IBC 2018 Report: Audio-Over-IP at the Crossroads of Next Generation Audio

In my previous report on IBC 2018, I addressed some key technology trends from the IBC show in Amsterdam (September 13-18, 2018), in the perspective of audio technology, content production, and distribution. Of course, on the backbone of all the tremendous changes that are currently happening in the media business, broadcast, and professional production, the topic of audio-over-IP (AoIP) and the ongoing transition to fully IP-enabled operations in all platforms - traditional linear television, radio (digital, hybrid, virtual, etc.), and new over-the-top and on-demand streaming services - is front and center.

Following the introduction of the new NEWT IP Gear series of products at NAB 2018, where Ross offers a simple SMPTE ST2110 compliant IP gateway with audio and video crossbars for I/O routing and more, at the IBC 2018 show in Amsterdam Ross expanded the possibilities on audio-over-IP (AoIP) connectivity with the introduction of IGGY, a clever and very useful AES67 / ST2110 to MADI audio converter box, which is powered over Ethernet and supports for NMOS, EmBER+, Dante/SAP, Livewire+ and DashBoard environments.

At IBC 2018, Ross Video is launching a pin-compatible drop-in replacement module to Dante Brooklyn II, named BACH Liberty. BACH Liberty features a fully compliant AES67 and ST2110 implementation, complete with full-stack support of RAVENNA, Dante/SAP, Livewire+, NMOS and various other network protocols and control solutions. Equipment manufacturers no longer have to wait for full AES67 and ST2110 compliance, nor tie themselves to a single supplier for their audio networking technology.

With Audio-over-IP (AoIP) workflows fast becoming the rule rather than the exception in broadcast environments, RAVENNA audio networking technology is a natural choice for transporting audio together with its associated metadata. IBC 2018 in Amsterdam (September, 14-18) promises to be one of the busiest shows yet for all involved in the promotion and implementation of the technology. Especially because the RAVENNA community was just expanded with two leading companies in their respective fields: Dolby and Ross Video.

At NAB New York, Ross Video unveiled Newt, a revolutionary new species of AIMS-compliant point-of-use IP signal converters, and the world's first UHD-over-IP to HDMI-2.0 converter. The solution reinforces Ross’ commitment to IP with future-proof investments with a solution that easily adapts to rapidly changing environments. Newt supports open control protocols such as NMOS IS-04 and IS-05, EmBER+/RAVENNA, Dante/SAP, and DashBoard, responding to evolving IP media infrastructures.