Harris Corporation Enhances Studio Systems and Consoles Portfolio with New Routing and Control Features

AUSTIN, Texas.-(NAB Radio, Booth 509) — Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has introduced enhancements to its studio systems and consoles range for radio broadcasters. The enhancements include improved source selection and routing compatibility to Harris® RMXdigital™ on-air consoles, as well as new console display techniques to address the more crowded studio environments of today.

Harris introduced an RMXdigital Dual Selector upgrade kit to new and existing customers, which transforms the standard dual-fader module into an integrated Harris® 16x2 MicroRouter controller. The 16x2 MicroRouter is a compact, 1RU routing system that adds remote source selection capability to RMXdigital consoles, providing up to 16 remote sources to any dual-fader module and allowing individual selection for each fader. Sixteen inputs connect any mix of digital and analog input signals to the console for immediate use on the air, and digital signals at the output remain native throughout the air chain with no format conversions required.

The RMXdigital Dual Selector shares an identical user interface with Harris® VistaMax™ and Envoy™ audio management solutions, making source selection tasks easy and familiar to VistaMax customers. The Dual Selector interface also allows easy programming and storage of source names of up to 10 characters in length; the source names are presented to the user in alphabetical order for more efficient operation on the fly.

Harris also introduces two display styles for RMXdigital consoles that reflect today’s changing studio environments, including an aviation-inspired, “heads-up” display that preserves sightlines to guests, video and other show information on LCD monitors and digital signage displays in the studio. The heads-up display allows DJs and show producers to observe meters, clock and timer information for optimal studio sightlines in increasingly crowded environments. A “direct view” style is also available, offering a more traditional low-profile design.

Harris is also demonstrating software enhancements to its VistaMax audio management system, which were first introduced at the NAB2008 show. Harris® VistaTouch is a Windows® PC client application that expands access to common tasks for studio personnel with a simple and visually oriented presentation that provides secure system-wide control functionality to operators. VistaTouch software features user-activated “Image Panels” to initiate frequent, show-specific and day-part requirements.

VistaTouch software also offers visual enhancements to the studio operator by associating predefined Picture or Live Webcam images with each Image Panel. As many as 20 Image Panels can be assigned to each application to address multiple-user or requirement-specific presentations at every VistaMax-connected studio within the facility. The Live Webcam streams are ideal for visual cueing of live sources — especially useful for news and talk stations, and live multi-talent morning shows.

Harris RMXdigital on-air consoles and VistaMax and Envoy audio management systems are among the wide range of Harris infrastructure and networking solutions that optimize the studio workflows of today’s radio broadcast operations.

Harris Broadcast Communications provides products, systems and services that deliver interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire media delivery chain. The Harris ONE™ solution brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.