5.15: Digital Audio Networking

Understanding Sound From Ear to Engineer · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Digital Audio Networking

    Digital audio networking allows multiple channels of audio to be transmitted over computer networks. Standards include:

    • Dante (widely used, Ethernet-based)
    • AVB (Audio Video Bridging)
    • AES67 (open interoperability standard)

    These systems simplify routing, reduce cabling, and allow for large-scale integration in studios, broadcast facilities, and live sound environments.

    Older Systems: ISDN

    Before modern IP-based networks became widespread, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) was used in broadcast and remote audio links.

    • ISDN offered relatively low-latency digital audio links over telephone lines, allowing broadcasters to connect remote studios or reporters with decent audio quality.
    • Many ISDN codecs could carry stereo or multiple mono channels with compression, error correction, and synchronization.
    • ISDN’s bandwidth was limited compared to modern networks, so it typically used audio compression (e.g. ISDN codecs like Comrex, Tieline).
    • ISDN has largely been supplanted by IP-based solutions (audio over Ethernet, streaming over the internet), but its legacy remains in broadcast infrastructure and transitional systems.

    Streaming Audio and Over-IP Audio

    Modern digital audio networking increasingly uses streaming audio over IP (Internet Protocol).

    • Protocols and Formats: RTP, RTSP, HTTP Live Streaming, or proprietary systems (e.g. Dante over IP).
    • Codecs & Bitrates: Compression (AAC, Opus) or uncompressed “studio” formats (AES67, WAV over IP).
    • Latency: Must be minimized for live audio; influenced by network quality, buffering, and chosen protocol.
    • Quality & Reliability: Requires error correction, packet recovery, and network prioritization (QoS).
    • Scalability: A single source can feed multiple destinations; ideal for studios, live events, or cloud streaming.

    Applications:

    • Live broadcasting (concerts, talk shows, radio)
    • Remote collaboration (distributed musicians and studios)
    • Large installations (houses of worship, corporate AV, stadiums)
    • Cloud streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.)

    This page titled 5.15: Digital Audio Networking was last modified on Fri, 01 May 2026 02:55:01 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Geoffrey Dunbar.