Monroe Electronics and its Digital Alert Systems subsidiary recently announced that their optional Custom Message Plus software is now called Custom Message Pro. The name change heralds a significant upgrade, adding many new features and a new interface that make it faster and easier for users needing to provide Mass Notification Emergency Communications (MNEC) to create audio and video messaging during critical events.

An optional software add-on to the companies' One-Net and DASDEC emergency messaging platforms, Custom Message Pro significantly improves communications by allowing designated users secure access to a specific screen, where they can create detailed, customized audio/video messages for processing by downstream equipment, including other Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) devices. At the same time, it accommodates multiple forms of emergency messaging through One-Net and DASDEC's video and audio capabilities.

A unique new feature available only from Monroe Electronics and Digital Alert Systems is the ability to access and distribute outside messages that could impact people inside the facility, resulting in improved safety. For example, because the software makes it possible to "bridge two worlds," plant managers could warn workers about a tornado in the immediate area, something they might not otherwise be aware of while working inside a windowless building.

In another improvement, Custom Message Pro users can now store message contents and display parameters as named templates, making it much easier to set up different types of messages without having to go through the entire configuration process every time. Enhanced message display parameters provide more control over video and audio duration, repetition, and components. Users can recall and modify stored templates and save them as something new, and they can assign a general-purpose input (GPI) or contact closure to up to 32 templates to instantly trigger a preset message.

Other new functionality includes the ability to link a message to an audio file or derive the audio from Custom Message Pro's premium text-to-speech engine. Monroe and Digital Alert Systems have more than doubled their offering of text-to-speech options from two to five, and customers can now choose their desired male or female voice from the companies' English-language selection at the time of purchase.

"Customers have appreciated our ability to generate text and audio messages under Custom Message Plus, but they were looking for more selective control and the ability to tie a message to a button for quick recall of specific, pre-stored messages," said Bill Robertson, vice president of business development for Monroe Electronics and Digital Alert Systems. "This ability is paramount at MNEC sites — primarily campuses and industrial complexes that rely on digital signage equipment to distribute messages."

Custom Message Pro applies to any One-Net or DASDEC site that needs to improve on-site communication. For example, in the oil industry, there are many television channels in and around an off-shore oil platform. When there's an alarm, rig supervisors want to make everyone on board aware of the situation and give them specific details, such as "report to muster stations," "abandon rig," or "fire" — all of which are critical to the life and well-being of those aboard the platform. Being able to preset specific alarm responses means supervisors can quickly communicate the condition and the necessary reaction.

Custom Message Pro is an option available for any upgrade for DASDEC and One-Net customers with Version 3.1 software and is free for any customers with Custom Message Plus and Version 3.1 software.