LONDON – Five years after introducing HiQnet configuration and control protocol, Harman Professional introduced HiQnet System Architect version 2.2 at PLASA 2010. Harman noted that version 2.2 builds on the user-influenced changes in design and functionality that had already been achieved with version 2.0.
Harman also noted that there are now more than 500,000 HiQnet components in the field and a user community of over 35,000 AV professionals, and also that HiQnet can run parallel to the increasingly ubiquitous AVB 802.1 transport protocol.
Referring to changes from version 2.0, Adam Holladay, senior market manager of Harman's System Development & Integration Group (SDIG), cited "a great leap forward in its monitoring and control functionality.
"Now, with the momentum of AVB, the market readiness for advanced AV networking solutions and the highly developed state of HiQnet System Architect, I believe our Harman customers – tour sound professionals, contractors and consultants – have a distinct competitive advantage in providing their customers with innovation and value," Holladay added.
The user continues to draw the graphical layout of the venue in the main workspace, physically adds the devices to the rack rooms and associate amplifiers logically with the output zones they serve. But now they can also set up comprehensive venue monitoring.
Each room in the layout is automatically overlaid with an output meter, which represents the maximum output level of the amplifier channels associated with it. Additionally, each room in the layout of the venue can be assigned alert colors to indicate the conditions of devices physically contained within rack rooms, or devices logically associated with output zones.
With this automatically-generated monitoring capability and the ability to add control panels to be launched from each room, the same design workspace is able to be repurposed as a monitoring and control interface in the new System Architect Kiosk Mode.
Kiosk Mode automatically uses the same design environment, optimized for touch screen control and system monitoring operations. Kiosk Mode is installed as an option with the standard System Architect installer, runs from the startup directory as a separate control application, offers a pop-up, context-sensitive alpha-numeric keypad and honors all Access Control configuration so multiple user logins are possible.
By reusing the same venue workspace that was used for system configuration, Kiosk Mode promises to simplify operation and reduce repetitive tasks.
In addition to Kiosk Mode, System Architect Version 2.2 offers three new "functional" panels that can be generated automatically to save programming time and improve effectiveness.
A Room Tuning Panel is provided automatically for each room, grouping together all the correct EQ parameters from associated amplifiers. Similarly, an Amplifier Meters Panel enables simple monitoring of all associated amplifier input and output meters, while an Amplifier Level and Monitor Panel enables more detailed monitoring of all associated amplifier input and output channels and individual level and mute control.
Each panel is directly accessible from each room within the venue representation and amplifier channels can be added to or removed from a room – and the panel will update on the fly.
At PLASA, Harman demoed a working AVB system including a dbx SC 32, a BSS / NETGEAR AVB switch and a Crown CTs amplifier with USP4/AVB card installed, all controlled from a touch screen PC running the new System Architect Kiosk Mode.
Harman also gave tutorials on how the same System Architect workspace can be used for system configuration and control.
Also at PLASA, the company displayed the range of AVB wall-plates from BSS.
Harman also worked with Avid to show AVB-enabled technologies from both firms operating on a single network. At the Avid stand, a Crown CTs amplifier with USP4/AVB demonstrated receiving AVB audio from an Avid console over a Marvell switch in a technology preview. (For more information, CLICK HERE.)
"We're pleased to show our commitment to this exciting technology by sharing something from our live sound laboratories: an AVB interface card in a VENUE stage rack transmitting audio to a Crown amplifier over AVB," said Avid Live Systems GM David Gibbons.
"AVB will be a tremendous boon to the live sound industry," Holladay predicted. "In addition to the universal aspect that enables more technologies to perform seamlessly together, AVB makes integration and setup simpler, less expensive and more efficient. Harman recognizes the integration-level advantages of a singular (AVB-powered) AV network and we are deeply committed to cross-manufacturer cooperation to help integrators deliver on the promise."
Harman was also represented on the AVnu Alliance panel – IEEE 802.1 Audio/Video Bridging (AVB): The Future of Standards-Based AV Networking, that took place Sept. 13.
Harman is also represented on the Manufacturers' Panel at the AVNetworks 2010 event on Sept. 15. For more information, please visit www.avnetworks2010.com .
For more information about Harman, please visit www.harman.com .
