Introduction
AV over IP is a technology that allows the transport of audio, video, and control signals over an IP-based network. This article will explain what AV over IP is and how it differs from traditional analog or digital AV solutions.
Before we can understand AV over IP, it is important to know how traditional AV systems work.
An AV system is a device that can be used to transmit video and audio signals.
AV over IP is an upgrade to traditional audio/visual systems. The purpose of this technology is to replace the use of copper wires with network cables, which allows for more flexibility when routing signals throughout a building.
Benefits of AV over IP include lower costs, increased security, and ease of installation in comparison with traditional systems. Its main drawback lies in its limited bandwidth (which limits the amount of information that can be transmitted), but this can be overcome by using high-quality components like those offered by Avaya Inc.
What is “bandwidth?”
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over a communications channel in a given amount of time. Think of it like this: if you could fit 100 people on your bus, but you only had room for 50 and wanted to fit 100 more people on your bus, what would happen? You would need to find another bus! And when it comes to bandwidth, the same principle applies. If you had 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) available capacity on your network and wanted to increase it by 20%, then you’d need at least 2 Gbps worth of additional capacity on top of what’s already being used—and maybe even more than that depending on how much information needs sending through the network at any given moment.[1]
What does “4K” mean?
“4K” is a resolution of 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high. It also goes by the name Ultra HD, and it’s simply the next step in the evolution of HDTV. It was created to keep up with production quality in film and television, which has been moving toward higher resolutions for years. In fact, 4K digital cinema cameras have been around since 2007—they’re just now becoming more common at home.
The standard for digital cinemas worldwide (and what you’ll find at most movie theaters), 4K can be difficult to distinguish from 1080p unless you sit close enough to see individual pixels on your TV or monitor screen.
The 3 main layers of the AV signal path are:
The 3 main layers of the AV signal path are:
The source layer is where an analog or digital audio/video signal is created, digitized, and encoded.
The control layer is used to control AV devices. Control signals from the control layer instruct devices such as speakers and projectors how to behave in various situations (volume up, mute, etc.). A protocol such as RS-232 or RS-485 may be used for this purpose.
The av distribution layer distributes a single source analog/digital signal to multiple destinations (speakers). If more than one destination device needs to receive signals from a single source then there must be at least one more distributor present along with each additional destination device in order for that particular system configuration to not only work but also provide optimal performance throughout its entire lifespan.
Source Layer – Example Devices
Source layer devices are the ones that capture content. Examples include:
Video cameras
Audio recorders (like a microphone)
Microphones (like a lavaliere microphone)
Laptops, tablets and smartphones (for capturing video from an app like Periscope or Facebook Live)
Gaming consoles, streaming media devices, DVD players, and VCRs (for capturing video from an app like YouTube or Netflix)
Music systems with recording capabilities are included as well.
Control Layer – Example Devices
You may be wondering how all of the devices in your control layer, distribution layer, and source layer work together to make your home theater system function. Let’s take a closer look at each of these layers and the types of devices they contain.
Control Layer: This is where the AV signal is processed and distributed to other layers in the system. The control layer contains devices like a video scaler (which helps convert analog signals into digital), an amplifier (boosts signal power), a matrix switcher (connects multiple sources to one display), or even a media server (plays stored content).
Distribution Layer: This is where you’ll connect all of your AV sources such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, etc. In addition to routing signals from here out towards displays on other systems in your home theater setup—and onward through distribution layers within them if necessary—this part also connects back into control layer pieces like splitters so that you can remotely access them from another location within range via Wi-Fi/wireless connectivity options offered by many models today that allow for multiple ways for users who want total flexibility when setting up their own equipment configurations instead of needing assistance from someone else such as an electrician who might charge extra fees if there’s no need because everything works as intended right out of the box without any special instructions needed beforehand.”
Distribution Layer – Example Devices
The distribution layer is a critical piece of the AV system. It’s where all of your video sources are connected, and where they will be distributed throughout your building. A good example of an AV distribution device is a matrix switcher. Matrix switches have multiple inputs and outputs that allow you to route signals from one input to any output(s) on the device. An example would be taking a single HDMI source from your control panel and then routing it out to multiple rooms in different formats such as HDMI, VGA or even analog video (component). The advantage here is that each room does not need its own display devices; all displays can be connected back into the matrix switcher at the point of entry into each room using special cables called run cables, which are much cheaper than having dedicated displays for every room in your building! We’ll discuss run cables later in this article when we get into remote monitoring & control (RMC) devices.
Here are some common AV distribution devices:
Digital Media Switches: These are used for routing digital content between rooms over copper wiring or fiber optic cable instead of relying on WiFi/Ethernet connections which may not always be reliable enough for professional applications like commercial buildings like hotels or hospitals because they can’t reach all areas reliably due to interference issues due to large metal objects blocking signals such as walls or large steel beams holding up floors above them preventing them from being able to transfer data across distances greater than 15 feet away from where they’re located without experiencing decreased throughput speeds causing laggy performance when watching media files streamed through these networks so companies like Cisco Systems created products like their 2960-S Series Ethernet Switching Platforms designed specifically for businesses needing more powerful functionality beyond what their existing network equipment could provide them with today’s standards.””
Traditional AV systems have been around for a long time, but it is helpful to break them down into basic parts.
Traditional AV systems have been around for a long time, but it is helpful to break them down into basic parts. They consist of three main components: the source, the processor, and displays or projectors. The source is where you get your audio or video signal from. This could be a DVD player, cable box, or even an antenna coming into your home to get TV signals. Once you have your source connected, you will need to process that signal before sending it out to a display device like a speaker or projector.
When we talk about AV over IP technology today, this is how we are able to send our audio/video information over Ethernet instead of traditional cabling like coaxial cable (RG59) and fiber optic cables (RG6). This allows us more flexibility when placing speakers throughout your home as well as transmitting signals farther distances than what traditional cabling allows
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to understand how traditional AV systems work and what they mean for the Q-NEX solution of AV over IP.
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