Other industries adopted IP connectivity and architecture four decades ago. It is the media space that only recently is learning of the value IP offers in terms of scalability, interconnectivity and flexibility. For many engineers, SDI topology is a comfortable and well understood technology. But it does not represent the future. IP solutions are here today and they are real.

One of the greatest benefits of IP is that it removes the restrictions that typically occur when buying media equipment—vendor proprietary solutions. With IP systems, engineers can select best-of-breed products and know data transfers will work over interfaces that are easy to make and use. Need more bandwidth, additional inputs or outputs, simply plug in the appropriate appliance or device. Change no longer means a “forklift” project.

This Essential Guide begins with a discussion about networks. You will learn about various types of networks, terminology, standards, protocols and applications. You will understand how IP solves many of SDI’s distribution problems though the use of data encapsulation. Breaking out an audio channel from an SDI stream typically requires multiple and complex devices and routing. An IP network can make such tasks trivial.

This also provides a studied background on IP technology, including how basic IP technology came about and why it is now so integral to the media industry. It will explain key intricacies of IP systems and what operational parameters are important to the production and delivery of media. You will better understand how to leverage IP solutions in your own facility.

Let this Essential Guide, sponsored by Wheatstone, guide your technology decisions going forward. IP solutions are here, reliable and ready to handle any task you need to manage.