Introduction

In Radio broadcasting setup audio mixing

console is the heart of the system and remained relatively unchanged for more than twenty years. The broadcast studios of today rely on expensive and proprietary communication means in order to network the large number of studio devices. Originally, source equipment connected to stand-alone mixing consoles with discrete

Introduction
Later,

the preferred method of interconnection became AES/EBU digital. Using modern computer networking equipment, it is now possible to build robust Networks capable of transporting digital media signals throughout a complete studio facility. Introducing an IP-based network in the studio environment is becoming an increasingly 3 attractive solution.

Sources are different now

Days have gone of playing from carts,

vinyl, cassette and reel tape in a typical broadcast. Most program audio is now recorded, edited and played out of a PC system. While consoles remain much the same, the PC has quietly taken center stage in todays radio studio.
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Sources are different now

Traditional consoles handle PC audio the

same as any discrete source, hindering potential intercommunication that might enhance accuracy and efficiency. Instead of using analog or AES/EBU audio as the interconnection standard, it is believed that all broadcast audio systems of the future will use networked Ethernet to provide a much more flexible and cost-effective alternative to console

Why Ethernet

Ethernet is so much better.

Very active development. 500+ channels (on Gigabit link). Bi-directional traffic. Easy RJ-45 connectors. All the data capability we need. Ubiquitous computer standard. Routing, networking: inherent (low

cost).
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Todays Ethernet
100 Mbps to 1 Gbit. CAT 5e/6 Copper or Optical Fiber. Switched star, not shared No collisions. Full-duplex. Priority for audio Quality-ofService. is not your grandfathers Ethernet! Multicast allows one-to-many.

Enormous Capacity

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Ethernet is commonplace

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Radio facilities are fully networked. Almost.

IP-based audio systems represent the future.

IP Audio Systems
Today, IP-Audio is making

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traditional audio distribution infrastructure as obsolete as the cart machine. These systems use the same IP technology that powers business data networks. IP-Audio eliminates the discretewiring model used since the dawn of radio.

What is IP-Audio Routing

Its not Internet audio! Uses switched Ethernet

48 kHz / 24-bit uncompressed audio

Delivers real-time audio with

guaranteed QoS Routes machine logic, PAD, custom backfeedsalong with audio sourceElement
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Why are IP-Audio Networks considered to be the future of the broadcast plant?
IP Audio networks enable

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broadcasters to cut costs by using a common transport mechanism for audio, control, messaging, and other data traffic such as files and e-mail and VoIP

Why are IP-Audio Networks considered to be the future of the broadcast plant?
IP-Audio networks provide

broadcasters the flexibility to grow and change at will. Traditional systems lack this flexible connectivity.
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IP-Audio Defined
What is IP-Audio? Digital audio over Ethernet Designed to replace bulky cables Provides converged audio and data

paths Enables source sharing between multiple studios, stages or locations

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IP-Audio, Like VoIP?

Isnt

that like VoIP? IP-Audio Differences: High bit-rate, full fidelity Isochronous and multi-channel High-reliability
Guaranteed QoS
Low latency No packet loss

Linear, uncompressed audio

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Why not AES/EBU?

Dead end: No development for 15

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years. One channel, one way. Soldered XLR connectors. No significant data capability. Low volume, expensive. Routing requires complex hardware.

Standard Ethernet Protocols

QoS (Quality of Service) STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) IGMP (Internet Group Management

Protocol) UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

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THE FUTURE IS NOW

The broadcasting industry is on the verge of an IP-fueled revolution in distribution and infrastructure design

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How Audio Routed

Low cost mass market Ethernet switches offer this

function. Since their function is to direct packets from port to port, we can use them to move our signals from whatever source to whatever destination we want. Simple, flexible, facility-wide audio routing system, almost for free. Goodbye to racks of distribution amps or expensive proprietary main frame router. An audio source entered into the system from any 22 point becomes available for any number of

High-Performance Sound Card Replacement

Soundcard emulation driver directly packs / unpacks audio to / from system Ethernet. No hardware needed.

Balanced I/O with more than 100dB dynamic range, < 0.005% distortion, headroom to +24dBu, etc.
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It make excellent multi-channel soundcards for professional

High-Performance Sound Card Replacement

Sound card problems such as noise and

multiple conversions are avoided-audio remains in digital form from the PCs files to the network with no alteration or degradation.
With so much audio in radio stations being

either played from computers or recorded into computers, it is a tremendous advantage.

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Fidelity
Internet streams are usually compressed for

transmission over public links with limited, variable bandwidth and low reliability. But in Broadcast Ethernet Networked studio, audio is not compressed- it uses studio grade 48khz/24-bit-PCM encoding. Dynamic range more than 100dB, <.005% THD, and headroom to +24dbu. LANs offer a safe, controlled environment, no risk of audio drop-outs from network problems and plenty of bandwidth for many channels of high25 quality audio without compression.

Convergence
IP is growing as a universal transport for almost

any kind of signal. It is now in television studios, business teleconferencing, government communications, banking, etc. PBX companies like Lucent, Nortel, Mitel, Alcatel, and Siemens have plunged into IP transport for their telephone products. An Ethernet network being used for audio in broadcast studio may be shared with any other data like computer data, telephone, audio, and 26 control on a single network and this will use

How IP-Audio works:

An

Ethernet switch becomes an audio router. audio sources to

Advertises

receivers.
All
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sources available everywhere.

