Avnu Alliance Launches Streamlined Milan Advanced Certification Program

The Avnu Alliance industry consortium promoting deterministic networking based on IEEE 802.1 AVB/TSN standards, introduced a new Milan Advanced Certification Program for faster, and less expensive testing and certification of professional audio and video end devices for its members. This initiative is intended to encourage further adoption of the Milan network protocol by more manufacturers.

As connected vehicles increasingly rely on Ethernet for network connectivity, smart technology is helping developers to streamline infotainment system development and quickly adapt to manufacturers’ evolving requirements. Microchip Technology announced the first hardware-based audio endpoint solution for AVB – the LAN9360, a single chip Ethernet controller with embedded protocols. The new LAN9360 AVB audio endpoint helps to reduce development time, eliminating the need for stack integration and additional software and firmware development.

In the works already for some time - but then again, anyone that follows AVB, TSN and Milan audio networking efforts, is used to waiting a long time - Neutrik confirmed that MINEA, the first Milan Certified audio module, is now available. The module will finally allow manufacturers in the live sound and touring market to quickly and easily build a wide range of Milan-compatible audio products, from loudspeakers to expansion boards for mixing consoles.

With competition in the studio recording and particularly in the music production market segments heating up while computer interfaces and network technologies continue to evolve at a fast pace, Avid finds itself increasingly in a hot spot. The industry standard Pro Tools software is facing aggressive competition from all directions, while Avid's hardware days are now long gone. The company needed to do something for the project/small studio market, which they are loosing fast, and so they launched Pro Tools Carbon, a new audio interface.

InfoComm 2016 was an important opportunity for the AVnu Alliance to reinforce the work being done around IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and Time Sensitive Network (TSN) standards, with new companies joining the consortium, introduction of new reference platforms and tools, and Cisco finally introducing AVB-enabled switches. More importantly, Coveloz promoted a demonstration of deterministic network control of AES67 audio transport running over an Ethernet AVB foundation.

Even before the 2015 NAB show started, Avid announced a series of new initiatives and solutions, including the new Venue S6L Live Mixing System with an intuitive touch-based interface able to handle large shows, tours and events. Being an AVB based solution, the S6L offers Thunderbolt options for recording and a Dante option card.