AMX MUSE: Empowering AV Developers with a Playground of Possibilities

Jeff Burch

The MUSE automation platform from AMX is a uniquely different and powerfully flexible approach to designing AV control systems. By embracing standard tools and technologies, MUSE supports a variety of skill sets, expanding access to a wider group of developers. To better understand what’s possible and what makes the platform so developer-friendly, we talked to one of its architects, Jeff Burch, Director of Product Management, Video and Control.

Jeff how does MUSE differ from typical control platforms?
AMX has been in the control business for over 40 years. We’ve been a key player and a major innovator and MUSE is a dramatic departure from typical control systems. Programmers will use it in a very different way than they have most likely been used to. MUSE gives them the freedom to design however they are most comfortable and can be the most creative.

Watch to explore the MUSE platform and get product details.

Let’s talk about the flexibility the platform offers.
Flexibility is one of MUSE’s biggest differentiators. We support three different standard programming languages so that you can develop in a language that works best for you. These include Python, JavaScript, and Groovy. They can all run simultaneously and independently and can communicate between themselves. They can also all be tested, debugged, started, and stopped independently.

MUSE is also completely flexible in its use of development environment. We let you use whatever environment most suits you. For example, we’ve created our MUSE Extension for VS Code that allows all of the controllers and devices to show up automatically, so that they can be discovered, configured and code can be loaded easily from within Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

Watch these videos to discover the power of our MUSE Automator Node-RED, flow-based programming tool. And get the product details and download.

And we built MUSE Automator, our free low-code, no-code programming tool that leverages Node-RED, one of the most popular and widely used drag-and-drop development tools. And flows created in MUSE Automator run alongside the high-code scripts and can even interoperate with them.

How do MUSE Controllers stand out in terms of hardware and compatibility?
First, is the sheer processing power driving MUSE controllers. We wanted these controllers to be extremely nimble so we included a processor that is 10 times faster than our current NetLinx NX processors. This ensures a very capable box for today’s most complex applications with the power to run even more challenging installs in the future.

These controllers also continue the longstanding AMX tradition for durability and reliability. They have been built from the ground up with a rugged, fanless design for 24/7 always-on operation. And like all our products, they are engineered for a long and productive service life. You have to remember, we build our products to be tough enough to defend countries, which is literally the case for our many military clients.

We also ensured MUSE was a very compatible platform. It’s ready to support all the existing device driver modules and IR libraries that AMX has been developing and curating over the decades. In addition, it supports the AMX ICSP protocol so all AMX ICSP-enabled devices like keypads, touch panels, and extension boxes are immediately discoverable for programming. Using our Manager software, in addition to discovering devices, you can easily configure your system, enable file transfers, and make firmware updates. It’s also ready to interact with the growing ecosystem of HARMAN devices using the new HControl protocol, including JBL Pro, Crown, and BSS products.

Check out this overview to learn more about the MUSE Extension for Visual Studio Code. You can also get more details and download.

What about the security built into MUSE controllers?
Of course security is another cornerstone of the AMX story. Our clients trust our products to be incredibly secure. MUSE controllers are built on and extend everything that has made our NX controllers so popular with military, government, financial and similar customers. NX controllers have been certified by the US Government’s JITC certification program and many of the world’s most stringent security programs.

The new MU-Series MUSE Automation Controllers are built to be even more secure and will meet and often surpass the latest security needs and requirements. They leverage our new secure Linux OS and support the most current network security technologies. We are currently working through the JITC certification process with our MUSE controllers and they will be added to the Approved Products List soon.

So Jeff, can you recap why someone new to MUSE, should consider checking it out?
Sure. Once people get a chance to experience the platform, we think they will agree that it is clearly a different way of working with AV control systems. If you’re looking for a flexible and supportive development environment, this is it. MUSE is all about offering choices to empower developers to do their best work.

We also offer a variety of development tools. MUSE Automator is a perfect example. We built it to get developers up and running quickly. It requires very little programming expertise and is supported by a worldwide development community.

I encourage anyone who may be interested in learning more to check out our training series, videos, and product details. And, the AMX team is always ready to answer your questions and discuss your projects – please let us know how we can help.

Explore this in-depth AMX MUSE Video Training Series.

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Jeff Burch

Jeff Burch is Director of Product Management, Video and Control for HARMAN Professional Solutions.

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