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This allows the PR&E System Configuration Tool, running on the admin
PC, to be used to assign a new IP address and to setup default signal
names for each new device by simply connecting the new device to the
PRE-IP Ethernet switch. The setup tool assigns a new IP address using the
ID Number you assign to a device in the app. This means that when a new
Mix Engine is set as ID 9, its IP address will be set to 192.168.87.109 and
the matching Surface will be set to an IP address of 192.168.87.209.
Razor ID numbers start at 51, which means its IP address is set to
192.168.87.151.
Note: On a very large system (over 39 EMX and DMX consoles),
the IP addresses assigned to the Mix Engine’s internal Ethernet
switches should not be assigned addresses in the .240 to .254
range. Rather they could be assigned with the AoIP switches, using
the .1 up .20 range or set to .22 and above range (assuming .21 is
assigned to the admin PC).
Media servers and PCs are typically assigned IP addresses starting at
192.168.87.100 and moving down, reserving 192.168.87.21 for the admin
PC. AoIP core and edge switches (talked about in the Multi-Station
Expansion section) are typically assigned IPs from 192.168.87.1 up to
192.168.87.20. Talent stations and other accessories would be assigned IP
addresses above the switches and below the PCs and servers (e.g., in the
.30 to .70 range).
PRE-IP NETWORK EXPANSION
Here’s an overview of what’s involved in creating a PRE-IP network,
starting with one stand-alone DMX console and adding one or more AoIP
switches to enable adding additional PRE-IP devices.
Ethernet network switches which are compatible with PRE-IP and WNIP
networks are generically called AoIP switches to differentiate them from
the facility’s regular Ethernet switches, used to network facility PCs,
servers, and printers together. An AoIP switch and an Ethernet switch may
be the same model switch since it’s their configuration settings which
really classify whether the switch is AoIP vs. Ethernet. Thus, the AoIP
switch definition is arbitrary and only refers to a switch that’s been
specifically configured for audio streaming.
In most installations this means separate switches are used to “air-gap”
traffic on the AoIP network from the facility’s Ethernet network. But one
could use one or more large Ethernet switches configured into multiple
VLANs, or virtual networks, to isolate AoIP traffic from the facility’s
Ethernet traffic. Creating VLANs is not covered in this manual since we
whole-heartedly recommend using separate AoIP switches to create your
PRE-IP network. Doing this simplifies switch configuration and will make
future network troubleshooting a whole lot easier.
Creating a Small PRE-IP Network
Once the built-in network switch in the Mix Engine is full, the only way to
add additional PRE-IP or WNIP devices is to add a Wheatstone-
recommended AoIP switch and connect the built-in Mix Engine switch
(using Port 1) to a port on the AoIP switch.
Various Ethernet switches from Cisco and HP have been used in WNIP
systems over the years, but their model numbers change on a regular
basis, so it’s best to visit the Wheatstone web site, or call Wheatstone tech
support, to get a list of the current recommended model numbers.
One current Cisco switch (as of September, 2018) we can recommend is
the SG-300-series of layer 3 managed switches. Models with eight-ports
up to 48-ports are available. Any of these can be used to create the PRE-
IP network once it has been properly configured for AoIP use.
For a single station facility, which might have an EMX console in an on-
air studio and a DMX console in a production room along with several
Razors and audio servers, a small eight or ten-port switch should work
well. Two in-room PRE-IP devices (Razor I/O Interface, M4IP-USB Blade,
Talent Stations, VoxPro PC, or audio server) can plug into the built-in
switch in each studio, using Ports 2 and 3, reserving Port 1 to connect to
the main AoIP switch, which is typically located in the Technical Operations
Center (TOC).
Note: PCs and audio servers must be running WNIP audio drivers
to play and record audio over their network connection. Audio
drivers, to support from one up to twenty-four stereo channels of
simultaneous playback and recording, can be purchased through
any authorized Wheatstone or PR&E dealer.
The eight- or ten-port AoIP switch is typically located in a rack room
along with multiple Razor I/O Interfaces and audio playback servers. It
takes a single CAT5e or CAT6 cable, from Port 1 on each studio’s switch,
to connect each studio to a port on the system’s AoIP switch. The Razor
Blades and audio servers in TOC then connect to other ports on the main
AoIP switch, also using one CAT5e/CAT6 cable each.
If the on-air studio has a separate talk studio, you would typically add a
small AoIP switch in that studio to network that studio’s PRE-IP/WNIP
devices and to connect that studio to the main switch. If there are four
mics in the talk studio, an M4IP-USB Blade could be installed since it has
four mic preamps along with four USB ports for connecting laptops for
playback or recording. If a Talent Station is used at each mic position, for
mic control and to add a headphone jack, then an eight-port switch could
be used in that room.
Since Talent Stations can be powered by POE (Power-Over-Ethernet)
using a switch that supports POE is recommended for talk studios since
that means all of the talent stations only need a single CAT5 cable
connected to them—no wall-wart supply required.
