For Release: September 8, 2016
Connect with the Latest in Networking Technology at the 141st International Audio Engineering Society Convention’s Networked Audio Track
— Seminars and panels to cover wide range of networked audio topics for live, installed, studio and broadcast applications —
Audio and video delivery continues to make the move from traditional cabling to content delivery over networks, in particular Ethernet, LAN (Local Area Network) or IP-based WAN (Wide Area Network). At the 141st International Audio Engineering Society Convention (at the Los Angeles Convention Center, September 29 – October 2, 2016), the Networked Audio Track, supported by the AES Technical Committee on Networked Audio Systems, will explore the latest developments in the methods, protocols and applications of networked audio.
The AES67 standard is a cornerstone for audio-over IP interoperability. As such it will be the topic of no fewer than four seminars. “AES Discovery,” the first of three seminars to be presented on Friday, September 30, will be moderated by Aidan Williams of Audinate (the company behind Dante). It will examine the pros and cons of the multiple device discovery methods allowed by AES67 and highlight the importance of establishing a reliable A/V industry standard. “Rolling Out AES67 into Real-World Applications” will provide tips and real-world examples about bringing AES67 AoIP (audio over IP) networking to installations, and examine the applicability of AES67 to network requirements in general.
The “AES67 and the Audio Industry” panel, to be presented by QSC’s Rich Zwiebel, will discuss the many audio networking standards available today and the issues involved in either adopting a single platform or linking disparate network pools together. AES67 promises to solve this dilemma by providing a common interchange format. The final AES67-related seminar, “AES Interoperability Testing – the Plugfest Report” (Sunday, October 2), will feature AVA Networks’ Kevin Gross explaining the roles of different network technologies, and other considerations.
IT convergence is upon the industry in a major way, but many in A/V are unfamiliar with the details of audio networking from the perspective of an IT manager. Friday, September 30’s “Understanding Audio Capabilities and Bandwidth in Mixed-Use Networks” session will dispel some commonly held misconceptions about audio bandwidth requirements and the capabilities of modern switched networks. Later on Friday, “University of North Texas College of Music – Recording with Networked Audio” will look at the recent installation of a Dante network at one of the nation’s largest music colleges.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic, and on Saturday, October 1, “The Internet of Media Things for Installed A/V, Recording and Live Events” will feature Greg Schlechter of Intel pointing out how the next natural step for networked A/V is in becoming part of the IoT. Saturday will also include a must-see session: “Optimizing Audio Networks,” presented by Patrick Killianey of Yamaha Professional Audio. He’ll cover the key methods and technologies for optimizing low latency and high bandwidth for audio networks. The day will close with Rich Zwiebel of QSC and Terry Holton of Yamaha moderating an industry panel in “An Overview of AES67,” exploring the remarkable advances and remaining challenges in making media networks from different manufacturers truly interoperable.
The 141st AES Networking Audio Track events will conclude on Sunday, October 2, beginning with a Jeff Berryman-led session on the AES67 companion networked control standard, AES70. The final session is “Who Owns the Audio Network, IT or AV?” In an audio network the line between the audio and IT trades can be blurred, and this seminar by Patrick Killianey will address the specific ways in which both professions should be involved when specifying and maintaining a network infrastructure.
“Networked media delivery has literally become intertwined into every aspect of live, installed, broadcast, studio and mobile audio/video,” said Bob Lee, AES Networked Audio Track Chair. “Even longtime—you could say even traditionalist—holdouts against putting audio onto data networks are being won over by the immense flexibility and capability that current media networking technology offers. Being savvy in networked audio is becoming increasingly mandatory for audio pros, and the 141st AES will examine the very latest developments in the field.”
Complete AES 141st International Convention Networked Audio Track information, including dates and times for each event, is available on the AES website at http://www.aes.org/events/141/networkaudio/ and via the AES Events mobile app (iOS and Android), which also offers convention maps, scheduling, social media interaction, and other helpful guides to making the most of the convention.
AES Los Angeles registration is currently available online for All Access badges, or attendees may register to receive a FREE Exhibit-Plus badge (promo code AES141WEB) for the AES Los Angeles Convention: aesshow.com.
Find out more about the Audio Engineering Society at aes.org.