuration of MediorNet systems for bidirectional transport of analog composite video, HDMI, and optical or coaxial SDI signals.

“The universal card for MediorNet provides the user with an even greater amount of connectivity for various video signals,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO, Riedel Communications. “This is one more step forward in providing complete signal transport solutions with ever-tighter integration and ease of use.”

Ideal for environments including broadcast facilities, studios, OB vans, and stadiums, the MediorNet bidirectional video card brings added flexibility to Riedel’s MediorNet Modular system. Depending on the SFP transceivers installed in each of the four positions, the card provides either four HD (1.5G) or two 1080p (3G) bidirectional video signals. With different SFPs, the user can have analog video, HDMI, or optical SDI video I/O. HDMI I/Os employ self-locking mini HDMI connectors. Customers will be able to specify their particular signal requirements when they place their order. These new card sets will be available in May.

Riedel will demonstrate this versatile bidirectional video card with the MediorNet network at the 2013 NAB Show, booth C4937.

Further information about Riedel and the company’s products is available at www.riedel.net.

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About Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks for broadcast, pro audio, event, sports, theater, and security applications. The company also provides rental services for radio and intercom systems, event IT solutions, fiber backbones, and wireless signal transmission systems that scale easily for events of any size, anywhere in the world. Founded in 1987, the company now employs more than 400 people at 11 locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/UniversalCard.zip

WUPPERTAL, Germany — April 8, 2013 — Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, today announced that it has extended its line of AVB-capable products with the release of the Connect AVB (Audio Video Bridging) interfaces Connect A8 and Connect C8, which enable the reliable real-time transport of analog or AES3/EBU digital audio over AVB-capable local area networks (LANs) with guaranteed quality of service.

“Until now, issues with latency, reliability, and missing synchronization have prevented the connection of intercom panels over LAN environments in broadcast facilities, studios, and OB units,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO, Riedel Communications. “Solutions in our AVB-enabled product line negate these challenges, offering a real-time communication solution that meets the quality demands of professional intercom users.”

Intercom applications for Riedel’s AVB-capable products include matrix-to-control panel connections via LAN, audio distribution via LAN, matrix-to-matrix trunking connections via LAN, and distribution of digital party lines via LAN. The Connect AVB converts signals between AES and AVB standards, supporting the transport of audio signals from equipment such as the Riedel Performer and Artist digital intercom systems on existing network infrastructures.

The Connect AVB modules can be used alone as a throw-down module or with a Riedel Smart Rack system. Built into a compact 9.5-inch, 1-RU housing, the new Connect AVB C8 offers eight AES connections on BNC. The device supports both bidirectional AES for intercom panels and unidirectional transport for broadcast AES. Riedel’s new Connect AVB A8 provides eight analog inputs and outputs on RJ45 connectors.

Riedel is member of the AVnu Alliance and designs its AVB-capable products according to the guidelines of interoperability certification by the AVnu Alliance.

Riedel will demonstrate the Connect AVB suite in action at the 2013 NAB Show, booth C4937.

Further information about Riedel and the company’s products is available at www.riedel.net.

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About AVB
Audio Video Bridging (AVB), also known as Ethernet AVB, is the common name for the set of technical standards developed by the IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging Task Group. Ethernet AVB adds latency guarantees and bandwidth reservation for media streams to the existing Ethernet protocols. Ethernet AVB requires AVB-compatible Ethernet hardware (switches and NICs) but remains backward compatible with existing Ethernet standards. This means that only the sections of a network that are supposed to send or receive AVB streams need to be updated to AVB-compatible hardware. Unlike IEEE 1588 PTP-based standards, AVB includes a stream reservation protocol, allowing one to use the same network infrastructure for IP services (e.g. fileserver access, corporate network) and communications without risking delays or a loss of audio.

AVB Standards
Ethernet AVB is built upon a basis of three major standards:
- 802.1Qav specifies queuing and forwarding rules that shape the traffic to avoid bottlenecks at any bridge or end station.
- 802.1Qat: defines the stream reservation protocol that sets up the path allowing a stream to go across the AVB cloud.
- 802.1AS allows microsecond-accurate time synchronization across all AVB nodes.

Media is packetized following the IEEE P1733 and IEEE P1722 standards.

