This issue’s panel takes us on a journey into AV over IP, revealing all about the reasons behind its steep growth, what it brings to the industry and where its future lies
The Panel
Reed Erickson, Vice president of production, Creative Technology Group
Gergely Vida, CEO, Lightware Visual Engineering
Marc Wilson, Managing director, Glensound
Can you offer a brief overview of AV over IP’s growth over the years?
Reed Erickson It feels like this evolution really started with the wide adoption of Dante in the world of audio. Audio deployments that at one time required a host of specialised cabling embraced network topology as the backbone of moving signals around complex installed venues – and then eventually from stage to front of house.
In live events, as video technology improves and high-throughput network equipment falls in price, video is catching up to Dante. We’re seeing big, complex events adopt SMPTE 2110 as a way of bringing the same flexibility and redundancy to deployments.
Gergely Vida Traditionally, the AV distribution market relied heavily on dedicated cables like HDMI and VGA, as well as specialised hardware like matrix switchers to transmit signals. These set-ups were often complex, expensive and limited in scalability. Large-scale installations required lots of cabling and hardware, making them cumbersome and costly.
The emergence of AV over IP technology has dramatically transformed this landscape. This technology employs standard IP networks to transmit audio and video signals as data packets, making use of existing network infrastructure. As a result, AV over IP offers several crucial advantages over traditional methods – namely scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness and high-quality transmission.
Lightware Visual Engineering is a leader in this evolving market, providing state-of-the-art AV over IP solutions. The newly launched Gemini GVN product promises 4K60 4:4:4 image quality over 1G networks, setting new performance standards. For even higher bandwidth requirements, Lightware’s UBEX and HDMI-TPN series harness 10G Ethernet networks, and are capable of delivering ultra-high-definition 4K video with low latency and advanced features like Dolby Atmos and HDR.
Next-generation Taurus TPN devices, equipped with SDVoE technology and USB-C connectivity, are made to support the most demanding AV applications in deployments such as larger conference rooms and boardrooms.
Marc Wilson In a nutshell, AV over IP has significantly advanced to facilitate the transmission of multiple channels of uncompressed audio over standard network cables or fibre using regular network switches, even across distances of hundreds of kilometres.
This technology simplifies installation since it is much easier to run data cables compared to traditional audio cables. In many smaller set-ups, audio can be transmitted over existing network infrastructure, reducing the need for additional wiring. Each network device in an AV over IP system is equipped with multiple inputs and outputs, and Dante network audio technology supports instant point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connections across the network. These connections can be adjusted remotely with ease, offering great flexibility. Additionally, network switches often provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to connected devices, requiring only a single network cable connection per device.
Additionally, Dante/AES67 systems offer broad cross-compatibility with numerous manufacturers that have adopted these standards. This compatibility makes it simple to mix and match equipment from different brands, enhancing versatility and scalability.
What is the reason for this growth?
Gergely Vida It’s driven by several key factors. Scalability is a major advantage, as AV over IP allows for virtually unlimited expansion, accommodating a massive range of installation sizes without the constraints of traditional systems. Cost-effectiveness also plays a key role – by using standard Ethernet infrastructure, AV over IP reduces the need for specialised cabling and hardware, leading to lower installation and maintenance costs.
High-quality transmission is another significant factor. Modern AV over IP solutions offer ultra-high-definition video and superior audio quality with minimal latency. Additionally, flexibility and ease of integration are important drivers. AV over IP systems seamlessly integrate into existing network infrastructures, providing versatile and adaptable solutions for various AV needs.
Companies like Lightware Visual Engineering exemplify these advantages by offering cutting-edge AV over IP solutions that push the boundaries of performance and scalability. Our innovative products continue to set new standards and drive the evolution of AV over IP technology.
Marc Wilson The growth of AV over IP can be attributed to several key factors, particularly the ease of adoption provided by Dante technology. For manufacturers, Dante has offered a self-contained module that was relatively straightforward to integrate into existing designs, reducing development time and costs. This ease of integration has encouraged many manufacturers to adopt AV over IP solutions. From the user’s perspective, the simplicity of the plug-and-play set-up and configuration has greatly contributed to its popularity. Users appreciate how effortlessly they can connect devices without extensive training or technical expertise.
