MediaMatrix® Announces EN54-16 Certification for nCIE PILOT® Control PC and NION® Series DSPs
MediaMatrix® is pleased to announce that its NION® Series of digital signal and control processors (DSPs) and nCIE PILOT® control PC are now certified by the EN54-16 European Standard. These components form the nucleus of a dynamic VACIE system (Voice Alarm Control and Indicating Equipment) used to provide optimum protection for the public and for safety personnel.
The EN54 certification is a mandatory standard that specifies, requires, and laboratory tests every component of fire detection and fire alarm systems. Part 16 of the certification specifically pertains to voice alarm control and indicating equipment. The certifications of both the nCIE PILOT control PC and NION Series DSPs, respectively, speak to the industrial-grade quality of MediaMatrix equipment, as well as their stable, efficient, and robust performance.
The just-launched MediaMatrix nCIE PILOT processor, the brain of the VACIE system, manages all control and fault-monitoring logic. It also provides all control functionality to the end user through hosting the award-winning Kiosk2Go (tablet device HTML5) GUIs (graphical user interfaces) to multiple clients, which means the VACIE solution is essentially a headless system.
Additionally, the well-distinguished MediaMatrix NION Series nX, n3, and n6 DSP frames handle audio input sources, DSP processing, routing, networked and analog audio distribution, and voice alarm message playback, among other operational tasks. The VACIE system can be configured and scaled as a centralized single-rack solution, configured across multiple remote racks as a distributed solution, or positioned as a hybrid of both. The VACIE system can also scale to hundreds or even thousands of channels utilizing the flexible MediaMatrix NION architecture.
The nCIE PILOT and NION frames are accompanied by a choice of Powersoft, d&b audiotechnik, or Crown networked multi-channel power amplification to meet system requirements. Belgian company Luminex has also deployed its robust and highly intuitive GigaCore 26i Ethernet switch, which manages all IP communications between devices and is also used for handling all Dante-networked audio traffic.
Overall, MediaMatrix’s unique mix-and-match EN54-16 VACIE system delivers a truly flexible, fully customizable, high-powered pro-audio solution for life-safety applications that specifiers, consultants, integrators, and decision-makers have not previously seen or enjoyed before.
Beijing Capital International Airport’s massive Terminal 3 covers 10.6 million square feet, making it the second-largest airport terminal in the world. It’s also the second busiest, with a whopping 77.4 million annual customers. Managing such a high volume of traffic over that large a footprint requires an intricately distributed digital audio system.
The design and operation of the Beijing International Airport T3 called for constant monitoring and auto redundant backup of all systems. To accomplish this, MediaMatrix Control Manager™ software provides monitoring and control for audio, network switches, and many other third-party devices, while a team of 260 Crest Audio Ci™ 20×8 power amplifiers outfitted with NexSys® Nx CobraNet-8 modules are deployed through the terminal.
The Crest Audio power amplifiers feature built-in monitoring of both health and audio performance such as core temperature, speaker load status and other critical values, and the NexSys Nx CobraNet-8 modules send that information over the network to Control Manager on a NION® network, allowing every amplifier channel to be constantly monitored in real time. The nControl sends communicates back through the same network to tell the amplifier to turn on/off, change the volume levels, alter signal routing between the various amplifier channels, or simply take itself offline or online when a fault may occur, allowing another amplifier to take its place to ensure the audio or messages gets through. All this is done automatically without human intervention, 24 hours a day, every day.
Building strong customer relations has been a key factor in the success of Southwest Airlines,so when the 40-year-old global company set out to redesign its corporate headquarters,communications were a high priority. The extensive renovation encompassed several key areasof the Southwest Airlines facility in Dallas, Texas, including the Executive Boardroom, Freedom Hall, The Landing, and a matrix of training rooms—all configured and controlled by MediaMatrix® NION® distributed digital audio systems.
Freedom Hall serves as the main hub of internal and external communications, with a mix of applications ranging from web-streamed employee meetings to press conferences with full media support. MediaMatrix NION configures and controls the room’s audio system, including 60 push-to-talk microphones.
be used separately or joined, and can also serve as overflow seating for Freedom Hall—even though they are not located adjacent to each other. MediaMatrix can virtually combine or separate the rooms’ audio systems, allowing Southwest’s team to achieve multiple purposes.