HARMAN Professional Releases Updated HiQnet Audio Architect™ Version 1.2 Audio System Control Software With Third-Party Controller Support

NORTHRIDGE, California – HARMAN Professional today introduced HiQnet Audio Architect™ version 1.2 professional audio control software, which now offers support of third-party controllers, along with two new Crown DriveCore Install Series amplifiers and the BSS Soundweb London BLU-GPX network-controlled GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) expander. Version 1.2 also offers additional functionality enhancements to streamline the configuration and control process for users.

HiQnet Audio Architect 1.2 is a common control software application for all devices in a sound system, from microphone to speaker. To facilitate system setup, HiQnet Audio Architect 1.2 utilizes graphical, diagrammatic representations of the installed or live sound venue, and the components and loudspeakers in the system. Devices “understand” both their physical and logical placement – in racks, arrays and rooms – and the software “learns” how they are to be used in the real world, while offering extensive setup and configuration capabilities. Audio Architect 1.2 works with numerous HARMAN Professional products and is compatible with diverse digital audio platforms including AVB, HARMAN BLU link, Cirrus Logic CobraNet®, and Audinate® Dante.

HiQnet Audio Architect 1.2 now offers comprehensive support for compiling HiQnet control strings for third-party controller devices like AMX and Crestron. Information can now be exported from the HiQnet system design for direct import into the configuration software of the desired controller. To conveniently separate system-wide control parameters, any number of new third-party controller devices can be added into the system design file and then configured separately. For each controller, a dedicated full-screen mode is provided for compiling its parameters and presets. Within the single view for each third-party device, the properties of each HiQnet parameter may be set, the string format configured to match that expected by Crestron or AMX control software or a designer’s custom format, and the final list exported for repurposing in a third-party control system design.

HiQnet Audio Architect 1.2 provides support for the new Crown DCi Network Series DCi 4|1250N and DCi 2|1250N high-power networkable amplifiers, which recently began shipping. In addition, version 1.2 offers compatibility with the BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-GPX GPIO expander, a network-controlled component that facilitates the addition of control inputs, logic outputs and relays to systems that require extra analog control and interfacing capability.

Another significant upgrade is version 1.2’s ability to store Audio Architect venue files on Soundweb London devices for file archiving purposes. This enables compatible Soundweb London components that are connected to the network to be used as backup storage devices in a manner analogous to an external hard drive. A number of additional performance optimizations and firmware updates round out the version 1.2 upgrades.

“The new version 1.2 upgrades continue the progression of making Audio Architect a true universal software solution for professional audio system control,” said Adam Holladay, Market Manager, System Development and Integration Group. “With the addition of third-party controller device support and other upgrades, we have significantly broadened the usefulness and functionality of the application.”

More details about Audio Architect version 1.2 are available at http://archimedia.harman.com.

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 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,600 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.5 billion for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2013.

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HARMAN Professional Ships HiQnet Audio Architect™ Version 1.0: Triggers Strong Reception From Integration Leaders

NORTHRIDGE, California — Demonstrating the strong market acceptance of HARMAN HiQnet as professional audio’s preeminent audio network configuration and control system solution, HARMAN Professional today announced that downloads of the newly-launched HiQnet Audio Architect version 1.0 has generated an unprecedented rate of downloads from registered audio professionals. Audio Architect forms the third pillar of the new Architectural Media Systems installed sound solution, linking and combining processing and amplification from BSS Audio and Crown. HiQnet Audio Architect provides systems integration professionals with step-by-step application workflow from which a carefully-constructed modal interface is derived, embedding users’ workflows directly in the main application. With much of the development focus being on usability and user experience, it includes offline design tools specifically grouped for the system designer and online operation tools incorporated with the system, commissioning engineer in mind. Also included is an integrated Full Screen Mode designed for the day-to-day operator, making the right control panels and options available for each user, application and project. HiQnet Audio Architect automatically generates system control and monitoring interfaces that are instantly accessible regardless of the individual system hardware components. In doing so, it enables better workflows, encourages best practices and provides more efficient operation.

HiQnet Audio Architect represents the sum of the functionality of System Architect and London Architect, merging HiQnet’s proven workflow-based user interface principles with open-architecture processor configuration. Commenting on its introduction, Adam Holladay, Market Manager, HARMAN Professional System Development and Integration Group (SDIG) noted, “With 1,500 downloads in the first week, the market response to Audio Architect version 1.0 has been nothing short of phenomenal and demonstrates the systems integration community’s appetite for the most advanced toolsets, efficient productivity tools and intuitive interfaces. Following on from the success of HiQnet System Architect, Audio Architect is testament to the quality of input and direction we have received from our customers in the field.”

HiQnet Audio Architect features an intelligent venue navigation system which provides a context-sensitive tree view of the entire design, filtering out unnecessary information for each stage of the built-in workflow modes. In doing so, screen noise is significantly reduced, even for complex designs, as is the need for training since for each workflow step only the relevant tools are presented. It also provides the ability to go online to address not just the entire venue but also individual rooms, racks or even devices. This provides significant benefits in maintenance situations by eliminating the need to shut down an entire system while troubleshooting or upgrading hardware.

Audio Architect is the most comprehensive software application for routing multiple digital audio networks. It features system-wide drag-and-drop routing and is designed to support the full ‘A, B, C, D’ range of AVB, HARMAN BLU link, Cirrus Logic CobraNet® and Audinate Dante™ audio protocols to meet any and all the market’s networking demands. CobraNet compatibility assures legacy systems can continue to be supported and grown, AVB provides the path to an open standard networking future and lowers the barrier to entry for Ethernet-based media, and Dante enables complex audio routing in a managed Ethernet switch network. The BLU link bus complements all three Ethernet-based transports by providing a high channel count, low latency redundant ring connection between processors and amplifiers, simultaneously alleviating bandwidth from the Ethernet network and reducing switch port and switch count.

Audio Architect enables configuration of open-architecture processors of the BSS Audio Soundweb London family in a new ‘Soundweb London world’. Enhancing the usability of London Architect equivalent features, Audio Architect includes a matrix control, improved GPIO configuration and improved Soundweb London preset configuration. It is also compatible with the new HiQnet Motion Control iOS app, enabling customized HiQnet control interfaces to be directly and wirelessly loaded onto iOS devices.

HiQnet Audio Architect also features the capacity to launch HARMAN’s IDX-100 Designer software from a representation of an IDX server in the main system design, merging the management of HiQnet and IDX systems, and aligning the comprehensive IDX networked paging solution within the HiQnet system.

As of the availability of Audio Architect, System Architect becomes legacy software. London Architect will continue a supported platform alongside Audio Architect while the full feature set is migrated over the forthcoming months.

Audio Architect is available for free download from the new HARMAN Architectural Media Systems website, archimedia.harman.com.

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

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