Symetrix has unveiled Cognio, a new software-driven audio, video and control platform designed to simplify AV system design, deployment and operation through a distributed architecture and code-free workflows.

The company announced the platform ahead of its public debut at Integrated Systems Europe 2026, which runs Feb. 3–6 in Barcelona. Attendees can see Cognio demonstrated at the Symetrix booth, 5M390. Cognio is scheduled to be available in the second quarter of 2026.

Cognio combines Symetrix hardware and software into a single ecosystem built around DesignOps, the company’s patented platform that underpins the new system. The approach replaces traditional device-centric workflows with solution-based design, allowing AV professionals to create systems based on rooms, zones and signal flows before assigning hardware.

“Traditional AV design workflows begin by selecting hardware and then forcing the system to fit. Cognio flips that model, enabling a shift from device-dependent planning to solution-centric design,” said Mark Graham, CEO of Symetrix. “Cognio removes complexity and artificial constraints from the creative process and lets consultants and integrators focus on delivering the right experience for the space at hand.”

According to Symetrix, Cognio enables true pre-hardware emulation, allowing designers to validate audio and video signal flow before any equipment is installed. By running Cognio firmware directly on the DesignOps computer, users can perform line checks, monitor signal indicators and identify issues remotely, reducing on-site commissioning time.

At the core of the platform is a wire-free design workflow that eliminates manual signal routing. Designers place processing modules in sequence on a spreadsheet-like canvas, and Cognio automatically manages connections in the background. Changes to the design update signal flow instantly, reducing visual clutter and minimizing errors.

Cognio is built on a distributed architecture in which processing, Dante audio over IP, control and web-based access are available throughout the system rather than centralized in a single processor. Symetrix said this approach allows integrators to deploy only the capabilities required for each space while enabling systems to scale across rooms, buildings or campuses.

The platform also includes a no-code control interface builder that allows integrators to create user interfaces without custom programming or external graphics tools. Vector-based elements scale across devices, while built-in themes allow branding and design elements to be reused across projects.

Cognio unifies design, commissioning and operation within a single environment. Design mode is used to build and edit systems, while operation mode provides real-time monitoring, logging and diagnostics. Users can switch between modes to troubleshoot and verify changes without moving between separate tools.

Symetrix said Cognio is the result of more than four years of development informed by feedback from consultants and integrators. The company positions the platform as a way to reduce complexity for integrators while delivering intuitive control and scalable systems for end users.

Symetrix will also mark its 50th anniversary at ISE 2026, where it will demonstrate its broader portfolio of DSP hardware, software and control solutions alongside Cognio.