Plug and broadcast
TOA’s new horn speaker uses IP audio and common industry standards to make Public Address (PA) as easy as possible
Looking at the rather unassuming IP-A1SC15 loudspeaker from the Japanese audio specialists TOA, you wouldn’t guess the number of features this product has to offer.
For the sake of accuracy, the product description would have to be changed from “loudspeaker” to “integrated audio system”, because nothing less than that is hidden under the robust and plain white housing of the IP-A1SC15. All components of a Public Address system are contained in the unit: the audio source (80 MB memory for pre-recorded messages, live paging via network), the amplifier (15 W, powered via PoE+) and finally, the loudspeaker. The latter is based on the model TOA SC-615, which is known for its reliability and installed in numerous factories, warehouses, railway stations and more.
The combination of video surveillance and building communication with PA systems has been widespread for years, and the IP-A1SC15 has been designed to simplify these applications drastically, as well as adding many useful functions.
A single standard network cable is required to start working with the device. In comparison: in a traditional PA system, you would need several cables to provide the source signal, the amplified signal, control signals and power.
If the operator plans to use the loudspeaker in combination with CCTV, it can be easily done by adding the speaker inside the Video Management System (VMS). This is possible thanks to the ONVIF Profile S Standard, which is supported by the IP-A1SC15. The speaker has been certified by Genetec for their platform Security Center. More certifications are planned, and it was confirmed through in-house testing and customer feedback that the unit can be quickly integrated with other VMS as well.
If the use case is to flexibly broadcast voice announcements in an office building or similar environments, the operator can take advantage of the SIP technology, which is a part of modern networks in almost every commercial building. The IP-A1SC15 supports SIP, which means that the loudspeaker can be added to the network just like a normal (IP) phone. To make an announcement, the user can “call” the loudspeaker from their desk or even from mobile phones. The speaker can also receive Multicast, which means that not only individual loudspeakers, but also groups of loudspeakers can be addressed.
Another way to operate the speaker is by triggering functions automatically, which can be done through the remote API Protocol (HTTP) and/or 2 x contact inputs. This offers many possibilities for individual control: adapt the volume to the environmental noise level, to the time of the day and the degree of emergency; trigger announcements by motion detectors or temperature sensors, for example.
Security industry professionals are not always familiar with audio technology. The IP-A1SC15 makes it easy for this target group to add audio functionality to their solutions and thus expand their offer to the end customers. The network-enabled horn loudspeaker can already be seen on mobile surveillance towers, in perimeter surveillance and at traffic junctions. And we´ll probably see it even more often in the future, as there is no shortage of possible applications.
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