Download IP-Audio Networks in the Real World

IP-AUDIO NETWORKS
IN THE REAL WORLD:
How MPR, Univision, and
The University of Indianapolis are
Using 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machines had been
replaced by PCs.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 discretewiring model used since the dawn of
radio
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Why are IP-Audio Networks
considered to be the future of the
broadcast plant?
• IP Audio networks enable
broadcasters to cut costs by utilizing
a common transport mechanism for
audio, messaging, and other data
traffic
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Why are IP-Audio Networks
considered to be the future of the
broadcast plant?
• IP-Audio networks provide
broadcasters the flexibility to grow
and change that traditional systems
lack
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Why are IP-Audio Networks
considered to be the future of the
broadcast plant?
• Since IP-Audio networks are
standards-based, even smaller
stations can afford to deploy them
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
VoIP Access Lines in the U.S.
1999
0.05
2000
0.3
2001
0.8
2002
1.8
2003
3.8
2004
6.5
2005
9.9
2006*
14
2007*
19.2
2008*
26
0
5
10
15
20
Millions of Lines * Projections
25
30
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’s Content
Depot®
program
distribution system employs IPover-satellite technology
• NPR affiliates can browse a list of
programs, arrange feeds, and
download metadata including
promos, audio samples, and rights
information
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:
Studio A
Studio B
Studio C
Each studio’s local Ethernet switch is
connected to the other rooms via core
switches or daisy-chain
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
By integrating IP-Audio
interfaces into equipment,
installations are greatly
simplified
• Compared to traditional multi-line
broadcast phone systems, an IP-Audio
based system requires only a single
Ethernet connection – simplifying
installation
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
By integrating IP-Audio
interfaces into equipment,
installations are greatly
simplified
• 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
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 IPAudio system compatibility
HOW IP-AUDIO WORKS
In addition to simplified installation,
lower costs – both short and long
term – are significant benefits of IPAudio 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
difficult
• prove
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 Buildouts
IP-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, TX
3 audio nodes (below
switch, top) provide 24
sets of stereo I/O; router
selector accesses audio
channels system-wide
APPLICATIONS:
Painless Configuration/Documentation
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:
Remote Administration and Control
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 IPAudio environment are just human
interface devices controlling digital
mixing engines, software
applications can enable talent to
board-op themselves remotely
APPLICATIONS:
Ethernet STL/Data Links
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:
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 Newberry
Chief Engineer
BUT IS IT READY
FOR PRIMETIME?
YES!
Make no mistake…
IP-Audio is not Internet audio!
BUT IS IT READY
FOR 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 READY
FOR 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!