Articles and whitepapers

Audio Servers (2/1/2004)

By Steve Reichert

In the beginning...

The rise and rise of the multiroom custom installation industry has been completely dependent on the development of audio server components.

In the beginning there was the hi-fi system, which consumers happily listened to in their living rooms. Then some ambitious owners added extension speakers to another room, maybe the dining room or the kitchen, which was a big leap forward - but of course they had to keep walking back to the living room to change the record. Simple improvements allowed them to control the volume, and later sophistication made their friends marvel at their ability to change between source components. But sadly, unless you only wanted to listen to the radio, you still had the half-hourly trek back to the living room to turn your record over or change the tape. Not surprisingly, few people could be bothered to do this. For real multiroom audio distribution to become commercially viable, what was needed was a controllable domestic version of a jukebox. But nothing suitable was available.

Then in 1983, compact disc was born, and the late 1980s saw the arrival of multiple CD players. These gave consumers the ability to listen to up to 100 of their favourite CDs, and even programme the running order and switch from disc to disc. The introduction of these new multi-disc players heralded the birth of the multiroom custom installation industry as we know it today.

Current audio server technology

Although multi-disc CD players kicked off our industry, they often caused more trouble than they were worth. Inherent limitations in their design prevented truly seamless usage by the end user. They were a horrible mix of electronics and mechanics, which inevitably led to poor reliability. Worse still was the time delay in moving from disc to disc. Changing from track 2 on disc No. 5 to track 8 on disc No. 87 could take up to 30 seconds or more, which seems like an eternity if you are standing by a key-pad in a far-off zone.

The marriage of computer hard disk technology with domestic multiroom equipment has transformed this situation. Now music can be recorded and stored digitally on a hard drive-based audio server. Hundreds, even thousands of hours of high-quality sound can stored and more importantly, near-instantaneously accessed by consumers at the touch of a button. It is not surprising that an audio server is now the default music source in nearly all multiroom installations. Recent improvements to hard disk performance mean that audio server pioneers, such as British manufacturer Imerge, can now offer models with up to 480 gigabyte hard drives for storage of up to 7000 hours of high-quality music. To put this in perspective, an Imerge Soundserver audio server for example, could play for ten hours every day, for nearly two years, without ever repeating the same piece of music!

The Imerge S2000 audio server

Keeping up-to-date

Audio servers are also programmable. The Imerge Xiva software for example, which is now licensed to many different audio server manufacturers, allows consumers to enjoy full access and control over their entire music library in a user-friendly way. They can easily create extensive 'play lists' of their favourite songs and/or play assortments by artist or even genre of music. Current Imerge Soundservers connect to the Internet using either the fitted modem or via Ethernet, which automatically dials-up and interrogates the Gracenote website (www.gracenote.com). This website holds details about nearly every CD ever released, and automatically sends the audio server 'album sleeve' information about CDs that is has on store. This information includes the artist name, album title, individual track titles and running order, and is displayed on the unit's front panel. More usefully, it is also available via the audio server's video outputs, which enables clients to view the information in a helpful menu format, on any television or other display device that is positioned in any zone of their multiroom system home.

Multizone, multiuser control

You don't want a television in one of the rooms where you want to hear your music? No problem. The audio server can be remotely operated from wall-mounted keypads, many of which will show full menus and provide all the feedback you need. However, the ultimate level of user convenience is enjoyed by those lucky enough to have a PDA (personal digital assistant) running Windows 2003 for Pocket PC software. These pocket-sized computers accept the recently-developed Xiva Tacta software, which enables the user to operate their Imerge audio server, via two-way wireless communications, from absolutely anywhere in the house. Their small touchscreen displays provide both full information and total control.

Many audio servers also allow multiple users to enjoy the full benefits of the system simultaneously, yet completely independently. The Imerge M2000 top-of-the-range model for example, allows up to 16 separate users. This means that, in a big house with 16 zones, the whole England World Cup-winning rugby team, plus Mr Clive Woodward, could all be listening to their individual favourite pieces of music at the same time, and not be interfering with each other.

The Imerge M2000 audio server

And tomorrow?

How will audio servers improve further? My prediction is that they will become even more powerful, become intelligent, Internet-interactive and will eventually include storage of movies as well as music.

Intelligence will manifest itself in the ability of the audio server to learn the preferences of its users in respect to artist, genre, individual tracks and even time of day. It may then be able to create and recommend play lists to suit your every mood.

They will interrogate websites linked to your favourite music and keep you up-to-date with related news items, recommending concerts and even allowing direct purchase of tickets and the like.

Creating a film library is as easy as making an audio collection. All that is holding it back are copyright issues and legitimate fears of content providers regarding illegal copying. We must presume that these issues will be solved at some time in the future.

Thinking of multiroom for yourself?

If you are considering a multiroom system for yourself, then an audio server is a must. With it you can, in effect, very simply create your own personal digital radio station, which only plays music you like and is instantly available to you, at the touch of a button, in every zone of your house. More than this, every member of your family (up to 16 people in total) can create their individual radio station as well. How clever is that? Radio Dad. Radio Mum. What's yours called?

Steve Reichert is the Business Development Manager for Veda UK.

veda-uk.co.uk