Editor’s Note: Security Sales & Integration published this article about AtlasIED as a mass notification leader on Nov. 5, 2025. We will note any subsequent updates.
There’s no doubt that audio plays a major role in enhancing visitor experiences across environments like retail, airports, fitness centers and more. What may be a bit more underappreciated, however, is the fact that audio is equally — if not more — critical to ensuring positive security and life-safety outcomes.
The rapidly growing mass notification category is a perfect case in point.
From schools to corporate campuses to major transit hubs, mass notification systems have become non-negotiable across environments in which people gather. But although many manufacturers have entered this space, none possess the deep-rooted audio expertise that AtlasIED has.
AtlasIED: Rooted in Intentional Audio Design
AtlasIED boasts a 91-year history and is deeply rooted in the principles of intentional audio design. Founded as a horn loudspeaker manufacturer, the company, in its early days, designed and built high-output loudspeakers that were installed on naval ships, in industrial applications and beyond.
“And you know that, in those areas, not only are there a lot of acoustical challenges — think metal and glass and highly reverberant surfaces — but there are also very loud things going on,” says Gina Sansivero, vice president of marketing and corporate communications, AtlasIED. The company’s success from its earliest days in those challenging environments underlines its science-driven, audio-first philosophy.
Make no mistake: “Audio first” is no mere marketing slogan; rather, it’s a competitive differentiator within the security industry. “Audio first” encapsulates a core competency that speaks to the heart of mass notification needs. After all, in emergencies, the intelligibility of spoken notifications can be the difference between safety and catastrophe.
“In order to keep people safe, they need to hear instruction above the din,” Sansivero says. “We really need to get them the right information clearly and at a volume that they can really understand.”
In the following paragraphs, we’ll dive deeper into AtlasIED and its unique strength as the mass notification solution provider of choice.
AtlasIED on the Growing Importance of Mass Notification
Let’s start, though, with mass notification and its importance as a growth category for integration professionals. According to Sansivero, one key factor driving mass notification system adoption is rampant digitization and the growing prevalence of IP-based systems.
“They are somewhat easier to install; they’re easier to remotely manage; [and] they give you 24/7/365 support for any kind of physical security systems, concerns and processes,” Sansivero says. “So, they’re much easier to use…because they are now an integrated system. And digitization really forced that forward.”
Another important factor is the current economic climate. Sansivero observes that, during times of strain, the need for security solutions tends to rise.
As Sansivero explains it, “Anytime there’s economic uncertainty, nonessential AV projects are put aside, just paused or they’re value engineered. In security, when there’s economic uncertainty, the need for security increases.”
Desperation, Sansivero notes, sometimes causes people to do things they’d otherwise never have done. Accordingly, she believes that this is a time when we can expect increased investment in security projects, including and especially those involving mass notification.
The Science of Intelligibility
Now that we have a better understanding of why mass notification continues to attract attention, let’s return to “Audio first.” What does it mean in practice?
For Sansivero, “Audio first” comes down to having the technical wherewithal to ensure intelligibility — in short, listeners’ ability to comprehend the spoken word. This is especially critical in an emergency, a confusing situation in which any misunderstanding could have dire consequences.
She points to the difficulty everyday commuters frequently have just trying to understand station announcements on trains. This, Sansivero says, illustrates the crux of the challenge.
“The need for intelligibility cannot be underscored enough,” Sansivero stresses.
Further illustrating her point about potential confusion in an emergency, Sansivero offers an example: A fire alarm goes off in a hotel at 2:00 a.m. She notes that, while the blaring alarm itself signals a problem, it provides no context on whether it may be a false alarm or whether it’s a real emergency.
“If the PA system isn’t working or if it’s unintelligible, you’re more likely to stay in your room,” Sansivero explains. “And if a fire is really happening, it’s going to be an issue for you to evacuate the longer you wait.”
Mass Notification: An Education Context
Turning to an education context, Sansivero offers another example: a possible fire in, say, the east wing of a school building.
“You’d like the students to be able to evacuate the west wing,” she explains. “So, having that communication that says, ‘Fire in the east wing. Please evacuate out the west wing,’ prevents people from moving toward the danger.”
AtlasIED appreciates the nuances and distinctions between different environments, and that’s why the company has specially designed products to serve varying environments.
“So, for example, we have indoor/outdoor horns that work within our IPX IP-based ecosystem for mass communication that can be used outside in parking lots and playgrounds and sporting areas or inside a gym, where that high output is necessary,” Sansivero explains. “We also have what we call vandal-proof product.”
According to Sansivero, “Specific needs require specific product. We have identified a lot of those different areas and environments and applications and built product for that. So, we have 20-something SKUs for our IPX mass communication line, and each one of them has a different application — from hallways to simple classroom settings to auditoriums to indoor/outdoor high output and vandal-proof. All of them have a specific application, but they all work seamlessly together.”
AtlasIED: Integrators and Consultants Can Set Themselves Apart
Sansivero touts the fact that AtlasIED’s array of offerings, all of which reflect the “Audio first” philosophy, empowers channel partners to serve their clients better.
“Most integrators know that you can’t have a one-size-fits-all type of a system,” Sansivero reflects. “The integrators and the consultants are really smart enough to understand that. It’s where you become the resource to the end user, where you can explain those differentiators that really sets you apart as an integrator or a consultant.”
In short, by working with AtlasIED, integrators can confidently design mass notification systems that meet the precise, application-specific needs of any space, and they can do so knowing that every component is engineered for optimal audio performance and built for seamless interoperability.
AtlasIED and Mass Notification: Final Thoughts
In the electronic security industry — a space in which high-quality audio can literally be the difference between safety and hazard — an “audio first” approach is not a luxury. In fact, it’s a necessity. As the demand for reliable mass notification solutions continues to grow, AtlasIED’s deep expertise in the science of sound positions the company as a leader dedicated to one simple, yet absolutely vital, goal: ensuring every message is heard.
To learn more about how AtlasIED’s “Audio first” philosophy and its purpose-built solution portfolio, visit AtlasIED.com.
