For over two decades, SDI has been the professional standard for transferring high-quality video and audio signal within broadcast and live production environments. As the need to transmit higher resolutions over longer distances has become a necessity, technology has likewise evolved. Currently, two prominent IP protocols are fighting for supremacy in video-over-IP: 1.) SMPTE ST2110, developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and 2.) NDI, by NewTek. These technologies represent a major step forward in the way church tech and broadcast ministries will fulfill their calling in the coming years.
AVoIP is the next natural step. “Live broadcast will soon have the opportunity to have both more streamlining of operations and costs, and more sophisticated integration of media production and distribution.” Hugo Gaggioni, Vice President, CTO, Sony Media Solutions of America
The advantage of utilizing IT protocols for AV extends beyond the ability to transfer more data at faster speeds through the use of Cat6 or fiber cabling, rather than SDI/HD-SDI. Following general IT practices means that video and audio can pass along existing network switches, while being routed, secured, and monitored remotely. This technology is already being incorporated with audio, such as through Audinate’s Dante standards. AVoIP is the next natural step. “Live broadcast will soon have the opportunity to have both more streamlining of operations and costs, and more sophisticated integration of media production and distribution,” explains Hugo Gaggioni, vice president and CTO at Sony Media Solutions of America.
Taking advantage
From a technical perspective there are a number of advantages of video over IP-based systems compared to traditional SDI platforms. Right away, the infrastructure costs of video over IP are far cheaper, especially when factoring the cost of Cat6 cabling vs. SDI. Even better, for newer construction projects, Ethernet cable is often already installed as a standard part of the building’s basic technical infrastructure and can usually be easily and affordably added by a standard structured cabling contractor.
Another big advantage of video over IP is the fact that information flow is bi-directional, a feature not possible with SDI.
Another big advantage of video over IP is the fact that information flow over these systems is bi-directional, a feature not possible with SDI. “IP workflows allow for denser routing than typical SDI workflows, along with the ability for signals to be transmitted and received from virtually anywhere within a shared network,” says Bryce Button, director of product marketing for AJA Video Systems.
“IP workflows allow for denser routing than typical SDI workflows, along with the ability for signals to be transmitted and received from virtually anywhere within a shared network.” Bryce Button, Director of Product Marketing, AJA Video Systems
This means that sent content can have arrival verification and even device control sent alongside the video and audio signals themselves. “For example, a worship service can be hosted in one location, with additional video and audio sources from separate locations mixed together for the live broadcast. IP also vastly simplifies the ability to distribute to multiple destinations, allowing audiences around the world to view services remotely,” Button notes.
The leap forward
As the first standard for video over IP, SMPTE ST2022 established the method for uncompressed, sync’d audio and video signals to be delivered over IP in a manner very similar to standard SDI. With the ratification of SMPTE ST2110, that same uncompressed video and audio could now be de-coupled from one another, allowing both signals to be utilized separately in mixed media environments. This distinction is an important part of helping move video over IP into the center of the conversation about the future of live and broadcast video.
While ST2110 provides for the transmission of uncompressed signal, NewTek has designed NDI, a standard to deliver different resolutions of video streams over a single network, thanks to its next-generation compression scheme. It’s a technology designed primarily for live event applications rather than for primary broadcast applications.
“The number of products supporting NDI has reached sufficient critical mass to enable the technology to approach its full potential…. “ Nick Mia, CEO, CTO, Magewell
The main difference is that NDI compresses the video signal prior to transmission in order to allow it to pass along a standard network backbone, even most 1GB switches. While being a proprietary protocol as opposed to ST2110, “the number of products supporting NDI has reached sufficient critical mass to enable the technology to approach its full potential, allowing customers to build complete NDI workflows while having multiple choices of vendor and product at each step,” states Nick Mia, CEO and CTO of Magewell.
For non-production environments where latency concerns are less important, such as in overflow rooms, conference rooms, and small classrooms, the corporate pro-AV giants are creating their own AVoIP protocols in order to capitalize on currently installed IT networks. In principle, entire buildings can be set up with AV networks simply by adding an encoder at each input location, a decoder at each endpoint, and a centralized controller plugged anywhere on a shared VLAN.
In practice
One of the most practical benefits of moving towards a video over IP infrastructure will be how widely recognizable the component elements are to the average layperson with even the most basic background in home networking. Implementing long runs of Cat6 cabling is also far more cost effective than using standard SDI.
One of the most practical benefits of moving towards a video over IP infrastructure will be how widely recognizable the component elements are to the average layperson with even the most basic background in home networking.
These aspects will make it much easier to justify in the planning and budgeting stages of an overhaul, expansion, or new construction project. The cabling itself can be used for multiple purposes, often only requiring one added data run to each location and a network switch added to the endpoint. All major manufacturers now offer most of their product lines with RJ-45 (Ethernet) connections in addition to SDI or HDMI. Many projectors, displays, and production switches are able to send or accept HDbaseT, an HD audio-video signal that can also send device control, power (POE), ethernet, and even USB in one cable.
These new technologies also provide cost-effective and simple solutions for churches utilizing custom video feeds to overflow areas, digital signage, and secondary worship venues. Vastly expanded options for signal routing and control will also prove compelling to broadcast directors creating separate IMAG, overflow, campus broadcast, and VOD (video on demand) products from a single worship experience. In addition, the need for redundant systems becomes minimized when signals are able to be routed directly to external endpoints or other production environments for reuse. Using QoS, IGMP snooping, and controlled multicasting, internal networks can easily be controlled without worrying about impacting other vital systems, like internet accessibly and security.
“For broadcast workflows, a single tech director in a remote location can control a variety of sources routed from all over the world.” Bryce Button, Director of Product Marketing, AJA Video Systems
As the availability of reliable broadband internet services continues to expand, these emerging AVoiP standards could also make it possible to take live feeds from a satellite campus or venue for use at all other campuses, with very minimal effort or additional gear. This is limited solely to the speed of your chosen provider. “Live talent, video and audio feeds from different locations can seamlessly be broadcast in real-time within the same live feed, simplifying the technical demands at each location and ultimately decreasing demands on human resources for complex productions. For broadcast workflows, a single tech director in a remote location can control a variety of sources routed from all over the world,” suggests Button.
Moving forward
As with any seismic shift of this magnitude, the transition process of moving from an SDI-based world into AVoIP will be a slow and methodical process. Forward-thinking tech and broadcast directors will be wise to begin researching and evaluating bridging devices that will allow existing SDI- and HDMI-based hardware systems to seamlessly integrate with new protocols. It is important to begin evaluating all major purchases such as broadcast cameras and switchers with AV-over-IP workflows firmly in mind in order to be good stewards of our church resources. What we purchase today for our current production environments may soon be needed in another.
