Waves System’s ID-AL MP3 players are music to your ears

Waves System of France has launched ID-AL (Interactive Digital Audio Line) – its new range of interactive, programmable MP3 players. These new professional MP3 players mean no more looped CDs or badly tuned radios. Fully automated and as easy to use as CD players, ID-AL MP3 players are able to play hundreds of hours of personalised background music and programmed audio messages in public and commercial places.

ID-AL players are highly reliable compared to IT systems. Installed instead of a CD player or other sound source, the ID-AL player operates entirely autonomously thanks to a 40Gb hard disk. ID-AL MP3 players can be used in a wide range of premises such as restaurants, car parks, train stations, waiting rooms and radio stations.

Available since September 2003 and launched at the Prolight & Sound trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, in April 2004, the SP603 player, the first model in the ID-AL range, was designed to play unattended a large volume of varied music, continuously or programmed. As easy to use as a CD player, the SP603 creates a personalised musical ambiance and enables users to focus on other business.

With a standard PC or Mac computer, the tracks to be played are quickly transferred into the SP603 hard disk via a USB2 link. An Ethernet/modem extension card is used to control remotely one or several players and to transfer upgrade orders via the internet. It is also possible to automate the players completely by programming them to download upgrades available on a FTP site. The FTP protocol is used to transfer large files between a computer and a remote device, often a server or a personal page host server. The device is also able to send report emails, play lists and program execution confirmation.

The SP603, equipped with its eight inputs/four relay outputs extension unit, becomes an events manager: it can input signals (contact on a door, pedal, security, fire relay, light, pressure, humidity, heat, presence sensor, etc.) and launch the reading of files and directories or the starting of programs. The four available relay outputs are used to control external events, making the device highly versatile (PLCs, light effects, special effects, etc.).

A keyboard on the front panel is used to control the player manually. A LCD guides the configuration and adjustment of bass and treble settings and play mode and commands can be changed as desired. At any time, it is possible to select a track or a directory by scrolling through the tracks on the screen using the next/previous keys.

Tracks are played in sequence or at random, continuously, 24 hours a day, with no intervention, thanks to a real-time clock. More than 256 time programs can be used to decide if an announcement should be broadcast every day at the same time, every week or on a specific day and time. According to the premises and the sensorial content to be broadcast in stores, the musical program can be interspersed with adverts, jingles or announcements. The perfect medium for sensorial marketing, the SP603 broadcasts sound while also managing the light, fragrance diffusers, and so on.

The ID-AL range today comprises the SP603 model with internal hard disk and its version with extractable hard disk, and the SP703 with 19″, 1U or 2U racks that are easily integrated into industrial bays or any standard audio system. A recent addition to the ID-AL range, the SP203 is a basic model without programming with extractable hard disk and integrated amplifier.

The AP303 model with Compact Flash memory is available in four versions including two Show Control versions (DMX and 16 relays) supplied with sequence creation software.

About Waves System

Created in 1985 and based in north-west France, Waves System is specialised in the distribution of the digital audio products of major brands such as Sony, Emu and Alcatech. Having added a design department to its team, Waves System has now decided to manufacture its own products and is launching the sale of new professional MP3 players.