MOTU 24Ai, User Manual

Page: 69 / 92

CHAPTER
69
9
Networking
OVERVIEW
The Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network port on
your MOTU interface opens up a world of
possibilities for creating expanded, customized
audio network systems.
About AVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
MOTU’s AVB implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Networking examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
A quick guide to networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Setting up a MOTU AVB interface for networking. . . . 73
Mapping audio to network streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Mapping computer channels to network streams . . . 73
Bridging to Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
The MOTU AVB Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
ABOUT AVB
Audio Video Bridging (AVB) is an extension of the
Ethernet standard developed by the IEEE (802.1
standards committee) specifically to add high-
performance audio and video networking. AVB
brings together the worlds of networking
technology and high-end audio. Here is a brief
summary of some of the immediate benefits of
AVB for you, as a MOTU AVB interface user:
■
An open industry standard — AVB has been
developed by the IEEE as an international standard
specification. It is not proprietary or controlled by
one company.
■
High channel counts — AVB provides hundreds
of network channels.
■
Extremely low latency — AVB guarantees low-
latency, real-time performance.
■
Guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) — AVB’s
Stream Reservation Protocol provides Guaranteed
Quality of Service for each and every audio stream.
If the network cannot continuously maintain every
bit of every sample in the audio stream, it will not
allow you to make the network connection in the
first place. AVB streams are prioritized over other
network traffic to ensure high performance.
■
Network-wide clocking and sync — AVB
devices all clock together over your network for
better-than-sample-accurate phase lock across all
connected devices. Timing accuracy is down to the
nanosecond.
■
True plug-and-play operation — AVB has been
designed from the ground up to provide automatic
device discovery, enumeration, and connection
management. Just plug your MOTU AVB interfaces
into a standard AVB switch and go. If you wish to
make stream connections and have the ability to
select media clock, you must use the web app, or
some other AVB controller. You don’t need an IT
professional to configure the network. AVB is a
self-managing network protocol.
■
Bridging to standard Ethernet — AVB
cooperates with standard Ethernet networks, for
connecting traditional Ethernet devices like
wireless routers, switches, or any other non-AVB-
aware device.
■
Support for existing network infrastructure —
Replace your existing switches with standard AVB-
compatible switches, and your CAT-5e or CAT-6
wired infrastructure now supports AVB.
■
Long cable runs — a single AVB network
connection can run up to 100 meters with a
standard copper wire CAT-5e or CAT-6 cable.
Fiber-optic cable runs can be much longer. With
multiple switches, you can create a network that
covers very large distances, if necessary. You can
use up to seven “hops” (switch-to-switch
connections).