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• By 1996, cart machines had been replaced by PCs.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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0 5 10 15 20 25 30

2008*

2007*

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2005

2004

2003

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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!