ISCE members take advantage of networking and new product opportunities at ISCEX 2014

With less than three weeks to go until the ISCE (Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers) ISCEx2014 Exhibition and Networking Dinner in Birmingham, interest is running at a near unprecedented high.

According to the Institute’s Secretariat Manager, Ros Wigmore, members have sensed the enormous networking value of the occasion as well as the opportunity to both see and exhibit next-generation communications systems in the era of EN54 compliance.

“We have had an amazing response to our networking dinner bookings,” Ros confirms. “It seems that everyone prefers to meet up in a more informal setting before the serious business gets started.”

The two-day event itself takes place on March 4-5 at the Holiday Inn
in Birmingham City Centre, kicking off with the dinner on the opening night.

Accompanying a full programme of technical seminars will be the exhibition, with first time international participants and others showing just how seriously they are treating this forum by choosing ISCEx2014 to showcase new systems. Some of these are set out below.

ADSworldwide
ADSworldwide will be launching its latest addition to its EN54-24 certified Voice Alarm range. The range has been developed in partnership with Taiwanese loudspeaker specialist Cotina which has kept the prices extremely competitive. In addition to the current extensive range of EN54-24 certified ceiling, cabinet and wall loudspeakers, ADSworldwide will be launching no less than three Music Horn EN54-24 certified loudspeakers and a full range of certified Horn Loudspeakers from 20W to 100W, making the ADSworldwide range one of the most comprehensive in the world.

ADSworldwide will also be introducing its Bluetooth ‘i-wall player’ — a neat little light-switch sized amplifier that can be controlled via remote control or by any Bluetooth enabled audio player. This makes it ideal for hotels, home and offices and is even safe to install in bathroom or humid environments.

Finally, ADSworldwide’s multi-zone matrix system — the t-series — has been extended further to include even more 4-channel 100V line amplifiers, providing anything from 60W to 500W in up to 32 zones, totally controllable via their t-series matrix.

RCF Spa
Following its successful pre-launch in Europe this month, RCF will give a first UK exposure to its DXT 9000 digital voice-alarm system — incorporating the brains of network technology and the soul of professional audio.

The DXT 9000 voice-evacuation system is completely scalable. The first fully digital PA/VA system to be designed from the ground up by RCF engineers, the system is sufficiently versatile to be used in almost any kind of application, from the smallest school or hotel to huge campuses that include multiple buildings.

The DXT 9000 is a distributed system in which every component, including the loudspeakers, has its own physical address, can be monitored according to the latest EN 54 standards, and can be configured after installation where necessary.

While paging and voice-evacuation are the primary uses for the DXT 9000, it can also be used to interface pro-audio active speakers through RCF’s RD-NET control and monitoring system. Active loudspeakers can be combined together with 70V/100V line amplifiers on the same dedicated network, and all system amplification is Class D+, which is unique to RCF, and promising industrial-grade reliability along with high efficiency and audio quality and a small installation footprint.

i-Power (UK)
Another active participant bringing a lot of experience to the show is i-Power (UK) — owned by four directors, with a combined knowledge of 120 years in the Audio and Electronics Systems market.

Back in 2009 they identified the potential for a network aware product range which leverages the standard IP (internet protocol) network to service a new and expanding market place within the audio industry. They eventually identified a UK manufacturer who met the high specification and product portfolio they had been seeking and were interested to explore the possibility of a mutual business opportunity.

So in 2013 the partnership began, resulting in i-Power (UK) Ltd being able to offer a product range that has become a market leader in innovation. With full manufacturing support the company has been able to keep pace with new technology and customer demand to provide products and service of the highest standards.

Justifying the decision to take an IP approach, they say that Audio, Power and Access Control systems are making more use of networks to simplify integration, increase functionality and reduce cable infrastructure. Many of these systems operate on bespoke protocols specific to the manufacturer but the company’s own network platform has been developed to operate on a pure IP platform which allows them to work on top of different data link interfaces including Ethernet and Wi-Fi. This enables them to make use of existing networks and communicate over the internet with installations anywhere in the world. With network connectivity they can operate within a secure network or reach out over the internet to remote sites anywhere in the world.