The system offers additional ease of use and flexibility, enabling simple rerouting and modifications as changes are required. This adaptability means AV systems are no longer fixed in format, allowing for seamless modifications and expansions. As a result, AV over IP has become a preferred choice for various applications, leading to its rapid growth in the industry.
Reed Erickson At least in the corporate live events market, AV over IP has three big advantages: the ability to say yes faster, redundancy and reduced troubleshooting or engineering time.
If you need to add an input or an output, once you’ve installed gateway equipment, we can quickly provision an appropriate signal at a distant endpoint. Whereas before you may have needed to source added fibre cores or physically install equipment, with AV over IP, if you have provisioned correctly then you can add speedily – and without any major infrastructure changes.
Redundancy is key. Operating with red and blue networks affords shows actual redundancy, where it wasn’t practical or possible with earlier technology.
Lastly, the inherent nature of the AV over IP gateway equipment reduces the need for troubleshooting. Test pattern at the far side? Easy. Confirm that the link is established between switches? That’s no problem. You have an awareness of the system, which allows you to resolve issues faster.
Could you name the key benefits of AV over IP?
Marc Wilson Centralised management in AV over IP is crucial because it enables comprehensive control, flexibility and monitoring of the entire system from a single point. This centralisation simplifies the operation of complex AV set-ups by allowing administrators to alter settings, route signals and troubleshoot issues efficiently. By having a single point of control, it becomes significantly easier to manage and oversee large-scale AV installations, reducing the complexity typically associated with such systems.
This also means more flexibility, as changes and updates can be made swiftly without the need for physical adjustments to multiple devices, allowing for quick reconfiguration and adaptation to new requirements. Additionally, centralised management enhances the ability to monitor system performance in real time, enabling proactive maintenance and faster response to any potential issues. This level of control and oversight ensures AV over IP systems operate smoothly and reliably, making them a preferred choice for modern AV installations.
Reed Erickson For most of our clients, the flexibility and reduced footprint of equipment and cabling are the biggest benefits. We’ve been able to reduce racks of conventional matrix switchers in favour of commercial network switches. When you make this switch, you save space, power and engineering time – while gaining flexibility.
There is also the security and redundancy that coincides with this flexibility and control. AV over IP will provide an easier-to-manage, centralised system that delivers a higher level of control and flexibility along with a simpler cabling infrastructure and faster overall deployment.
Gergely Vida AV over IP offers several significant benefits that will enhance efficiency and functionality.
Key advantages include centralised control and monitoring, which allow for efficient management of AV devices and settings from a single location. Remote access and management enhance convenience, enabling operators to troubleshoot and adjust settings from anywhere.
Furthermore, network resilience and redundancy are built-in features that ensure uninterrupted AV services, even in the event of any network issues. Lightware’s UBEX showcases this with its built-in redundancy features, including dual network connections and automatic failover capabilities that maintain the service continuity if one connection fails.
Lastly, reduced cabling complexity simplifies installation and maintenance by consolidating AV signal transmission into a single network infrastructure. Lightware’s Gemini GVN supports low-cost cabling, further reducing installation expenses by utilising standard Ethernet infrastructure.
AV over IP has so many applications. Can you share an example that stood out to you, and explain why?
Reed Erickson Our Milken Institute 2024 Global Conference case study is a perfect example of how AV over IP – specifically around 2110 – can substantially improve an event.
This event, out of necessity for space, utilised a centralised control model. Our switch from standard matrix delivery to SMPTE 2110 cut the point-to-point fibre links in half and eliminated two SDI routers from the technical plant.
These factors, and more, helped to solve many of the challenges including the accelerated load-in schedule, lack of production space and need to deliver broadcast-quality signal to more than a dozen concurrent general session rooms, meeting spaces and breakouts.
