Sound Connections in Audio Networking
The world of networked AV is its own kind of Babel. CobraNet, developed by Peak Audio in the mid-1990s and the first successful digital audio networking protocol, had a shot at becoming an industry standard. But while its acceptance by the pro audio industry was fast, it wasn't fast enough to outpace a host of other companies. We look at four of today's prominent protocols.
Also Up and Running: Aviom A-Net
Among the other proprietary audio networks at an integrator's disposal is Aviom's A-Net technology. Like others, it's based on the physical layer of the Ethernet stack and runs over Cat-5e cabling. A-Net comes in two flavors: Pro16, which supports bi-directional systems up to 32x32 and 48x16; and Pro64, which handles channel counts up to 64x64. With the right Aviom network hub, Pro64 can include fiber-optic transport.
Aviom markets the A-Net platform to a variety of markets, including broadcast, recording, corporate installs, and education. Recently, the largest installation ever of Avion A-Net gear was completed at Cuyahoga Community College's Center for Creative Arts in Cleveland. The school's Pro64 network connects studios, control rooms, and more throughout a 75,000-sqaure-foot facility, but it also allows the center to link with AV systems beyond its walls. To read an in-depth profile of the installation, see "Nothing But Net," page 18.
Cuyahoga Community College's Center for Creative Arts' Pro64 network.
