Ideal for remote contribution links, new MA400 SIP Opus Codec combines high-quality, open audio format with SIP negotiation in a cost-effective and compact solution

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, March 25, 2019 — Continuing to expand its extensive array of robust Audio over IP transport solutions, Barix will introduce its MA400 SIP Opus Codec next month at the 2019 NAB Show. Combining the dynamic flexibility and ease of SIP-based link establishment with the quality and efficiency of the Opus compression format, the new codec will be demonstrated in booth C1139 at the event, taking place April 6-11 in Las Vegas.

The MA400 encodes and decodes audio signals using the open standard Opus codec, a royalty-free audio compression format known for quality and reliability in interactive speech and music transmission over the Internet. The highly-efficient, low-latency Opus format is also gaining increasing popularity in other audio applications including VoIP, audio conferencing, in-game chat and remote live music performances. The MA400 is Barix’s first encoding and decoding product to incorporate the Opus codec.

The MA400 builds on the Opus codec’s quality, efficiency and low latency with SIP functionality to establish seamless links across SIP-compatible telephone, radio or other communications systems. Ideal for remote contribution applications, the SIP functionality in the MA400 allows the Barix unit to dial another device or phone number andautomatically negotiate a transmission link for audio streaming.

“Advanced broadcasters are moving away from static setups to SIP-based link establishment, particularly for remote contribution back to the studio such as from sporting events,” said Reto Brader, CEO, Barix. “That’s where the MA400 SIP Opus Codec comes in, establishing the connection through dial-up and then encoding and decoding the audio signal. It combines our extensive broadcast expertise with our background in SIP-based telephony products and the bandwidth efficiency of Opus, enabling easy, high-quality audio links to and from the studio. Our Exstreamer family continues to be the solution of choice for static studio-to-transmitter (STL) applications, but for SIP-based remote broadcast links the MA400 SIP Opus Codec is perfect.”

Continuing Barix’s tradition of offering powerful solutions at affordable pricing, the MA400 SIP Opus Codec is also designed to be extremely cost effective. “With similarly-featured, alternative products priced at twice the cost, the MA400 offers an extremely cost-effective deployment,” added Brader.

Built on Barix’s latest-generation, high-performance IPAM 400 audio module, the MA400 SIP Opus Codec features an analog, microphone-level input and line-level output. The new units share the same space-efficient form factor and durable build quality as Barix’s popular Exstreamer 100 product family.

Barix will beging taking orders for the MA400 SIP Opus codec at the NAB Show.

Barix: We Move Audio (www.barix.com)

Barix supplies simple and reliable solutions and components to systems integrators and end users worldwide.  We move high-quality audio across IP networks, adding value to customer solutions for more than a decade with hundreds of thousands of devices installed worldwide.  Background music distribution with dynamic advertising insertion for retail shops, bars and hotels; public address solutions for schools and public spaces; and intercom and entry systems for facility surveillance, protection and security are among the many applications of Barix solutions.  Barix also supports OEM projects for a number of Global 500 listed companies serving many industries worldwide.