Vizrt Ltd. announced that the company has developed a new version of its real-time 3D compositing system, Viz Engine. This new version is a renderer capable of IP in and IP out as well as real-time compositing IP streams with graphics in a low cost solution. With IP capability in the new Viz Engine, Vizrt has created a complete end-to-end IP solution for broadcasters to manage all their content.

Broadcasting has traditionally been a SDI world. While formats change – SD, NTSC, PAL, HD – SDI remains a constant. Managing SDI content requires specialized equipment for the management and synchronization of the signal. It also requires a specially trained staff of broadcast engineers.

With an IP based workflow, broadcasting enters the IT world. Instead of SDI cables and routers built through a TV station’s infrastructure, one simply needs a network connection to distribute video. Content is becoming file-based so it can be easily stored, searched and distributed. Live video can exist as a stream that can be distributed to multiple platforms.

The latest version of the Viz Engine allows for IP-based streaming video IO. Graphics and video are composited in real-time and output as a stream that can be many formats from online, to mobile devices to live on-air. With no need for an expensive video card, the system takes up less rack space. The IT infrastructure makes it highly portable for OB vans and very affordable for broadcasters.

Multiple Viz Engines can render the same content and output different formats for multiple platforms. All in real-time, eliminating the need for transcoding to each platform.

“This innovative solution changes the traditional SDI workflow of broadcasters to a IP streaming and file-based workflow, allowing them to increase speed and volume while retaining high quality,� stated Petter Ole Jakobsen, CTO Vizrt. “The cost of the solution puts the highly capable Viz Engine in the reaches of web-based productions as well as allows broadcasters to bolster their efficiency by directly rendering to any platform during a live broadcast.�

About Vizrt:

Vizrt offers a new vision for content creation and delivery with an end-to-end solution from ingest to visualization. Our solution combines Vizrt’s true 2D/3D graphics tools with Curious Software’s World Maps and Ardendo’s Asset Management. Running on non proprietary software, the combination of these unique cutting edge products ensures a seamless workflow from conception to multi-format distribution.

Vizrt’s product suite is used by the world’s leading broadcasters including: CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, TV Today, CCTV and NHK. Also, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions, including both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, utilize Vizrt solutions.

Vizrt is a public company traded on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com

Martin Burkhalter / CEO / +41 22 365 75 01 / MBurkhalter@vizrt.com

Ofra Brown / CFO / +47 5351 8040 / OBrown@vizrt.com

HÃ¥vard Myklebust / EVP Products & Marketing / +4791845602 / HMyklebust@vizrt.com

Woodland Park, NJ • FSR, manufacturer of audio and video switching, control products, and connectivity boxes, has released its latest Price Guide featuring dozens of new products offered at extremely attractive price points. The Guide includes the Company’s new and comprehensive series of HDMI products, elegant and secure iPad holders and chargers, and the hottest line-up of poke-though floor boxes available!

“Our economy and our industry are recovering,� said Jan Sandri, president, FSR,� and we want to do our part to help the recovery by holding our prices. The price of everything else seems to be going up and we want to help out by not doing the same.�

FSR’s comprehensive array of AV products has been significantly augmented. Expanded offerings take aim at professional installations requiring HDMI support with the recently launched Digital Video series comprised of high bandwidth HDMI extenders, switchers, scalars and distribution amplifiers. The Company is also supporting the proliferation of tablet use for digital signage applications with an easy-to-install enclosure that provides a graceful housing for iPads, and a PoE to USB charger that offers a power option for the enclosure. A new line of poke-through floor boxes offers solutions for both concrete and fire-rated floors.

The new Price Guide is available in paper, PDF, Excel and eZip formats. To request a copy, contact FSR at (800) 332-3771, or send an email to mailto:sales@fsrinc.com for more information.

About FSR
FSR, established in 1981, manufactures a wide variety of products for the audio / video, education, hospitality, government, and religious markets, including AV floor, wall, table, and ceiling connectivity boxes, as well as a full line of interfaces, distribution amplifiers, matrix switchers, seamless switchers and CAT-5 solutions.

FSR complies with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is a woman owned business. FSR offers live 24/7 technical and sales support throughout the country from expertly trained technicians and sales representatives. For more information visit www.fsrinc.com.

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FSR Contact: Jan Sandri
973-785-4347 • sales@fsrinc.com
Press Contact: Desert Moon Communications
Harriet Diener
845-512-8283 • harriet@desertmooncomm.com

Chester, PA, September 2012…  Community’s Distributed Design Series of in-ceiling loudspeakers has been expanded to include a standard black version of its flagship D6 model.

