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38 REAC


REAC (Roland Ethernet Audio Communication) is used across a range of Roland products, including the digital snake and distribution products. The protocol includes bi-directional audio transport - up to 40 channels in each direction (80 in total at 24-bit, 96kHz), plus MIDI. There is also a REAC Embedded Power spec incorporated into products like the S-4000D Splitter and Power Distributor.


On Cat5e cable REAC has a range of 100m (up to 500m with the maximum of four switching hubs), and much longer distances when used over fibre. The REAC protocol is used by a range of Roland’s digital snakes, recorders, mixers, personal mixing system, and live production equipment.


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Left to right: Roland R-1000 and S-2416


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The Digital Snake range includes the S4000 system (modular stage unit, cards, and the S-4000H Front Of House unit), the S -2416 system (24 x 16 Stage unit), the S-1608 (16 x 8 and 8 x 16 stage and front of house units). Free RCS control software delivers channel settings, input levels and scene storage. The new REAC-enabled R-1000 48-Track Audio Recorder and Player is designed to work with the V-Mixing System, or any digital console that has MADI output capabilities by using the S-MADI REAC MADI Bridge.


Dante is a commercial network standard from Audinate that boasts real names for devices, automatic device recognition, glitch-free redundancy, unicast or multicast operation, and more. It uses standard Ethernet IP packed- based delivery and hence for the most part you will be able to use standard switches and network arrangements. However, with a more complex system or systems where a lot of data is being thrown around as well as high channel counts, it is recommended that you turn to managed switches to ensure Quality Of Service. It's all about looking after data integrity - which is a direct plug & play replacement for audio integrity nowadays.


The list of Dante licenses is extensive, which means it has good momentum in the professional audio community. Many console manufacturers now either fit Dante I/O as standard, or at least offer it as an option on their products. Audinate is incorporating AES67 for those who require it. Other IP-based protocols include AES 67 (AES standard for audio applications of networks - High-performance streaming audio-over-IP), and Ravenna (ALC NetworX with a good number of pro-audio supporters and AES67 compatibility).


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AVB (Audio Video Bridging) is a 'layer 2' network (uses Ethernet frames but not IP) guided by four main technical standards, developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to implement timing, modified 'traffic shaping' (flow control), admission controls (only allowing traffic onto the network when quality of service is guaranteed), and identification of devices on a network. In order for these to work, AVB requires the creation of AVB zones on a network, defined via compatible AVB compatible network switches.


AVB boasts a very low latency and sophisticated synchronisation handshaking. It also has the status of a non- commercial open standard. To counter any concerns regarding compatibility there is a consortium of like-minded AVB manufacturers called the AVnu Alliance, charged with certifying interoperability.


Significant AVnu Alliance members include Avid (S3L, SC48, Mix Rack), Harman (Crown Dci amps recently became the first 'endpoints' to get AVnu AVB certification), Biamp (Tesira digital signal processors), Calrec, TC Electronic, PreSonus, Meyer Sound, Riedel, Waves, Yamaha, and lots more...


Roland Systems Group www.rolandsystemsgroup.co.uk


Dante www.audinate.com


AVB www.avnu.org


Ravenna http://ravenna.alcnetworx.com


AES67 www.aes.org/publications


hhb.co.uk


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