Inexpensive BitWise Box Controls $200,000 Home Cinema at ISE 2013

The group, formed to deliver “the absolute best possible home cinema experience to the attendees of Integrated Systems Europe,” spared no expense on the demo, which often had queues wrapped around the booth.

Industry veteran Eric Bodley of PPC sat (lounged) next to me in the demo, and he said I had the line of the day: “Wow, I need to get me a home theater,” I said at the end of the show.

For me, though, the true marvel was that this $200,000-plus home theater was being controlled by little more than an iPad app and a $1,500 box from BitWise.

The BitWise BC1 controller features two-way serial (four ports) and IP control of a large number of subsystems, including the products in the Home Cinema demo. It has relays, signal-sensing inputs and a built-in IR library with on-board learning for everything else.

The company’s BitWise Project Editor software and its own BitWise Touch app for iOS and Android (as well as third-party apps written for the platform) seal the deal.

Along with the BC1, here are the other products in the Home Cinema Europe theater:

• projectiondesign Avielo Helios Studio Edition DLP projector
• Screen Innovations Black Diamond Zero Edge G2 and Gamma Maestro 4K projection screens
• RBH Sound 7.1 speaker/sub array
• Oppo Blu-ray player
• Kaleidescape M700 Disc Vault and M300 movie player
• ADA Cinema Rapture receiver/switcher/amp
• AVocation matrix switch
• D-Box Series IV-BD motion controller
• Fortress Seating BIJOU 910 BOT recliners and love seat
• Tributaries power manager and cables

Home Cinema Demo Reels

• Yanni’s “Playtime” from the album “Ethnicity” (sheer musical pleasure and drama; not much need for D-Box)
• Brave (showcases the “subtlety” of D-Box motion, synchronized with a horse galloping and floating through the air)
• Fast Five (unapologetic action)

BitWise BC1 Features

• Powerful Automation Capabilities: An internal scripting engine makes complex automation and control logic possible
• Scheduled Events: The built-in astronomical clock functionality allows tasks to be triggered based on time of day, sunrise/sunset, etc
• SMS Text: Trigger tasks or notify users via SMS Text messaging *Coming Soon for U.S. Dealers
• Expanded Two-Way Support: With four RS232 ports, and multiple simultaneous TCP client device capabilities, the BC1 can handle enough two-way devices for virtually any system.
• Expanded IR Support: Featuring a built-in IR library with an on-board learner, the BC1 has eight routed IR ports with adjustable output. The BC1 also provides the functionality of the BCIRI built-right in
• Expanded Hardware Interfaces: The BC1 provides four SPDT relays, and four signal sense inputs
• Scalability: The BC1 can act independently, or as part of a distributed control system with any number of additional BC1 or BC4X1 controllers
• Rack Mount Enclosure: The BC1 has a 1RU enclosure, which can be installed in any equipment cabinet, or rack mounted with the included rack ears

Home Cinema Europe at ISE 2013

Home Cinema rack with BitWise BC1 at top

BitWise’s Scott Miller performs demo

A little help from a Sanus iPad mount

BitWise Home Cinema Screen Shots

MORE ISE 2013 COVERAGE HERE