The new D6-B provides the same exceptionally high quality sound with very wide, uniform coverage as all Distributed Design Series ceiling systems, making it ideal for nightclubs, bars, restaurants, or any other application requiring a black ceiling loudspeaker. The face-only assembly and optional accessories, including Face Adapter Ring and Can Adapter/Trim Ring are also available in matching black finishes.

The D6-B is a true coaxial loudspeaker, with a compression driver concentrically located so that high frequencies emerge through the center of the low-frequency driver via a precisely contoured Tru-Phase™ HF waveguide. This provides consistent, wide dispersion up to 16kHz.

Features of the D6-B include Community’s innovative Drop-Stopâ„¢ and Twist-Assistâ„¢ tabs, to make installation easier and faster. The Drop-Stopâ„¢ feature provides spring-loaded legs to support the back-can while the installer tightens the clamps. If the loudspeaker back-cans are pre-installed, the product’s Twist-Assistâ„¢ locking allows the baffle assembly to be self-supporting while fastening the screws to the back-can.

The D6-B can be used in 8 Ohm or 70V/100V configurations and optimum system configuration can be achieved quickly and easily using Community’s free FORECASTER HD Ceiling Distributed System Design Software.

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Community Professional Loudspeakers is a manufacturer and supplier of professional audio equipment.  Since 1968, Community has led the pro-audio industry with technological innovations which have become industry standards. Today, Community offers over 150 professional loudspeaker products, including installed loudspeaker systems, weather-resistant outdoor loudspeaker systems, ceiling loudspeakers, high level voice paging systems, and portable entertainment systems.  Visit www.communitypro.com for more information. 

LONDON, United Kingdom – HARMAN’s dbx has announced that it is offering its Software Version 1.1 update for its dbx DriveRack PA+ Loudspeaker Management System. The dbx DriveRack PA+ makes it easy to set up and optimize a portable PA system with its exclusive Set Up Wizards that guide users through system setup with step-by-step instructions. Utilities including Auto Level Wizard™, Auto EQ® Wizard, automatic feedback suppression and many more enable even inexperienced users to make their PA to sound like it was tuned by a pro.

The software version 1.1 update provides the latest tunings for JBL loudspeakers and Crown Audio amplifiers including JBL PRX Series loudspeakers, Crown XTi Series and XLS Series amplifiers.

The update can be downloaded free of charge from www.dbxpro.com. The downloaded Wizard-enabled web-updater will check for the latest release and walk the customer completely through set-up and will notify the user of future updates as well.

The DriveRack PA+ is the world’s most popular loudspeaker management system and enables users to optimize the performance of loudspeakers and amplifiers in a portable sound reinforcement system by precisely adjusting crossover points, speaker levels, EQ settings and other parameters.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

LONDON, United Kingdom — HARMAN’s Crown Audio today announced it is adding to its popular VRACK complete amplifier management solutions with the introduction of its VRACK 4x3500HD. The new version incorporates three of Crown’s flagship I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore™ Series 4-channel power amplifiers in a single road-ready plug-and-play rack, providing a versatile, turnkey multichannel amplifier solution for tour, rental and installed sound applications.

Designed to work hand in hand with JBL VTX and VERTEC Series models with upcoming support planned for JBL VRX and STX models, the VRACK 4x3500HD includes three built-in Crown I-Tech HD Series 4×3500 DriveCore power amps, analog and digital connections and a globally universal power distribution system that can be set to meet US and international power standards. All the components are housed in a wheeled rack with a captive suspension system that enables it to be flown in the same manner as a line array loudspeaker system. Multiple VRACKs can be linked together for integrated operation in larger systems.

“Since its introduction our VRACK concept has been embraced by live sound and event providers for its plug-and-play operation, easy transportability and flexible configuration options,� said Brian Pickowitz, Business Segment Manager, Crown Audio. “The VRACK 4x3500HD builds on this concept with a full 12 channels of high-power amplification and greatly expanded connectivity features, giving users a powerful and versatile multichannel amplifier management solution.�

“VRACK is an integral part of our turnkey system package for JBL VTX and VERTEC�, adds Paul Bauman, Senior Manager, Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “Based on field testing to date, we’ve been extremely pleased with IT4x3500HD performance and VRACK4x3500HD provides the amp rack equivalent of the optimized power density philosophy that was adopted for the VTX V25 loudspeaker itself – lots of horsepower in a compact, tightly-integrated package.�

The I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifiers feature a 4.3-inch front-panel LCD touchscreen that provides amplifier monitoring and access to key functions with color-keyed visuals. Each amplifier offers an extensive complement of inputs and outputs including four analog inputs, four AES3 digital inputs and four AES inputs over VDrive and the ability to select four CobraNet® inputs. The amplifiers also include SpeakON or banana plug speaker connectors.

