ip-audio networks in the real world:
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IP-AUDIO NETWORKSIN THE REAL WORLD:
How MPR, Univision, andThe University of Indianapolis
areUsing IP-Audio to Solve
Problems
ABSTRACT
• Most broadcasters agree: IP-based audio systems represent the future
• Many people don’t realize systems using Internet Protocol addressing with Switched Ethernet to transport audio already exist
ABSTRACT
• Today, we’ll explore the challenges broadcasters face, and…
• Learn how prominent broadcasters have used IP-Audio to meet these challenges
THE KING IS DEAD,LONG LIVE THE KING
• When tape carts came along in 1959, transcriptions became obsolete
• In 1990, carts were still king. But…
THE KING IS DEAD,LONG LIVE THE KING
• Experimentation using IBM PCs with digital audio cards began.
• No one thought this could possibly work!
THE KING IS DEAD,LONG LIVE THE KING
• 1991: “Cart Machine” for the PC is introduced – gets over 2,000 Compuserve downloads in 90 days
• By 1996, cart machines had been replaced by PCs.
THE KING IS DEAD,LONG LIVE THE KING
• Today, IP-Audio is poised to make traditional audio distribution infrastructure as obsolete as the cart machine
• These systems employ the same IP addressing technology powering business data networks
• IP-Audio eliminates the discrete-wiring model used since the dawn of radio
THE FUTURE IS NOW
• IP Audio networks enable broadcasters to cut costs by utilizing a common transport mechanism for audio, messaging, and other data traffic
Why are IP-Audio Networks considered to be the future of
the broadcast plant?
THE FUTURE IS NOW
• IP-Audio networks provide broadcasters the flexibility to grow and change that traditional systems lack
Why are IP-Audio Networks considered to be the future of
the broadcast plant?
THE FUTURE IS NOW
• Since IP-Audio networks are standards-based, even smaller stations can afford to deploy them
Why are IP-Audio Networks considered to be the future of
the broadcast plant?
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Real-time IP-Audio in the IT world is already commonplace, as seen in the accelerating migration from traditional telephone services to Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology
THE FUTURE IS NOW
• Sales of VoIP-based PBX systems outstripped traditional TDM systems for the first time in 2005• Estimates indicate that by 2008, VoIP will account for over 90% of PBX sales while traditional phone systems decline to 8%
THE FUTURE IS NOW
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2008*
2007*
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2005
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Millions of Lines * Projections
VoIP Access Lines in the U.S.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
In September 2005, Cisco, reporting the sale of its 6-millionth IP phone, said that VoIP is displacing up to 8,000 traditional circuit-based telephones every business day
THE FUTURE IS NOW
• NPR affiliates can browse a list of programs, arrange feeds, and download metadata including promos, audio samples, and rights information
NPR’s Content Depot® program distribution system employs IP-over-satellite technology
THE FUTURE IS NOW
The broadcasting industry is on the verge of an IP-fueled
revolution in distribution and infrastructure design
How IP-Audio works:
Audio sources connect to “audio nodes”
How IP-Audio works:
Nodes convert audio to uncompressed, 24-bit/48 kHz digital audio, then translate it to packet data
How IP-Audio works:
Each audio node input/output is assigned an IP address for identification and routing purposes
How IP-Audio works:
Logic ports on each device are connected to GPIO nodes, which convert on/off, tally and other commands to packet data
How IP-Audio works:
Each node makes its audio and control data available to the network
How IP-Audio works:
Each studio’s local Ethernet switch is connected to the other rooms via core switches or daisy-chain
Studio A Studio B Studio C
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
• Compared to traditional multi-line broadcast phone systems, an IP-Audio based system requires only a single Ethernet connection – simplifying installation
By integrating IP-Audio interfaces into equipment,
installations are greatly simplified
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
• With an IP-Audio based computer delivery system, audio travels to the network via the computer’s NIC card – without soundcards, multiple audio lines, or D/A/D conversion
By integrating IP-Audio interfaces into equipment,
installations are greatly simplified
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
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
In addition to simplified installation, lower costs – both
short and long term – are significant benefits of IP-Audio
systems
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
• Even with TDM systems capable of multiplexing logic commands with audio, additional hardware is required
APPLICATIONS:Interchangeable
Studios• 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 program associated data all traveling the same CAT-6 cable
APPLICATIONS:WOR System Benefits• IP-Audio system met all
operational requirements – including the ability to access any source in any location and automate the switching of feeds to destinations• Installation of an IP-Audio system saved them roughly 25% of the cost associated with traditional means