Gergely Vida A prime example of AV over IP technology in action is its use in the new Lightroom space in London’s King’s Cross. This venue, a collaboration between the London Theatre Company and 59 Productions, is designed for immersive, artist-led exhibitions. The show featured the works of acclaimed British artist David Hockney, showcasing his work in a stunning 360° display.
The challenge here was to deliver uncompressed and high-quality video over a vast, four-storey space. To meet this need, Blue-i Theatre Technology deployed Lightware’s UBEX AV over IP fibre-optical scaling system. This installation included 74 UBEX-PRO20-HDMI-F100 extenders and two UBEX-MMU-X200 matrix management units, enabling seamless 4K60 4:4:4 signal extension over a 10Gbps network. This solution provided flexible, decentralised architecture which integrated smoothly with existing technology, ensuring the uninterrupted playback of content on a massive scale.
The successful integration of Lightware’s technology was crucial in creating an immersive and visually impressive experience for visitors, demonstrating how AV over IP can enhance high-profile art exhibitions.
Why is centralised management such an important element?
Gergely Vida Centralised management simplifies control by allowing operators to oversee and adjust all AV devices and systems from a single interface, streamlining the management process. This consolidated approach enhances efficiency by reducing the need for multiple touchpoints and manual intervention across various devices.
It also improves monitoring by providing real-time visibility into the status of all connected devices, enabling quicker identification and resolution of issues, and thus minimising downtime. Troubleshooting is more effective with centralised management, as operators can access diagnostic tools and logs from one location, facilitating faster problem resolution.
It also ensures consistency and standardisation for configurations and updates, maintaining high-quality performance across the system. Lastly, by reducing the need for on-site tech support and enabling maintenance remotely, it saves time and resources.
Reed Erickson Ultimately, the broadcast controller – or centralised management tool – is what makes an AV over IP deployment ‘usable’ for teams on the ground. But choose wisely. Most of our teams don’t have time to hand-enter multicast IP addresses or configure individual links as gear is added to the ecosystem. NMOS as a part of SMPTE 2110 has made these broadcast controllers much more efficient. When we talk about flexibility, having a tool that can group, identify and configure various gateway and endpoints is crucial.
What does the future have in store for AV over IP?
Marc Wilson AV over IP will likely bring more of the same advancements, but at an accelerated pace. We can expect significant improvements in bandwidth capacities as well as further reductions in latency, which will make IP encoding increasingly less relevant for long-distance links.
As network technologies continue to evolve, these enhancements will allow for even more seamless and efficient transmission of high-quality audio and video signals. This progress will enable real-time audio to become more widely available directly over the open internet, breaking down geographical barriers and facilitating global collaboration.
Furthermore, advancements in network infrastructure and technology will likely lead to more robust, resilient systems capable of handling the growing demands of modern AV. As a result, it’s safe to say that AV over IP will continue to transform the industry, offering greater flexibility, scalability and efficiency, and paving the way for clever new applications and use cases.
Reed Erickson As high-end network equipment gets less expensive and manufacturers adopt AV over IP, more and more of our projects will adopt this method of deployment.
Similar to how it was far-fetched to imagine Dante in the early days at smaller shows, the flexibility and ease of cabling these solutions will make this our default workflow – especially as more engineering talent embraces it.
Gergely Vida We can expect even greater scalability and flexibility, allowing systems to handle increasingly complex, expansive AV environments. Integration of higher resolutions, such as 8K, and advanced audio formats will push the boundaries of AV quality, delivering richer, more immersive experiences.
Increased adoption of cloud-based solutions is also likely, enabling remote management, control and updates from anywhere in the world. This shift will enhance operational efficiency and offer greater convenience for managing AV systems across multiple locations.
Advancements in network infrastructure, including the rollout of 5G and beyond, will further bolster AV over IP capabilities by providing faster speeds and lower latency. This will support more demanding applications and improve the overall user experience.
Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning could offer more sophisticated analytics and automation, optimising performance and simplifying maintenance. Improved interoperability with other technologies and standards will facilitate smoother integration into diverse environments.
This feature was first published in the Autumn 2024 issue of LIVE.