The VRACK 4x3500HD utilizes HARMAN HiQnet System Architect™ 3.2 control functionality and Version 5 DSP preset support for JBL Professional’s new VTX Series V25 plus VERTEC Series line array loudspeakers. System Architect provides control through monitoring and adjustment on a rack-by-rack basis and the ability to make changes to all three amps in the VRack through a single interface. The VRACK 4x3500HD is also compatible with JBL HiQnet Performance Manager™ sound reinforcement system design software for enhanced control and monitoring capabilities.

The I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifiers deliver 1,900 watts per channel into eight ohms, 2,400 watts per channel into four ohms and 4,200 watts into four ohms bridged. The amplifiers provide extensive DSP sound-tailoring capability and incorporate Crown’s exclusive linear phase FIR and IIR filters to provide optimized loudspeaker crossover points with improved midrange clarity and off-axis response. The amplifiers’ USB port enables users to load preset amplifier settings or device files and update firmware.

The Crown VRACK 4x3500HD amplifier management solution is now shipping.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

LONDON, United Kingdom — At PLASA 2012, HARMAN’s Crown Audio is showcasing its PIP-BLU Programmable Input Processor (PIP) card for the Crown CTs Series power amplifiers. The PIP-BLU adds BSS Audio Soundweb London digital audio bus functionality to Crown CTs Series amplifiers, offering a simple, cost-effective way to get digital audio all the way to the amplifiers.

“The PIP-BLU adds BSS Audio’s Soundweb London digital audio bus to Crown’s popular CTs Series amplifiers, without having to use additional network switches. This makes installation much easier, saves time and money, greatly simplifies the cabling within an amplifier rack and provides advanced control and monitoring capabilities,� said Daniel Saenz, Install Business Segment Manager, Crown Audio. “With the PIP-BLU, contractors are now able to leverage the functionality and simplicity of the Soundweb London digital audio bus all the way to the amplifiers.�

The PIP-BLU is compatible with Crown CTs Series 2-channel amplifiers built after April 2011. It provides BSS Audio Soundweb London digital audio bus functionality along with analog input and output connectors, and offers two digital audio bus channels to the amplifier, an RJ-45 Ethernet jack for remote configuration, control and monitoring and two digital audio bus channels back from the amp (for the listen bus), along with two analog input channels and two analog output channels. The analog channels provide analog backup and also facilitate using the CTs amplifier as a 2-channel Break-In Box (BIB). The analog outputs provide a buffered version of the inputs, allowing daisy-chaining down a rack.

The PIP-BLU card allows the amplifier to be connected into the Soundweb London digital audio bus ring, providing the sharing of digital audio, fault tolerance and greatly simplifies cabling. The PIP-BLU uses HARMAN’s HiQnet™ protocol and is configured, controlled and monitored using HiQnet London Architect.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

LONDON, United Kingdom – At PLASA 2012, HARMAN Professional is introducing its HiQnet Audio Architect™ configuration and control software, marking a new era in the HARMAN HiQnet platform. HiQnet Audio Architect represents the single-most comprehensive audio networking solution for professional fixed install applications, providing integrators with a unified platform for system design, programming and custom control.

HiQnet Audio Architect enables a greater level of integration for the end-user by combining the functionality of predecessor software applications HiQnet System Architectâ„¢ and HiQnet London Architectâ„¢. The new software platform will provide system-focused configuration of over 100 HiQnet products from AKG, BSS, Crown, dbx, JBL and Lexicon. It merges the open-architecture DSP backbone of the BSS Audio Soundweb London family with the comprehensive workflow and customizable control of HiQnet System Architect.

In adding the feature set of HiQnet London Architect to the HiQnet System Architect software platform to create HiQnet Audio Architect, the HiQnet team has included numerous user experience and workflow enhancements in order to provide the operator with as much depth and complexity as each system requires. It cleverly hides advanced features from a more novice user but does not inhibit the design of a large-scale system. The workflow paradigm introduced in System Architect 2 and adopted by JBL Performance Managerâ„¢ carefully guides the designer from start to finish, and presents a cleaner workspace by displaying only the tools appropriate for each and every stage of the design.

Being launched alongside HiQnet Audio Architect is HiQnet Motion Control™ – an Apple iOS app which enables customized control interfaces designed in Audio Architect to be imported on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices for mobile system control. Dedicated design templates are available within Audio Architect for the configuration of customized interfaces, which can be used to control devices from BSS, Crown, dbx and JBL. HiQnet Motion Control is available from the Apple App Store and will also function with HiQnet System Architect prior to the availability of HiQnet Audio Architect.

