Comrex
Comrex, founded in 1961 and employee-owned in Devens, MA, designs and manufactures IP audio and video codec hardware, cloud subscription services, and supporting software for professional radio, television, sports, and educational broadcasters worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersDevens, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Comrex does
Comrex is a privately held, employee-owned US manufacturer of professional broadcast equipment, founded in 1961 and headquartered in Devens, Massachusetts, where all products are designed, assembled, and shipped with locally sourced materials. The company builds IP audio and video codec hardware for radio and television broadcasters, with a core lineup spanning the ACCESS NX portable/rack/multi-rack family, the compact BRIC-Link III, the new FieldLink sideline codec, and the LiveShot portable and rackmount bonded-cellular video codecs. Supporting hardware includes the Opal IP audio gateway, VH2 VoIP hybrid, EarShot IFB, and certified cellular modems.
The portfolio is bound together by a proprietary reliability stack centered on CrossLock VPN technology (network bonding, redundancy, forward error correction, dynamic jitter buffering, and adaptive management) plus the Switchboard TS NAT-traversal cloud, HotSwap backup failover, and the free FieldTap smartphone app. Comrex generates revenue primarily through hardware sales to a global authorized dealer network spanning 45+ countries, supplemented by Gagl, a cloud subscription service for remote audio contribution (Solo free tier, Standard at $35/month or $350/year, plus a US-only Hotline tier for HD-voice phone dial-in), and one-time software licenses such as Fleet Commander and Switchboard for BRIC-Link.
The company serves professional radio and television broadcasters, sports networks, educational institutions, and public media organizations, with named users including iHeartMedia, Entercom, YES Network, Townsquare Television, Walmart Radio, Vermont Public Radio, Interlochen Public Radio, UNO TV, and Midwest Sports. It maintains an employee base of 11-50 with average tenure above five years, sustains bilingual English/Spanish technical support, and operates without venture capital or outside ownership, reinvesting into product reliability and long-term customer support.
Comrex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Comrex
- Legal name
- Comrex Corporation
- Website
- https://comrex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Comrex, founded in 1961 and employee-owned in Devens, MA, designs and manufactures IP audio and video codec hardware, cloud subscription services, and supporting software for professional radio, television, sports, and educational broadcasters worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Comrex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Broadcast Codecs
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Encoding & Transcoding Software (File/Live) (MPAHAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio Encoding & Processing (Surround, Atmos, Normalization) (MPAHAHAI), Codec & Format Support (HEVC/AV1/VVC, HDR, IMF, MXF) (MPAHAHAE), WebRTC & In-Browser Voice/Video (HDAIAHAH)
Keywords
Where Comrex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Devens
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Comrex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- IP Audio Codec Hardware: Sale of IP audio codec products including ACCESS NX Portable, ACCESS NX Rack, ACCESS MultiRack, BRIC-Link III, and FieldLink. Products are sold through authorized dealers worldwide.
- IP Video Codec Hardware: Sale of LiveShot video IP codec products including LiveShot Portable and LiveShot Rackmount for live wireless newsgathering and bonded cellular broadcasting.
- IP Solutions Hardware: Sale of IP audio gateway (Opal), VoIP hybrid (VH2), TV IFB system (EarShot IFB), and accessories including Connect Modems and Comet USB-C interface.
- Gagl Subscription: Cloud-based audio subscription service enabling remote contributor connections. Gagl Standard at $35/month or $350/year, Gagl + Hotline premium tier for US clients with phone dial-in capability. Free Gagl Solo tier for 1:1 connections.
- Software Licenses: One-time license purchases for Fleet Commander (multi-codec management), Switchboard (for BRIC-Link codecs), and other software features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Gagl Standard - Remote audio contribution service for up to 5 contributors |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gagl + Hotline - Enhanced tier with phone dial-in capability |
| Freemium | Monthly | Gagl Solo - Free tier for 1:1 connections |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Fleet Commander - Multi-codec management software |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Switchboard License - For BRIC-Link codecs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Comrex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Comrex designs, manufactures, and supports professional IP audio and video codec equipment used by radio and television broadcasters for live remote broadcasting, studio-transmitter links, and field newsgathering. The company also sells VoIP studio hybrids, TV IFB systems, and a cloud-based remote audio contribution subscription (Gagl), with all hardware built in its Devens, Massachusetts facility from locally sourced materials.
Product overview
Comrex designs and manufactures professional broadcast equipment for radio and television, incorporated since 1961 and headquartered in Devens, MA. The product portfolio centers on IP audio and video codecs for live remote broadcasting, supplemented by cloud subscription services, network reliability software, and mobile applications. The IP audio codec line includes the ACCESS NX Portable, ACCESS NX Rack, ACCESS MultiRack (five codecs in one rack unit), BRIC-Link III (compact half-rack entry-level codec), and FieldLink (new press box codec for sideline reporters). The IP video codec line includes LiveShot Portable and LiveShot Rackmount for bonded cellular HD video. Supporting products include Opal (IP audio gateway for guest interviews via browser), VH2 (two-line VoIP hybrid), and EarShot IFB (VoIP IFB system for TV). Gagl is a cloud subscription service for remote audio contribution enabling up to five guests to connect via browser to ACCESS/BRIC-Link codecs, available in Solo (free, 1:1), Standard ($35/month), and Hotline (U.S. phone dial-in) tiers. Core enabling technologies include CrossLock VPN (network bonding and redundancy), Switchboard (cloud NAT traversal), HotSwap (backup network failover), and FieldTap (free iOS/Android mobile app). Management software includes Codec Commander (free single-codec Windows control), Fleet Commander (paid multi-codec Windows control), and Device Manager (firmware/network management for Windows and Mac). Accessories include the Comet USB-C microphone interface, Connect Modem 2, and LiveShot Connect Modem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gagl: Cloud-based remote audio contribution service that enables users to send and receive audio through web browsers while connecting to Comrex hardware IP audio codecs.
