User Manual

CHAPTER
87
10 Networking
OVERVIEW
The Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network port on
the 8A opens up a world of possibilities for creating
expanded, customized audio network systems.
About AVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
MOTU’s AVB implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Networking examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
A quick guide to networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Setting up a MOTU AVB interface for networking. . . . 91
Mapping audio to network streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Mapping computer channels to network streams . . . 91
Device presets and AVB stream connections. . . . . . . . . 92
Bridging to Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
The MOTU AVB Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
ABOUT AVB
Audio Video Bridging (AVB) is an extension of the
Ethernet standard developed by the IEEE (802.1
standards committee) specifically to add high-
performance audio and video networking.
☛ You may also hear AVB referred to as
AV B / T S N or simply TSN because the IEEE is in the
process of renaming the standard to Time Sensitive
Networking to accommodate the expanding scope
of the specification to applications beyond audio
and video.
AVB brings together the worlds of networking
technology and high-end audio. Here is a brief
summary of some of the immediate benefits of
AVB for you, as a MOTU AVB interface user:
■ An open industry standard — AVB has been
developed by the IEEE as an international standard
specification. It is not proprietary or controlled by
one company.
■ High channel counts — AVB provides hundreds
of network channels.
■ Extremely low latency — AVB guarantees low-
latency, real-time performance.
■ Guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) — AVB’s
Stream Reservation Protocol provides Guaranteed
Quality of Service for each and every audio stream.
If the network cannot continuously maintain every
bit of every sample in the audio stream, it will not
allow you to make the network connection in the
first place. AVB streams are prioritized over other
network traffic to ensure high performance.
■ Network-wide clocking and sync — AVB
devices all clock together over your network for
better-than-sample-accurate phase lock across all
connected devices. Timing accuracy is down to the
nanosecond.
■ True plug-and-play operation — AVB has been
designed from the ground up to provide automatic
device discovery, enumeration, and connection
management. Just plug the 8A into a standard AVB
switch and go. If you wish to make stream
connections and have the ability to select media
clock, you must use the web app, or some other
AVB controller. You don’t need an IT professional
to configure the network. AVB is a self-managing
network protocol.
■ Bridging to standard Ethernet — AVB
cooperates with standard Ethernet networks, for
connecting traditional Ethernet devices like
wireless routers, switches, or any other non-AVB-
aware device.
■ Support for existing network infrastructure —
Replace your existing switches with standard AVB-
compatible switches, and your CAT-5e or CAT-6
wired infrastructure now supports AVB.