HiQnet Audio Architect positions itself as the most versatile software application available today for the network configuration, by providing the ability to route the emerging AVB open standard, Cirrus Logic CobraNet and Audinate Dante audio network protocols, as well as HARMAN’s proprietary BLU link high-channel, low latency digital audio bus, all within a single application. By providing the ability to route the three most widely-adopted audio network protocols within a single interface, a system designer educated in the use of HiQnet Audio Architect can flexibly move from one network platform to another without being experienced in multiple software packages. The BLU link digital audio bus offers a highly complementary solution to any network – whether AVB, CobraNet or Dante – by enabling far greater routing flexibility and the added benefit of alleviating bandwidth from the primary network.

“The introduction of HiQnet Audio Architect is a major milestone in the vision of the unified, end-to-end HiQnet networked audio system. We are now offering the all-in-one design, routing and control solution that the professional AV community has been waiting for. No other manufacturer can match the diversity of product offerings and the versatility of networked audio routing within a single software application as HARMAN will now provide through HiQnet Audio Architect – and this phase of the HiQnet program is really only just beginning,� stated Adam Holladay, Market Manager, HARMAN System Development and Integration Group.

HiQnet Audio Architect, the network topologies it configures and controls, and the accompanying HiQnet Motion Control iOS app will be demonstrated at PLASA on the HARMAN stand 1-E21.

HARMAN HiQnetâ„¢ is the world’s first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. HARMAN HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across HARMAN’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

LONDON, United Kingdom – In a move to broaden network interoperability of its category-leading Soundweb London audio networking and processing platform and provide integrators with more comprehensive choices, HARMAN’s BSS Audio today added Audinate Dante™ enabled processors to a line that also includes Cirrus Logic CobraNet® and AVB. As a result, HARMAN Professional and BSS Audio now provide deeper technology solutions and support for legacy projects, current large format fixed installations and progressive AVB-enabled networks in the pipeline.

The BLU-806 offers the same configurable signal processing capability as the existing BLU-800 device. Both new devices offer configurable inputs and outputs, compatibility with all Soundweb London input and output card options, logic processing capability, the 256-channel Soundweb London digital audio bus and GPIO.

Each device offers up to 16 inputs and outputs, configurable in banks of four. Card options include analog mic/line inputs with Phantom Power, analog outputs, digital inputs (AES/EBU and S/PDIF), digital outputs, the Soundweb London AEC Input Card and the Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Card.

The BLU-806 and BLU-326 devices allow 64 incoming Dante channels and 64 outgoing Dante channels.

“System designers using Soundweb London will now have the choice of AVB, CobraNet or Dante as the digital audio transport, using the Soundweb London digital audio bus to complement the application-specific transports. Most importantly, system designers are able to deploy each of these transports using a single software application,� stated Iain Gregory, Marketing Lead for Installed Sound at Harman Signal Processing.

The BLU-806 and BLU-326 along with the other members of the Soundweb London family provide the building blocks of the perfectly tailored system solution.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

LONDON, United Kingdom – HARMAN’s BSS Audio today introduced AVB (IEEE Audio Video Bridging) functionality to its acclaimed Soundweb London family of digital signal processors with the addition of two Soundweb London devices. The new Soundweb London BLU-805 and BLU-325 devices are AVB versions of the BLU-800 and BLU-320 CobraNet™ siblings from which they are derived.

The BLU-805 offers the same configurable signal processing capability as the existing BLU-800 device. Both new devices offer configurable inputs and outputs, compatibility with all Soundweb London input and output card options, logic processing capability, the 256-channel Soundweb London digital audio bus and GPIO.

Each device offers up to 16 inputs and outputs, configurable in banks of four. Card options include analog mic/line inputs with Phantom Power, analog outputs, digital inputs (AES/EBU and S/PDIF), digital outputs, the Soundweb London AEC Input Card and the Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Card.

The BLU-805 and BLU-325 devices allow 64 incoming AVB channels and 64 outgoing AVB channels at 48kHz, or 32 incoming AVB channels and 32 outgoing AVB channels at 96kHz. Configuration, control and monitoring is provided by HiQnetâ„¢ London Architect.

Iain Gregory, Marketing Lead for Installed Sound at Harman Signal Processing stated, “Combining the proven and respected Soundweb London platform with the industry-supported AVB transport is a very natural evolutionary step for Soundweb London. It gives access to the incredible flexibility of Soundweb London and contemporary transport technology, all in a familiar environment.â€�

The BLU-805 and BLU-325 along with the other members of the Soundweb London family provide the building blocks of the perfectly tailored system solution.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — Sept. 11, 2012 — BTX Technologies, a value-added distributor and manufacturer of interface, integration, and system products, today announced that it has made its free Pro Plate and Panel Designer software even easier to use by adding more than 50 new connector symbols to its drag-and-drop library. In addition, inserts for the industry’s most popular floor boxes are now available through the software, making BTX a one-stop shop for all its customers’ plate and panel needs. more