Serial Digital Interface (SDI) technology has served the AV community well for decades — but time marches on. SDI predates the Internet, and since its development, AV tech has evolved to include a world of live streaming. That's why a new standard is supplanting this venerable technology: Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol (AVoIP).
What's Driving the Transition From SDI to AVoIP for Live Broadcast?
SDI wasn't built for an ultra-high definition (UHD) world. While 12G SDI for UHD can handle very high resolutions, it can only offer limited reach, even for large facilities. This limitation creates challenges for the technology in an era where demand for remote, distributed live broadcast solutions is growing. Conversely, AVoIP was designed for this need.
AVoIP also fits nicely into multi-platform distribution environments that go beyond linear live broadcast environments into live streaming. Today's viewers expect content on devices and in resolutions of their choosing, requiring multiple production versions. The resulting spike in port requirements is less of a problem for AVoIP than for SDI. As the over-the-top (OTT) market continues to take off, it forces a transition to end-to-end IP production workflows.
Another factor forcing the adoption of AVoIP is the acceleration of remote and distributed production. This trend demands location-agnostic flexibility for work across on-premises and cloud environments.
Benefits of Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol Technology
AVoIP offers enhanced flexibility and scalability to meet modern production requirements. It connects through switches, making every connection point a routing point to remove distance limitations. The only constraint is bandwidth, and you can grow that to meet your needs.
Relying on IP brings many of the benefits that traditional internet-based networks enjoy.
- Information can be dynamically routed to accommodate network outages and maintenance. More functions can be executed in software, replacing costly dedicated broadcast hardware. All of this flexibility future-proofs IP setups.
- AVoIP-based systems offer operational efficiency through lower equipment and maintenance overhead costs and simpler cabling requirements. Thanks to Power over Ethernet support, a single cable can carry control, audio, video, and even power.
- Using IP networks streamlines workflows by centralizing control and management of resources, including cloud-based storage of digital assets.
Making the AVoIP Transition
While transitioning to AVoIP might seem like an obvious choice, existing infrastructure investments in SDI and AVoIP training for broadcast engineers can make it financially challenging for some companies. Technical implementation issues may also be faced, such as ensuring low-latency performance on IP networks and securing network traffic.
Additionally, most baseband equipment still comes with SDI interfaces, while support for native uncompressed IP is still patchy. Many production houses also need to comply with network standards like ST2110 and 2022-7, plus AMWA recommendations.
One way around this transition gap is a hybrid approach; studios can use their existing SDI equipment while gradually introducing new IP components. Adding IP "beachheads" offers routing flexibility and reduces cabling complexity while allowing facilities to redevelop their legacy architecture at their own pace.
AV specialists can then integrate their existing workflows with new devices as part of a managed transition while supporting current SDI workflows. This lowers the risk of disruption during the transition period.
How Panasonic Supports AVoIP
Panasonic integrates IP support in several ways. This includes support for the Intel Smart Display Module expansion card format, which enables AVoIP-based streaming.
Many devices also support the Network Device Interface (NDI), which offers compressed IP transmission on regular IP networks. NDI support expansion is available across many Panasonic PTZ cameras and multi-purpose cameras.
Other devices offer SMPTE 2110 support, enabling uncompressed IP transmission over managed IP networks. For example, the AW-UE160 4K PTZ camera offers SMPTE 2110 support via an additional software key, and the KAIROS video editing suite also offers IP support.
What's Next For AV Tech?
You don't have to make the full leap to AVoIP immediately. Assessing your current environment will help you prioritize areas to test the technology. Some of the questions you should ask yourself include:
- What are my requirements?
- How much future flexibility do I need?
- What combination of SDI and IP is appropriate for my next project?
- Which infrastructure areas could be appropriate testing grounds for AVoIP?
- How much will my initial deployment cost?
- What efficiency and scalability benefits will it bring me?
When working on a pilot or production AVoIP deployment, invest in training for technical staff that covers IP networking, cybersecurity, and systems management. Plan your bandwidth and network management to ensure that you have the appropriate infrastructure for your projected AVoIP outcomes.
Interested in taking the next step? Contact us to begin your AVoIP journey.
