The Essential Guide to Audio Over IP for Broadcasters
It has been more than 12 years since APT designed and delivered the first audio codec that could transport high quality audio in real time over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Back in 2003 ISDN was widely available and 950MHz and other analog microwave links together with E1/T1 were the accepted standards. Few broadcasters, if any, trusted or understood IP as a broadcast audio transport technology.
APT started its IP journey in a niche place
And with a very special customer, none other than SkyWalker Sound, the sound division of George Lucas Film based in Marin County, California. The SkyLink product was completely unique for its time; it was used as a tool by remote talent, producers or sound engineers to review a 5.1 mix over a managed IP link. Together with the audio, an embedded SMPTE Timecode channel was transported to enable synchronization of the audio with the reels and rushes of film. While the SkyLink was well used and loved by SkyWalker, its appeal to others was limited as it required an expensive, managed IP network. However, it became the cornerstone upon which APT began to build its reputation for IP Audio and the resulting expertise and in-house technology was used to develop globally successful, broadcast products such as the stereo Horizon and the multi-channel Oslo platform. Our current range of APT IP audio platforms (see page 65) continue to lead the field with the same commitment to audio quality, reliability and innovation that we had in those early years.
This guide serves a number of functions:
It gives a very gentle introduction to the concept of IP Audio and an introduction to IP networks and concepts and also offers practical advice on network testing and analysis both pre and post IP audio deployment. Also covered is some very specific information on networking for audio transport, covering optimum settings and configurations for typical broadcast uses and scenarios. 