About AVnu Alliance
The IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging standards are promoted by AVnu Alliance, which is formed and supported by major brands including Analog Devices, Avid, Barco, Biamp Systems, Bosch, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, ClearOne, Extreme Networks, Focusrite, Harman International, Intel Corporation, Lab X Technologies, LOUD Technologies, Marvell, Meyer Sound Laboratories, Peavey, PreSonus, Renesas Electronics, Riedel Communications, Sennheiser, Shure, TC Group, Texas Instruments, UMAN, Vitesse Semiconductor, Xilinx, XMOS, Yamaha, and others. For more information please visit www.avnu.org.

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About Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks for broadcast, pro audio, event, sports, theater, and security applications. The company also provides rental services for radio and intercom systems, event IT solutions, fiber backbones, and wireless signal transmission systems that scale easily for events of any size, anywhere in the world. Founded in 1987, the company now employs more than 400 people at 11 locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/AVB.zip

WUPPERTAL, Germany — April 8, 2013 — Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, today announced the release of a new interface card that enables Grass Valley(R) LDK and the brand-new LDX series 3G broadcast camera systems and their base stations to integrate with the Riedel MediorNet Compact real-time media network. Through this innovative approach to camera-signal transport, Riedel allows users to cable their camera systems just once and assign camera resources quickly and easily to meet changing production requirements.

“Seamless interfacing for Grass Valley’s renowned camera systems expands our idea of fully integrated networks even further,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO at Riedel Communications. “The new Grass Valley interface card allows users to route bidirectional camera signals, including all embedded audio and telemetry control data, through MediorNet, which facilitates the free assignment of cameras to any base station or CCU within the network. This solution transforms live production setup, eliminating the need for rewiring while enabling users to realize unparalleled speed, flexibility, and simplicity in establishing new camera configurations.”

MediorNet Compact is a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution for integrated media signal distribution and processing. Supporting fiber signal transport for 3G/HD/SD-SDI video, audio, data, and intercom signals, along with 50 Gb/s network bandwidth that enables high-capacity signal transport, this solution is ideal for streamlining infrastructures in any mobile, studio, or live event application.

The simple addition of the Grass Valley camera interface card to a MediorNet Compact Pro frame provides users with two camera ports that enable transport of all camera signals, including audio, comms, and control data. The connection of the MediorNet network to the Grass Valley camera supports the rapid realization of remote broadcast setups in stadiums, racecourses, and other venues and permits the use of these systems at cable lengths that are unachievable with standard hybrid cables. The MN-C-OPT-GV2 Grass Valley Card for MediorNet Compact Pro provides the same feature set as the MN-GV-2 Card for MediorNet Modular frames.

Riedel will demonstrate its integration with Grass Valley cameras at the 2013 NAB Show in booth C4937.

Additional information about Riedel Communications and the company’s MediorNet product line is available www.riedel.net.

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About Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks for broadcast, pro audio, event, sports, theater, and security applications. The company also provides rental services for radio and intercom systems, event IT solutions, fiber backbones, and wireless signal transmission systems that scale easily for events of any size, anywhere in the world. Founded in 1987, the company now employs more than 400 people at 11 locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/BlockDiagramGV-2.zip
Photo Caption: Block Diagram for GV-2 interface
Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/MediorNet_MN-C-OPT-GV2.zip
Photo Caption: MediorNet MN-C-OPT-GV2 Module

WUPPERTAL, Germany — April 8, 2013 — Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, today announced the release of the Artist Level Meter app for iPad(R). By monitoring and controlling up to eight freely assignable audio inputs of an Artist digital matrix intercom system, the iPad app allows the intercom administrator to manage the four-wire input levels of an Artist system from anywhere.

“Our Artist Level Meter app extends both the utility and convenience of our popular intercom solution,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO at Riedel Communications. “By offering Riedel customers a wireless solution for controlling the gains on the Artist’s four-wire inputs, we give them an even higher level of flexibility and convenience, especially in larger digital intercom installations.”

The Artist Level Meter app complements Riedel’s Artist Director configuration software, a full-fledged management system that runs on PC systems and provides comprehensive access, setup, and control of any aspect of an Artist system. When administrators are away from the computer, the iPad app gives them wireless access and configuration capabilities.

Riedel will demonstrate this new app in action at the 2013 NAB Show, booth C4937.

Further information about Riedel and the company’s products is available at www.riedel.net.

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About Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks for broadcast, pro audio, event, sports, theater, and security applications. The company also provides rental services for radio and intercom systems, event IT solutions, fiber backbones, and wireless signal transmission systems that scale easily for events of any size, anywhere in the world. Founded in 1987, the company now employs more than 400 people at 11 locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/iPadLevelMeter1.zip