Harman Pro Group Showcases HiQnet System Architect™ Version 1.8 At PLASA ’08, Opening Door For Third-Party Control

Reaffirming its commitment to advance HiQnet System Architect™ as the most progressive, versatile and user-intuitive interface for system configuration and control, Harman Professional today gives System Architect Version 1.8 its European debut at PLASA’08. New advances include the ability to copy HiQnet parameter strings directly to the Windows clipboard for pasting into third-party control interface applications enabling system-wide control from control interfaces such as those manufactured by AMX and Crestron. System-wide events can now also be triggered from device-specific error conditions, such as recalling a preset for a zone based on the conditions of individual amplifiers. A user-definable selection of controls can be automatically readdressed to different devices/parameters on a Custom Control Panel in a few simple steps, and advanced zonal control is now possible. A Fast Meter control has been added for improved meter response and device synchronization has been simplified and improved.

“With System Architect Version 1.8, we’re achieving the twin task of simplifying the operation and improving the functionality,” explained Rick Kreifeldt, Vice President, Harman System Development & Integration Group (SDIG). “In doing so, we’re making the application more useful and more accessible to a broader community of systems integrators and tour sound professionals.”

New to System Architect in Version 1.8 is the new Region Control, which enables systems integrators to draw a planagram of a building and set zone to warn of variable conditions on a Custom Control Panel. Additionally, the control acts as a button, enabling up to 10 system functions to be called – an improvement, which has also been added to the existing System Button control. An automatic login option enables the integrator to provide login-free access to a control-only instance of System Architect left behind for day-to-day operators, continuing to hide away elements of the system design as before, but removing the need for individuals to remember user-names and passwords. Version 1.8 also features improved performance to the multi-parameter fader with larger numbers of parameters capable of now being assigned.

System Architect Version 1.8 comes at a time when Harman SDIG is taking a leadership role in the IEEE Audio Video Bridge (AVB) 802.1 task force (www.ieee802.org) to develop and adopt an open universal audio/video network platform. At the 125th AES Convention in San Francisco in October SDIG’s Robert Boatright will join representatives from Apple and Broadcom Corp. to make a presentation on the development of standards-based network with the appropriate quality of service for high quality audio performance and production. (http://www.aes.org/events/125/tutorials/session.cfm?displayall)

“HiQnet has achieved critical mass in terms of customer deployment, products enabled and feature advancement,” Kreifeldt said today. “With this momentum we are expanding the control capabilities of HiQnet by enabling integration with third-party control systems from manufacturers such as Crestron and AMX.”

Harman HiQnet™ 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 the Harman Pro Group and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”