BSS redefines network audio application control with its Soundweb Contrio platform

This network audio distribution and control platform from the manufacturer, that starts with two products: Contrio Server and a range of wall controllers, provide enhanced system control capabilities and more audio routing flexibility for a wide variety of applications.

Soundweb Contrio is new network audio application control platform from BBS, company Harman Group whose systems it markets Earpro in the Iberian market, initially composed of the Contrio Server module, that occupies only one network drive, as well as a range of wall controllers.

Among other features, Contrio Server module enables extensive system control logic configuration, both with the philosophy of 'wiring' through the Audio Architect software (which already existed for Soundweb London devices), as with a new Lua programming environment. The system is thus made more efficient by executing a logical system, separate from audio devices, freeing up processing capacity and reducing the amount of hardware required.

Regarding system management, Contrio Server includes self-recovery and crash management functionality. By monitoring the Ethernet switch and the ports to which all devices are connected, you just have to replace one device with another on the same switch port, since this module will remotely and automatically load all the configuration and addressing of the new installed device, so that these adjust to those of the previous. Thus, no need to run a software application to add replacement devices to the system.

Another of its functionalities is to store audio messages and calls to presets., as well as its programming, which allows these messages to be played and calls to presets to be executed on the device network, according to established programs. This server supports Harman Blu and Dante protocols, so it can be integrated into a wide variety of configurations.

Soundweb Contrio Server runs an embedded version of HiQnet Audio Architect and immediately provides integrators and end users with extensive management of all system presets., backups, storage of setting modes for specific locations and aggregation and scheduling of events.

As Iain Gregory explains, market manager – installed sound en Harman Signal Processing, “We developed these products to enable integrators to continue deploying the full line of Soundweb London devices and HiQnet software.”, but also giving them the ability to have improved control and monitoring of the system through the first Contrio devices”.

For your part, The Contrio line of wall controllers consists of six models: four of them connect to the media server via Ethernet and, in addition to including advanced control of multiple zones, can be easily used in a room joining and dividing environment.

The remaining two are simple analog controllers, to connect to general purpose inputs (GPI) and control the selected parameter with them (which is often the volume or the selection of sources or presets). All these drivers are available in black and white and with European and American formats.

These Soundweb Contrio devices, as well as those that will be developed in the future, are compatible with BSS Soundweb London devices, in order to provide a wide and complete range of process devices, audio distribution and control, providing an end-to-end solution with a single system.