AV over IP – The Argument for Convergence

Traditionally, audio visual signal transmission relied upon using specific types of cables for sending audio or video signals between the different AV devices in a system. The cables used depended on what the sources were and what needed to be sent. Sources could be ‘any’…and ‘many’ including video cameras, laptop PC’s, media players, satellite receiver boxes etc..to name a few. So twisted shielded pair cabling for audio mic, twisted pair for speakers, coaxial for video and audio along with HDMI cabling for example could all be present in a system, but all would be required to be routed independently from source to display.

The cost of all this cabling would vary substantially, and so would the various types of connectors and terminators needed, and not to mention the labour costs of course involved to carry out this varied work. And further complications arise when the expectation is for dynamic routing between different sources to displays is required. It’s easy to see how an AV system can grow into a disparate infrastructure of varying device, cabling and software types to in order to satisfy the full expected audio and visual requirements.

Traditional Matrix Switch

The difference with using Ethernet networks is that each AV device can treated as just another IP endpoint in the network, with standard category x cabling (e.g Cat6, Cat6A) or fibre as well as standard network equipment such switches and routers. As the industry moves more and more towards transporting video signals over IP, AV users and AV professionals alike are finding that using a standards based infrastructure helps reduce the time and costs of AV installation, deployment and support.