Recent technology trends focused on providing the best performance and stability in high-performance professional systems - by AV Consulting

During the last decade, the transmission of digital audio in professional systems has become one of the most important factors, having a great influence on the performance and performance of the system in multiple applications (from Churches, Houses of Worship and Concert Halls to large outdoor festivals in Touring Sound environments)

Digital Audio applied to Audio Pro

• The need to use digital format in professional audio systems is based on several main aspects:
• Optimizing audio quality thanks to AD/DA converters
• Transporting multiple audio channels on a single cable
• Immunity to interference and other external factors to which analogous systems were susceptible

Audio over the network

Audio in Ethernet networks travels in the form of data packets. Current protocols make it possible to optimize the use of system bandwidth and effectively deliver audio signals on individual channels or packets of channels between system devices. Likewise, having the highest level of flexibility (which can be the ability to route individual channels of digital audio between multiple devices) is vital to ensure the robustness of the system.

Some additional point advantages of audio over Ethernet networks:

• Flow and configuration centrally. It is possible to send data packets from one sending device to multiple receivers, optimizing cabling and deployment time.
• Cabling and infrastructure designed and standardized according to global regulations.
• Troubleshoot quickly and efficiently. When we have an audio transmission problem we can resort directly to hardware for troubleshooting procedures. (If we have a physical wiring problem, it is easier to check a single cable than a traditional extensive branching of analog systems)

Digital Audio Channel Stream

Digital audio allows a large number of audio signals to be carried in a single standardized cable for Ethernet networks. Additionally, audio channel routing in open protocols has a wide level of flexibility between devices (instead of functioning as a traditional analog system where we could only send signals from device A to device B).

A basic Ethernet network infrastructure allows multiple devices to be centrally integrated to be able to transmit multiple channels of low-latency digital audio and perform signal routing in a matter of minutes.

In professional applications (especially in rental & touring) this flexibility is critical. Audio transfer between FOH systems, Monitors, central processing and the main PA system has never been more efficient. Network protocols allow the signal to be preserved in its original state, and combined with high-end technologies in AD/DA conversion it is possible to design systems with the highest performance.

Dante

Developed by the company Audinate, Dante has become the most influential standardized open protocol in the audio pro industry.

Undoubtedly, the most popular and successful protocol in the entire audio industry is Dante, developed by the Audinate team. Dante emerged as a visionary technology that touted one-click routing as its most important feature.

One of the most important advantages of Dante is that it is an open protocol and allows sharing audio signals between multiple devices from different manufacturers (to this day, more than 300 manufacturers have adopted the protocol and their network cards to be included in their product lines).

The Future of Networked Audio

Advances in data packaging technologies applied to the AV industry have been taking place at an accelerated pace. Aiming to have more reliable, flexible and robust systems, proprietary protocols of manufacturers and open protocols with greater functionalities begin to emerge.

On the other hand, Ethernet network standards are also constantly updated; this opens the door for manufacturers of network infrastructure equipment to adapt their product lines to the needs and requirements of users in each project.

Audio under network protocol is and will continue to be the axis point in the evolution of digital transmission in the Audio Pro industry, which never stops evolving and will always bring industry professionals better tools to design sound experiences of the highest level.