Education


Technology trends AV over IP - a done deal?


Unless you walked around ISE 2020 with your eyes shut, you can’t fail to have noticed the number of exhibitors offering ‘definitive’ solutions to outstanding ‘Video over IP’ issues, ‘HDMI over IP’, or ‘Networked AV’. The advantages of ‘AV over IP’ (or “Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol”) have been apparent since the introduction of the technology, but differences in protocols have continued as the technology matures.


Despite reservations, the adop- tion AV over IP is snowballing within the AV and IT industry. Thanks to the advancements of recent AV hardware, sending AV streams over IP switches is now easier than ever. In AV over IP, the AV transmitters become en- coders and the AV receivers be- come decoders. The AV matrix switcher becomes a standard IP switch. There are huge op- portunities for systems integra- tors mastering the technology – see the Column by Greg Bennet on Page 20.


Traditional AV installations


Traditional installations are de- signed to preserve maximum image resolutions, frame rates, sound quality, and easy-to-use control systems. Problems arise from the fact that the products in these solutions are often sourced from different manu- facturers. with the requirement to integrate them and allow them


to each other.


Products in these systems include


matrix switchers, AV


scalers, video walls, multiview- ers and extenders using HDBa- seT technology. Typically, these are point-to-point systems with transmitters at source devices and


receivers devices.


A typical matrix switch solu- tion is a closed/separate AV network. This often involves running long lengths of ad- ditional cabling connecting source devices to a matrix


at destination communicate with


switcher. routing to multiple displays. Programming can be complex, especially when set- ting up with a 3rd party control system, equating to time and money. Also, some equipment is limited to what a vendor has to offer (which gives little or even no flexibility). The result may feel complete, but with huge limitations including a restriction on capacity, such as available inputs and outputs. Although limited in some re- spects, these point-to-point applications offer a band- width-controlled environment with performance elements that


include fast switching,


low latency, scaling resolutions from 1080p to 4K, and chang- ing the video signal from one type to another such as VGA to HDMI.


Advantages of AV over IP


Implementing AV over IP pre- serves many of the elements of a traditional AV system. The main difference is the video and audio traveling through the series of AV components and cables shifts from circuit-based to packet-based like computer data networks. Instead of placing transmitters and receivers at all the devic- es in the room, the AV over IP design calls for an encoder at each source device, like game consoles or Blu-ray players, and a decoder at each destina- tion device, like a projector or LFD. With the encoders and decod-


The SDVoE module for Crestron control systems. solution.


There are a number of parallel changes in AV signal distribu- tion. The well-known Alliance for HDBaseT Technology cre- ated a standard for extending, transmitting, and receiving Video/Audio signals to remote locations back in 2010. Man- ufacturers have to certify and register any product using cat- egory cable for signal extension via a transmitter and receiver device.


However, some manufactur- ers are not content with the high cost of annual fees and contractual obligations associ- ated with certifying HDBaseT products via the HDBaseT Al- liance Certification program. The new and improved alterna- tive technology visible at ISE 2020 is called SDVoE, said to be a more practical solution for transmitting AV signals. SDVoE technology is the stan- dardised interface between the endpoints and the software


greater distances with fewer constraints. Altogether, main- tenance will reduce, achieving cost-effectiveness over the long run.


SDVoE v HDBaseT


Although SDVoE will not entire- ly replace HDBaseT, the over- whelming consensus is that it will be the future method for most AV signal


distributions.


Importantly, notable organisa- tions such as Netgear, Christie, and Sony joined the SDVoE Al- liance, including enrolling ac- tive associates on the board of directors stemming from their organisations. Currently, most businesses and residential networks are using 1G Networks. These net- works are less reliable when transmitting large data packets such as Video and Audio. The truth is most IT departments will not support the use of these large Multicast Data packets to


ers connected to Gigabit Eth- ernet switch/es, an application is no longer limited to a finite number of inputs and outputs. Theoretically, the encoders, decoders and IP switches are only limited to the design that your network design allows. The ability to scale up comes at much lower cost. AV over IP technology organizes the au- dio-visual data. whether HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, VGA, or control signals. AV over IP systems provide a single platform for AV. The number of source devices is no longer limited, when phys- ical ports run out multiple IP switches can be connected. Breaking the distance barriers for an AV system is no longer


limited, offering a better ratio of inputs and outputs. AV over IP systems have the flexibility to scale up, while keeping costs down, by just adding encoders, decoders, or IP switches to the existing network.


Convergence


The AV over IP design differs from existing traditional AV sys- tems in that it’s essentially a streaming structure. For small- er systems, analogue AV will probably remain the preferred choice for the time being, but it’s changing. Larger systems requiring higher-bandwidths, long distances, or with the flexibility for future expansion, AV-over-IP is often the best


that provides the momentum to create new classes of applica- tions. Simply, this technology performs the same operations as a Matrix Switch, but without the physical need for a Matrix Switch. Instead, SDVoE utilizes 1G/10G Ethernet Networks and individual connected devices known as Coders to Transmit (Encoders) and Receive (De- coders) signals via LAN (Local Area Network) from Source de- vices to Displays.


Overall, the theory is SDVoE will imminently become the new standard for sending Vid- eo/Audio/Control signals over LAN offering 1G and 10G switch


platforms. SDVoE is


much more flexible, offering simplified expandability and


The SDVoE Alliance has expanded and updated its SDVoE Design Partner training and certification program.


stream on their primary LANs in fear it may crash the entire network. Implementing SDVoE means most


companies will


need to convert from 1G to 10G Networks for reliability and performance. Switching could get expensive as 10G Network equipment is quite pricey. Some valuable forethought result in being able to stack 1G and 10G switches. Inte- gration aids with initial imple- mentation costs. This compat- ibility saves money, allowing end-users to migrate at a pace conducive to quarterly budget constraints. SDVoE offers ver- satility to adapt AV systems to ever-changing business needs. Since SDVoE technology is still relatively new, the indus- try has their eyes and ears on observing and analysing. When it comes to real-world installa- tions, there will be many adap- tations and changes to review as SDVoE evolves into becom- ing the future of AV,


SDVoE Alliance


With the goal of standardising the adoption of Ethernet to transport AV signals in profes- sional AV environments,


the


SDVoE Alliance has grown to 50 member companies ship- ping more than 200 interop- erable products. In the run-up to ISE, Alltek Technology Corp. became a contributing mem- ber and seven new companies became adopting members including: Aegis Multimedia, Inc., Analog Way, Creator Cor- poration, KanexPro, Edgecore Networks, Megapixel VR and Teracue. HDCVT Technology upgraded their membership to become a contributing mem- ber. In addition, more than 800 SDVoE Certified Design Partners have been trained and certified.


“It is clear that AV profes- sionals are embracing the more open and standardised ap- proach to signal management offered by SDVoE and that they appreciate the integrated func- tions offered by SDVoE such as scaling, instant switching, video wall image cropping, Multiview compositing, inde- pendent routing of audio and video, audio downmixing and USB transport,” said Justin Kennington, president of the SDVoE Alliance. “SDVoE deliv- ers capabilities far beyond that of a traditional matrix switch and we are thrilled to be having such a profound effect on the industry, seeing the demise of dedicated matrix switchers and proprietary AV over IP.


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