APPLICATIONS:Simple Scalability
• Hardwired facilities are not amenable to growth
• TDM routers face similar challenges – often requiring additional frames, cards, and increased wiring infrastructure – all at significant cost
APPLICATIONS:Simple Scalability
• 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
APPLICATIONS:Simple Scalability
While IP-Audio networks cannot scale upward indefinitely, their ability to carry tens of thousands of stereo channels per system is enough to satisfy most facilities
APPLICATIONS:Minnesota Public
Radio• MPR’s expansion called for
doubling the size of their facilities• The change from traditional routing to IP-Audio made this upgrade easier and provided far greater scalability – all at lower cost
• This Ethernet-based system enabled MPR’s network to be fully redundant and self-healing
APPLICATIONS:Minnesota Public
Radio
APPLICATIONS:Quick Changes
• With router/switchers, making system changes or additions can prove difficult• Routers reach “plateaus” in terms of capacity
• IP-Audio networks solve this problem because they are both scalable and modular
APPLICATIONS:XM Canada
• Two studios – Montreal and Toronto for origination of XM’s Canadian content• Programming generated in Canada feeds back to Washington, DC headquarters via broadband OC-3 connection
APPLICATIONS:XM Canada
• Changes occurred because of the scope of the project
• “Ethernet has a scalability and flexibility others systems don’t, so building with it provides a much more a la carte approach.”- Tyler Everitt, Sales Manager, Pippin Technical
APPLICATIONS:Progressive BuildoutsIP-Audio network’s 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
APPLICATIONS:Progressive Buildouts• Systems can be “staged” to
accommodate remodeling or facility upgrades by retiring old gear on a studio-by-studio basis
• This process facilitates spreading upgrade costs over time
APPLICATIONS:Univision Radio
• Univision has 3 stations in McAllen, TX• Starting with KBTQ, switching/routing systems were installed
• With a scalable Ethernet backbone, network can expand via additional nodes, (control) surfaces, and Ethernet switches
APPLICATIONS:Univision Radio
IP-Audio rack at Univision Radio, McAllen, TX3 audio nodes (below switch, top) provide 24 sets of stereo I/O; router selector accesses audio channels system-wide
Each bidirectional Gigabit Ethernet link can transport up to 200 channels simultaneously –
eliminating multi-pair, home-and-back cable runs, punch blocks, and
soldering - along with most infrastructure troubleshooting
APPLICATIONS:Painless
Configuration/Documentation
In an IP-Audio network, as in a standard Ethernet computer
network, each node is assigned a Unicast IP address
APPLICATIONS:Painless
Configuration/Documentation
During configuration, each node’s inputs (and outputs) are given a channel number and descriptive
text
APPLICATIONS:Painless
Configuration/Documentation
Behind the scenes, the node’s software assigns each input and
output a unique Multicast IP address
APPLICATIONS:Painless
Configuration/Documentation
These names and channel numbers follow the input’s audio throughout the network, and are
displayed whenever a user browses or “takes” available feeds
APPLICATIONS:Painless
Configuration/Documentation
Since all parts of an IP-Audio network have assigned IP
addresses, the ability to remotely administer the system is built in
APPLICATIONS:Remote Administration and
Control
Since studio consoles in the IP-Audio environment are just human interface devices controlling digital mixing
engines, software applications can enable talent to board-op
themselves remotely
APPLICATIONS:Remote Administration and
Control
Increasingly, stations are finding it hard to overcome frequency proliferation and
STL path obstructions as population centers grow.
APPLICATIONS:Ethernet STL/Data Links
At the same time, the desire to add Ethernet equipment
control and other data services to uncompressed STL has
increased.
APPLICATIONS:Ethernet STL/Data Links
APPLICATIONS:Clear Channel, Birmingham
• Station cluster experienced increasing STL frequency interference• IP-audio nodes located at studio and transmitter were linked with 18 GHz Ethernet radios
• Setup provides multiple uncompressed STL stereo audio channels & backhaul
APPLICATIONS:Clear Channel, Birmingham
Dragonwave 18 GHz Ethernet radio exchanges audio and data between IP-audio equipment at studio and transmitter.
“I see the future of audio transmission belonging to Internet Packet data. There is no end to the wealth of reliable products to get the broadcaster’s job done economically using the consistent protocols and connections of the Ethernet standard.”
— Bob NewberryChief Engineer
BUT IS IT READYFOR PRIMETIME?
YES!Make no mistake…
IP-Audio is not Internet audio!
BUT IS IT READYFOR PRIMETIME?
IP-Audio networks are not Internet based – rather, they
are carefully controlled environments where traffic
overloads are not allowed to exist
BUT IS IT READYFOR PRIMETIME?
IP-Audio networks employ switches with guaranteed QoS,
along with careful system design and specialized
transport protocols to deliver real-time, no-loss, synchronized
Ethernet audio
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
THANK YOU!