How IP-Audio works:

Audio sources connect to audio nodes

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How IP-Audio works:

Nodes convert audio to uncompressed, 24-bit/48 kHz digital audio, then translate it to packet data
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How IP-Audio works:

Each audio node input/output is assigned an IP address for identification and routing purposes
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How IP-Audio works:

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Logic ports on each device are connected to GPIO nodes, which convert on/off, tally and other commands to packet data

Nodes in Studios

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How IP-Audio works:

301

302

303 To LAN

192.168.2.30

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Each audio source is given a channel number. Each node is assigned an IP address for identification and routing purposes

How IP-Audio works:

Each node makes its audio and control data available to the network
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How IP-Audio works:

Studio A Studio B Studio C

Each studios local Ethernet switch is connected to the other rooms via core switches or daisy-chain
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How IP-Audio works:

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Complete Studio

Network Multiple Studios.

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HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS

By integrating IP-Audio interfaces into equipment, installations are greatly simplified

Compared to traditional multi-line

broadcast phone systems, an IP-Audio based system requires only a single Ethernet connection simplifying installation
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HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS

By integrating IP-Audio interfaces into equipment, installations are greatly simplified With an IP-Audio based computer delivery
system, audio travels to the network via the computers NIC card without soundcards, multiple audio lines, or D/A/D conversion

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HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS

BE, BSI, D.A.V.I.D. Systems, dMarc, Enco, IDC, Netia, Omnia, OMT, Pristine Systems, Prophet Systems, Radio Systems, Synadyne, Telos and Zenon Media have all announced IP-Audio system compatibility

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HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS

In addition to simplified installation, lower costs both short and long term are significant benefits of IPAudio systems

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Audio over Ethernet/IP: Why Is It So Good?

Supported by huge R&D from the computer and telephone worlds. Common, universal wiring. As with PCs, volume brings performance, variety, and low-cost. Learn one system, then you understand audio, phones, and data. AIR has already invested in huge infrastructure of CAT 6 networked modern PC network at all stations.

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Audio over Ethernet/IP needs:

100% Reliability. Low Delay. One-to-many Routing. Source Advertising.

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Reliability

Each node owns entire link. Full Duplex. Switched. Cannot exceed link capacity.

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Modern Ethernets Priority System.

Lets you combine audio, control, and data traffic on the same network, with no audio dropouts.
Input Port

Classify
High-priority Queue

Mux

Output Port

Inpu t Port

Classify
Low-priority Queue

Output Section per Port

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Delay- Latency
In broadcast studio, we are very much

concerned about the audio delay in the microphone-to-headphone path for live announcers. Packetizing audio for network transmission causes delay. Internet audio delay is often multiple seconds because the receiving PCs need long buffers to ride out network problems and the delays inherent in multiple-hop 46

Delay- Latency
Delay Effect

1-3 ms 3-10 ms Audible shift in voice character 10-30 ms

Undetectable comb filter effect A slight echo turning to obvious slap at 25-30ms > 50 ms Too much delay for live monitoring

30-50 ms Disturbing echo, disorienting the announcer

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With fast Ethernet switching on a local network, it is possible to achieve very low delay.

Delay Problem being solved

Short packet length.
Short packets require less buffer time.

Low jitter = small buffers.

Low jitter means timely packet delivery. Timely delivery means no buffering required.

To achieve low jitter, every node has a sophisticated sync method using an extremely precise PLL.
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APPLICATIONS: Interchangeable Studios

For years, broadcasters have built Mirror

studios for interchangeable use, but Taking any room to air as needed presents logistical challenges with traditional hardwired systems. With its decentralized, shared data approach, IP-Audio networks simplify construction and use of identical studios Gigabit Ethernet has the capacity to carry hundreds of simultaneous stereo audio channels per link with audio, logic, and 50 program associated data all traveling the same

APPLICATIONS: Simple Scalability

Hardwired facilities are not amenable to

growth IP-Audio networks are not subject to the growth limitations of hardwired systems Adding a new studio to the network is accomplished by connecting its audio nodes to a local Ethernet switch, which links to the core switch via CAT-6; then assigning IP addresses to the new inputs
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APPLICATIONS: Quick Changes

With router/switchers, making system

changes or additions can prove difficult

Routers is limited in terms of capacity IP-Audio networks solve this problem because they are both scalable and modular
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APPLICATIONS: Progressive Buildouts

IP-Audio networks ability to not only scale, but to co-exist with other systems enables broadcasters to begin migrating to new technology without being forced to make wholesale changes to existing studios

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APPLICATIONS: Painless Configuration/Documentation

Each bidirectional Gigabit Ethernet link can transport up to 200 channels simultaneously eliminating multi-pair, home-andback cable runs, punch blocks, and soldering - along with most infrastructure troubleshooting
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APPLICATIONS: Remote Administration and Control

Since all parts of an IP-Audio network have assigned IP addresses, the ability to remotely administer the system is built in

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Benefits IP Audio
Simplified and unified cabling No multiple conversions. Integrated data means you are ready for

synchronized text and metadata. Tighter integration with delivery systems means that mixing, scheduling, and playing can work together. Low-cost power. Surround-ready. Provisions for Redundancy. Resource sharing is so easy. Codec, Audio Processors, STL , EPABX, CCTV, all are coming as IP enabled. For their efficient use, it is most essential to timely changeover 56 technology for studios too.

CONCLUSION
The numerous operational benefits of IP-Audio networking have been and are being continuously proven by professional broadcasters around the world each and every day.

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