News: Harris Corporation Delivers Networked Audio Capability to Radio Broadcasters Large and Small with Flexible Console, Networking Systems

VistaMax™ family of products strengthens position as industry’s most reliable platform for bringing networked audio to multi-studio configurations in markets of all sizes

(CINCINNATI, September 12, 2005) Harris Corporation’s (NYSE: HRS) Broadcast Communications Division (BCD) brings its latest in studio consoles and systems to NAB Radio 2005 with a comprehensive overview of its flexible PR&E VistaMax™ family of products.

Since its acquisition of Pacific Engineering & Research in 1999, Harris has introduced a complete range of consoles to equip the largest multi-studio facilities to the smallest independent operations, while delivering audio networking capabilities to virtually any radio broadcaster. At NAB Radio 2005, radio broadcasters can visit the Harris booth for advice on how to get the most mileage out of their studio setups while discovering how to achieve their ultimate goals through gradual upgrades.

The heart of Harris’ studio product portfolio is its popular PR&E VistaMax family of products. The VistaMax platform simplifies network audio management by allowing radio stations to connect sources and destinations to the system over the shortest path, eliminating or reducing stand-alone routers, distribution systems and long multi-pair bundles. Harris will display a vast range of Harris PR&E VistaMax networked products, including the new VistaMax™ Control Center software panels for commissioning and management of the VistaMax networked audio management platform. The new software panels provide access to VistaMax™ switching over an individual PC workstation or across a corporate LAN, further increasing user flexibility and saving valuable rack space.

Two Harris on-air consoles within the PR&E VistaMax family will round out the studio consoles and systems display. The RMXdigital™ on-air radio console, which evolved from Harris’s PR&E BMXdigital console for major markets, is ideal for consolidated operations that feature two or more radio stations within the same facility. The RMXdigital console allows direct connection to networked VistaMax audio platforms, putting digital audio networking in the hands of small-to-medium sized radio stations with its cost-effective, centralized approach to radio broadcasting and production.

With the BMXdigital and RMXdigital solutions aimed mainly at large and medium markets, Harris recently introduced what is perhaps the industry’s most cost-effective, all-digital console specifically designed for smaller markets. The Harris PR&E StereoMixer® digital console, available in tabletop and rack-mount configurations, breaks the price barrier for digital consoles in small market operations by delivering digital capabilities at an analog budget. Featuring a completely digital mixing architecture and considerable flexibility, medium-to-large market radio stations can use the StereoMixer digital console for smaller production studios, voice tracking rooms, nonlinear editing suites, and newsrooms while retaining the innovation associated with larger Harris PR&E digital consoles. StereoMixer® digital users can enable VistaMax platform networking over multiple studios through simple console connections.

“Harris PR&E VistaMax family of products is a shining example of Harris’ ability to meet a broadcaster’s goal today while laying the groundwork for future growth,” said Debra Huttenburg, vice president and general manager of Harris BCD’s Radio Broadcast Systems business unit. “Broadcasters can start with one RMXdigital console and gradually expand to achieve multi-studio VistaMax platform networking for source sharing, or mix and match different-sized Harris consoles within the same VistaMax network for maximum flexibility. This incremental upgrade capability ensures that Harris customers can protect their initial investments instead of undergoing the expense of building a completely new system for digital, multi-studio facilities.”

Rounding out Harris’ studio console and systems display at NAB Radio is its new QuickLine II furniture range. The new range of furniture offers a look and feel similar to its popular Smoothline® furniture range, but provides standard “quick-ship” configurations that allow smaller stations with limited budgets to take advantage of Harris’ most popular furniture designs.

About Harris Broadcast Communications Division
Harris Broadcast Communications Division is one of four divisions within Harris Corporation, an international communications equipment company focused on providing assured communications™ products, systems and services for government and commercial customers in more than 150 countries. One of the world’s leading suppliers of broadcast technology, Harris Broadcast Communications Division offers a full range of solutions that support the digital delivery, automation and management of audio, video and data. For more information, visit www.broadcast.harris.com.

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