Symetrix Releases SymNet Designer 6

Dec 6, 2005 5:49 PM

Symetrix, a leading provider of signal processing technology for the installed sound market, announces the latest upgrade to its SymNet Network Audio DSP platform. Version 6 of the SymNet Designer application for Windows is now available for public download from www.symnetaudio.com.

SymNet Designer 6

The primary focus of the new release is the addition of Acoustic Echo Cancelling (AEC) functionality to the SymNet platform. This process operates entirely within SymNet's onboard DSP and requires no outboard cards or additional hardware. The system is capable of running up to eight channels of AEC in any of the SymNet family DSP devices.

As with previous upgrades and additions to the SymNet toolkit, Acoustic Echo Cancelling is offered as a series of software modules that can be added to a SymNet design at any time based on the system application. Included modules perform at three different bandwidths for use in telephone conferencing, videoconferencing, and wideband conferencing within a building or over a fiber connection.

SymNet's open architecture allows system designers enormous flexibility when implementing Acoustic Echo Cancelling, especially when compared to some competitive systems. Since the module is not directly tied to either a hardware or expansion card input, its audio and reference inputs can be derived in a number of different ways and changed on demand to suit different room configurations or alternate conferencing hardware.

SymNet's control capabilities have been further enhanced in this release with the addition of a Control String Output module. This allows SymNet to issue serial string commands to outboard devices over RS-232. This simple control module has allows system designers to embed a command string of up to 63 characters in ASCII or Hex format. The command is then issued from the SymNet device over the RS-232 communication port.

"The addition of these two features makes this a powerful upgrade for the SymNet platform" says Dan Gallagher, Symetrix executive vice president of global sales and marketing. "It makes SymNet a viable choice in the contemporary boardroom market where conferencing technology is a requirement."

Other enhancements are intended to improve and simplify workflow when designing SymNet systems. SymNet Designer 6 includes an assortment of site files and super modules that fit real-world applications. Super modules appear onscreen as single objects but have multiple processing objects nested inside. Ready-made super modules, such as an input processing module or speaker manager, can be imported into a site file to save time during the design phase of a project. Site files include all aspects of a system design including processing modules, audio pathways, and parameter settings. The included site files can be used as templates or starting points for more specific project designs.

"This version of SymNet Designer is about adding new capabilities, while making our product easier and more accessible than ever before," continues Gallagher. "It opens new doors for us and simplifies the design process for new users and those familiar with our system."

SymNet Designer 6 is available for download at www.symnetaudio.com.