Video Networks

Wide area networking of audio and video is gaining importance, especially as the cost of fiber links decreases. Riedel Communications is a major player with the MediorNet product family. The company acquired MediorNet in 2007 and after a redesign, the product was relaunched in 2009. This was well before IP networking of video was commonplace.

“MediorNet is now a significant part of our business, it is about one third of the manufacturing side. We see it growing in the future as it is an ideal entry into IP, migrating from legacy formats to an IP future.” said Riedel. 

In recent years there has been much standards devlopment from bodies like the Video Services Forum (VSF) and the SMPTE. Broadcasters and telcos lean towards standards whenever possible, it makes interoperability much easier and avoids vendor 'lock in".

Riedel feels that the product is often misunderstood. “It is a perception that MediorNet uses proprietary protocols. However, that is wrong. All manufacturers have proprietary bus systems, for most manufacturers it is a backplane, for Riedel Communications it is the network connecting the clients. Yes, the internal network is proprietary, but the external ports adhere to international standards from bodies like the SMPTE.”

Riedel continued “We have as much IP networking as our competitors. In fact, we have already implemented SMPTE 2022-6 and are about to launch a 2110 solution at IBC2017.” (SMPTE ST 2110 is a suite of standards for professional media over IP networks.)

Similarly, the IP audio interface adheres to AES67. As to the ad hoc standard, Dante. “We offer Dante interfaces for our intercom, with support coming for MediorNet,” said Riedel. 

“Customers are free to use our internal protocols or SMPTE IP standards, and the two can be mixed as appropriate to the application.”

Intercoms

Riedel Communications are best known for their intercom systems, used by major broadcasters as well as large sports organisations like Formula One and Red Bull.

Although intercoms are a mature technology, there are still advances to be made. Large and complex events are facing more and more demands for wireless devices, whether it is roving cameras, radio microphones or wireless intercoms. This demand is taking place as the available spectrum is shrinking, with mobile operators able to outbid broadcasters and events companies to take over large bands of the RF spectrum that were once available.

The company’s response to these demands for for more wireless intercoms has been Bolero. This is an all-new intercom system capable of supporting 10 beltpacks per antenna and up to 100 antennas in a single deployment. Based in the license-free DECT 1.8/1.9GHz band it uses multiple-diversity and RF anti-reflection technology for greater RF robustness.

Bolero runs over a standards-based AES67 IP network. Decentralized antennas connect to AES67 switches and to Artist frames equipped with AES67 client cards, providing a fully integrated point-to-point intercom ecosystem with seamless roaming capabilities. The more antennas added, the more robust the network becomes.

The Bolero high-clarity voice codec provides both higher speech intelligibility and more efficient use of RF spectrum supporting twice the number of beltpacks per antenna for the same audio bandwidth as other DECT-based systems.

Lack of spectrum is a huge challenge. Having the right codec helps, “we use 32 kb/s whereas many of our competitors are using 64 kb/s. That means we can carry twice as many channels in a given bandwidth.” said Riedel.

He sees a general move from a central comms matrix to edge devices. “Intercom is evolving to wireless and smart panels”

Changing Business Landscape

Looking to the future Riedel expressed the view that “In the past telcos, A/V companies and broadcasters were all clearly defined. Now it is all meshed, everyone fights with everyone (for viewers). The rise of digital advertising means there is less money for TV spots, with the spend going increasingly to the Internet. This means that the broadcasters have less money to spend.”

The much-heralded solution is the move to IP and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IT equipment. Riedel doesn’t see this route offering an instant solution. “We believe that the migration will take ten to fifteen years.” He sees several obstacles in the way before connecting an all-IP system is a simple, as plug-and-play as SDI.

The first is the challenge of finding good people with the specific knowledge of audio, video and IT. A regular IT guy does not have the experience to operate real-time audio and video over 2022 or 2110 streams.

Riedel sees many elements of the IT workflow missing. “we must enable plug-and-play for IT systems. Current control systems are incredibly complex, with a considerable cost for initial configuration.”

The company is supporting the AMWA Networked Media Incubator project, which aims to improve interoperability between vendors with systems based on IP networking.

30 Years History

This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the company, so what does Riedel see looking back? Riedel Communications is unusual in that it started as a rental company and later became a manufacturer. Riedel is said that if he were starting out again today he wouldn’t do both, however it has its advantages. The product managers on the manufacturing side receive first-hand feedback from the users in the services division. The high profile of customers for the services, like Formula One and Red Bull, help the Riedel brand.

There can be conflicts of interest (selling intercoms to other service companies), so he explained that “it is important not to compete with our clients.”

“You can talk about victories, but you learn from your mistakes, that’s where we have seen the biggest value. I hope we make mistakes in the future, that way we can keep learning.”

And what of the future?

“I hope we are still as passionate in five years’ time as we are now. We will have significant growth, but the challenges of the industry are huge.” Riedel added that he sees the possibility to double revenue in the next five years.

Communications and networking are a hidden side of the television business that few viewers are aware of. They see cameras and microphones—the primary video and audio production pipeline. But without the intercom there is no command and control, especially for live broadcast. Riedel Communication’s products have been interwoven into the fabric of television production for thirty years, and they are set to continue innovating as we move into the IP and IT age.