BUILDING ETHERSOUND NETWORKS
Building EtherSound Networks
Large segments of this chapter are taken from “building ES Networks V1.0”.
(Courtesy of DIGIGRAM)
Preface
EtherSound uses standardized and well-proven technology from the world of digital
networks, in order to cost-effectively convey high-quality audio. The EtherSound
protocol provides fully deterministic, very low-latency transmission of synchronized
audio channels over standard Ethernet. Up to 64 bi-directional channels of 24-bit
digital audio may be transported at 44.1 or 48kHz among a virtually infinite number of
connected devices, along with status and control data.
This document is a short introduction to the characteristics of Ethernet, the conception
of EtherSound, and to EtherSound’s interplay with Ethernet components and the
Ethernet protocol. It also gives some recommendations for equipment that has been
tested at Digigram and found to comply with the EtherSound requirements.
Watch out for these symbols beside the corresponding text:
indicates that this technology is suitable for EtherSound networks.
designates that the technology or material described is to be avoided in the context
of EtherSound networks.
indicates that the chapter or paragraph in question contains important additional
information or differentiations, READ WITH CARE !
ETHERSOUND – TO KEEP IN MIND
The EtherSound protocol by Digigram is based on true Ethernet frames. It is fully
compliant to Ethernet IEEE 802.3 frame format. It is full-duplex (data is sent and
received simultaneously) and requires a
dedicated
Fast Ethernet network, as it
cannot share data with other elements on a network. Data is typically transported via
Local Area Networks (LANs) with a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps (100BaseTX)
full-duplex.
EtherSound allows real-time transmission of 64 high-quality audio channels (24 bits,
48 or 44.1 KHz) with a very low latency.
The EtherSound protocol provides communication between devices by inserting
formatted EtherSound sub-packets into standard Ethernet frames. Audio channel
synchronization is based on valid EtherSound frame arrival. Each frame is transmitted
at a defined sampling frequency (44.1 or 48kHz).
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