AES Standards News Blog

The next step in pushing forward audio over IP in broadcasting and other professional audio media has been taken: a collaboration between the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcasting Union with the goal to further develop packet-based audio network standards. 

The focus of the work lies on audio interoperability over high-performance IP networks. The proposed standard defines an interoperabity mode applicable to a number of existing audio networking technologies including the EBU’s ACIP-standard. The EBU represents the technical interests of an important user community who will be a significant beneficiary of this technology.

Building on previous and continuing ACIP and ACIP2 work in the EBU, AES work is proceeding in task group SC-02-12-H under project AES-X192. The group is chaired by Kevin Gross. The group already includes some key ACIP2 members. A draft of the proposed standard is being reviewed in the task group.

A formal liaison officially called "Next generation AES/EBU interface based on IP technology" has recently been established. Within ACIP2, Sonja Langhans will support and manage this activity with experts from ACIP members and manufacturers.

EBU members and manufacturers are welcome to participate. For further information visit the task-group web site at www.X192.org. To participate, please follow the links at www.x192.org/join/; membership in SC-02-12-H is open to any directly and materially affected individuals.

In 2007, the European Broadcasting Union published a technical interoperability specification, Tech 3326, intended for audio over IP contribution devices. This was the output of the EBU ACIP project group which had regular meetings for 6 years with EBU members (broadcasters) and manufacturers.

Partly Inspired by this project, in 2009, the Audio Engineering Society launched a standards project to set an interoperability standard for high-quality audio with PCM over high-performance IP networks. 

Considering these two groups with similar scope, the EBU proposed to establish a close liaison between AES and EBU with the goal to define a common AES/EBU standard for Audio over IP networks in professional environments for both, Local Area Networks and long distance WAN.

The AES Standards Committee is the organization responsible for the standards programme of the Audio Engineering Society. It publishes a number of technical standards, information documents and technical reports.

Working groups and task groups with a fully international membership are engaged in writing standards covering fields that include topics of specific relevance to professional audio.

Membership of any AES standards working group is open to all individuals who are materially and directly affected by the documents that may be issued under the scope of that working group.

Complete information, including scopes of working groups and project status is available at http://www.aes.org/standards.

A new standard, AES59-2012, AES standard for professional audio - Audio application of 25-way D-type connectors in balanced circuits, has been published 2012-08-18

This document describes a standard contact assignment and gender convention for users of the 25-contact D-type connector as a multi-channel balanced audio interconnection, in analogue or AES3 digital form, to facilitate interconnection of equipment from different suppliers using standardized cables. The intent is to simplify the rapid and reliable interconnection of equipment in temporary installations, perhaps using rented equipment, although the method may be extended to permanent installations where appropriate.

http://www.aes.org/publications/standards/search.cfm?docID=92

A Call for Comment on DRAFT REVISED AES-2id, AES information document for digital audio engineering - Guidelines for the use of the AES3 interface, was published on 2012-08-16.

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes-2id-xxxx-rev-120816.cfm

 A Call for Comment on reaffirmation of AES-11id-2006, AES information document for preservation of audio recordings - Extended term storage environment for multiple media archives, was published in accordance with our 5-year review policy on 2012-08-16.

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes-11id-2006-reaff-120816.cfm

 A Call for Comment on reaffirmation of AES6-2008, AES Standard - Method for Measurement of Weighted Peak Flutter of Sound Recording and Reproducing Equipment, was published on 2012-08-16. 

http://www.aes.org/standards/comments/cfc-aes6-2008-reaff-120816.cfm

A new standard, AES63-2012 AES standard for interconnections - Data connector in an XLR connector shell, has been published 2012-08-03.

A growing number of audio applications use data cabling and hardware similar to that being used in IT infrastructures - for example in Ethernet networks. As a result the use of ubiquitous “Category 5” data cables and the related modular connectors is becoming more and more significant.

Common modular connectors are widely used, but are fragile in demanding installations, where a broken connection can affect the application critically. This is not important in many applications, such as structured data cabling for use with computer networks, or simple interconnect cabling and patching using Category 5 (or better) data cable.  However, in professional audio applications, a broken connection can affect the application critically. A standard ruggedized fitting will promote system security in these applications. This document specifies a ruggedized data connector that is compatible with 8-position 8-contact (8P8C) modular connectors, commonly (though inaccurately) called RJ-45 connectors, with regard to mechanical aspects for proper mating and locking.

This standard will help system integrators, designers, installers and users of data for professional audio and associated media in choosing a connector system which is already approved for its ruggedness and reliability in just these application areas. Based on the dimensions of the convenient XLR connectors the space requirements are comparable and the required panel cutouts in equipment are even compatible. The identical locking mechanism facilitates handling.