CIE-Group
CIE-Group, one of the audio visual industry’s longest established providers of equipment for the professional audio visual integration and PA sectors, will demonstrate the latest additions to its product portfolio from leading European telecommunications solution provider 2N. Products on show will include:

NETSpeaker Audio-over-IP: controlled via a PC-based Central Management Software tool, the 2N NetSpeaker System allows the user to stream music, recorded voice announcements, tones, jingles and promotions or live paging announcements to any on-site zone, remote site or multiple zones/sites via a standard web, LAN or WAN connection.

SIPSpeaker Audio-over-IP: a new concept in paging and public address systems. The SIP Speaker delivers control over the internet or via LAN / WAN connections and distributes high quality voice paging from a range of IP-connected devices. It is an IP paging device with a raft of useful functions which make it ideal for use in the workplace, schools, offices and other public spaces.

Mobile Audio Gateway: a brand new and unique product allowing voice announcements through a standard / existing PA system to be delivered directly from a mobile or landline telephone. Live voice announcements can quickly and easily be delivered to a specified zone or site-wide area (where a GSM or 3G signal is available) from anywhere on site, anywhere in the country, indeed anywhere in the world!

Ambient System
Showing at ISCEx for the first time, is Polish manufacturer, Ambient System, a leading designer, manufacturer, and supplier of certified voice evacuation systems, products and service with over 20 years’ experience. Key products include: Public Address & Voice Evacuation (EN 54-16) ; Fire Alarm Loudspeakers (EN 54-24, BS 5839 Part 8); Power Supply Equipment (EN 54-4, EN 12101-10); Class D Amplifiers/Professional Sound; Acoustic Designing, examples of which will be shown in Birmingham.

In fact ISCEx2014 will represent the second presentation of Ambient System products outside Poland after last year's introduction of ambientONE. This EN 54-16 European and GSO compliant PA & VE system for small and medium buildings has already been recognised by customers far and wide. It is based on digital master and slave central units, highly efficient 1300 W amplifiers and an effective power supply system.

At ISCEx2014 they will also present a new fully digital PA & VE system called MULTIVES. This has been designed in such a way as to meet the requirements of industrial, commercial and residential structures of the highest complexity in terms of the functions offered and area covered.

The main advantages of the system they say, are: Fully digital with the latest FPGA and audio transmission; Flexible and scalable configuration; Clear and quick interfacing with auto detection and auto reconfiguration; Remote control via Ethernet and WAN connection; Variety of solutions for loudspeakers line monitoring; Fully integrated with Fire Alarm Systems; Competitive price and low installation costs

Combined with ambientOne the MULTIVES system represents a comprehensive PA & VA offer for execution of any project of any size and destination.

All this and a lot more will be on view at the Holiday Inn.

THE SEMINAR PROGRAAME
As for the seminar and training sessions, proceedings will open at 10am with Tony Stacey, acoustic consultant from AMS Acoustics, whose topic will be: Signal to amplifier to loudspeaker – I thought it would be louder.

Other sessions include:

11am: Cassia Valentini Botinhao, Research fellow, The Centre for Speech Technology Research, University of Edinburgh: Increasing the intelligibility of computer-generated text-to-speech.

2.15pm: John Moore, Director, Secomak Ltd: Design and supply of loudspeakers for the Royal Navy and Army – not quite your home environment

3.30pm: Jan Leerschool, International Sales Manager, Pan Acoustics GmbH: Is two-dimensional beam steering the best audio solution for difficult acoustical environments?

Full details can be obtained by clicking: http://www.isce.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ISCEx2014-Seminar-Programme.pdf

The ISCE is a professional organisation for those working in the public address, voice alarm, sound system, audio frequency induction loop system, audio-video, acoustics, or any other such sector in the sound and communications industry. Visitors can register for the event using: http://www.isce.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ISCEx2014-Visitor-Registration-Form.pdf.

Limited stand space remains available. More details from: http://www.isce.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ISCEx2014-Exhibitor-Booking-Application-form1.pdf