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tool assigns IP addresses by 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 with 51, which would
be assigned the IP address of 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 switches
should not be assigned addresses in the .240 to .254 range.
Rather they could be assigned with the AoIP switches, in the .1 up
.19 range or set in the .21 and above range.
Media servers and PCs are typically assigned IP addresses starting at
192.168.87.100 and moving down, reserving 192.168.87.20 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
192.168.87.19. 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 is an overview of what’s involved in creating a PRE-IP network
starting with one stand-alone EMX 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 a
facility’s regular Ethernet switches used to network facility PCs and servers
together. An AoIP and an Ethernet switch may be the same model switch
since it’s their configuration settings which classify a switch as AoIP vs.
Ethernet. Thus, the AoIP switch definition is arbitrary and only refers to a
switch 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 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 EMX switch (using Port 1) to
that 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 currently recommended model numbers.
One current Cisco switch (as of June, 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.
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 that would typically be 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 main AoIP switch. The Razor
Blades and audio servers in TOC then connect to other ports on the main
AoIP switch, also using single CAT5e/CAT6 cables.
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 USB 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.
Multi-Station Network Expansion
When two or more stations share a single facility we recommend you
follow the small PRE-IP network expansion model for each of the stations
where that station’s studios would all connect to one “AoIP Edge Switch”
which would typically be located in that station’s main on-air studio. Each
station’s edge switch then connects to a “Core AoIP Network Switch”
located in the central rack room/TOC. Depending upon how many stations