- CrossLock VPN
- FieldLink
- Opal
Products and services
- ACCESS NX Portable A portable IP audio codec with built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB cellular modem support designed around CrossLock reliability technology, featuring a 5-inch capacitive touch screen and up to 6.5 hours of built-in battery life for radio broadcasters needing reliable remote broadcasts.
- ACCESS NX Rack A 1U rackmount IP audio codec featuring AES67, AES3, and analog audio I/O with HTML5-based web UI, compatible with the entire Comrex codec fleet and Gagl subscription service for studio end of broadcast chains.
- ACCESS MultiRack A rackmount IP audio multi-codec equivalent to five individual codecs in a 1RU chassis with AES67 compatibility, designed for sports networks and broadcasters that need multiple simultaneous connections.
Quantifiable outcome
- BRIC-Link units running 24/7 since 2010 with zero unit failures reported by VPR
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Comrex
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Comrex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
Comrex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Peplink / PepwaveminorComrex is now a reseller of Peplink/Pepwave products, offering these networking solutions alongside their codec products for complete broadcast connectivity solutions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Comrex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- JK Audio: JK Audio makes broadcast phone hybrids and audio interfaces for radio, overlapping with Comrex's VH2 and field audio accessory products but typically serving smaller-scale broadcasters and podcasters.
Direct peers
- Tieline: Tieline is the closest direct competitor to Comrex, manufacturing IP audio codecs (e.g., ViA, Merlin, Gateway) for radio broadcasters' remote contribution and STL use cases with similar bonding/reliability features.
- Sonifex: Sonifex manufactures broadcast audio equipment including IP audio codecs and telephone hybrids, competing with Comrex in radio station studio and contribution workflows, particularly in the UK and Europe.
- Prodys: Prodys manufactures IP audio and video codecs for broadcast and ENG applications, overlapping with Comrex's LiveShot and ACCESS NX Portable product categories in European and international markets.
- LiveU: LiveU is a leader in bonded-cellular live video transmission (LU600, LU-Smart), directly comparable to Comrex's LiveShot portable video codec for ENG and live newsgathering workflows.
- Glensound: Glensound builds broadcast IP audio codecs and AoIP interfaces for radio and TV, with comparable Dante/AES67 studio and remote contribution products to Comrex's ACCESS NX Rack and MultiRack.
- Musicam (Supperware/Coding Technologies successor codec business): Musicam has historically been a key IP audio codec manufacturer (CDMA, LD, Suprima) for radio broadcast contribution, competing with Comrex ACCESS/BRIC-Link in international radio networks.
- WorldCast Systems (APT): WorldCast Systems, through its APT audio codec brand, sells IP audio codecs and bonding solutions (SureStream) for radio broadcasters, directly competing with Comrex ACCESS and BRIC-Link product lines.
- AEQ: AEQ is a Spanish broadcast equipment manufacturer producing IP audio codecs (Phoenix family) and broadcast phone hybrids, directly comparable to Comrex's codec and VH2 hybrid portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Telos Alliance: Telos Alliance is a larger broadcast pro-audio vendor offering AoIP, phone hybrids (VX), and IP audio codecs, overlapping with Comrex's VH2 and ACCESS NX lines but with a broader broadcast studio portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Comrex social profiles
Digital presenceComrex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Comrex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Comrex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Comrex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Comrex
What does Comrex do?
Comrex designs, manufactures, and supports professional IP audio and video codec equipment used by radio and television broadcasters for live remote broadcasting, studio-transmitter links, and field newsgathering. The company also sells VoIP studio hybrids, TV IFB systems, and a cloud-based remote audio contribution subscription (Gagl), with all hardware built in its Devens, Massachusetts facility from locally sourced materials.
Is Comrex a public or private company?
Comrex is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Comrex founded?
Comrex was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Comrex based?
Comrex is headquartered in Devens, United States, in the North America region.
How does Comrex make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. IP Audio Codec Hardware is the primary driver. The others are IP Video Codec Hardware, IP Solutions Hardware, gagl Subscription and software Licenses.
Who are Comrex's main competitors?
JK Audio is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Tieline, Sonifex, Prodys, LiveU, Glensound, Musicam (Supperware/Coding Technologies successor codec business), WorldCast Systems (APT) and AEQ. Telos Alliance is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Comrex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Comrex.
What industry is Comrex in?
Comrex's product category is Professional Broadcast Codecs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAHAA, Encoding & Transcoding Software (File/Live), with a secondary code of MPAHAHAI, Audio Encoding & Processing (Surround, Atmos, Normalization). Its NAICS code is 334220 and its SIC code is 3663.