Digigram will be showcasing the technology for the first time at the next Systems Integration Expo (formerly NSCA) and Prolight+Sound trade shows in March 2006. A technology upgrade will then be made available to all EtherSound licensees in the second quarter of 2006.
EtherSound business development manager Jimmy Kawalek is enthusiastic about the evolution: "We are thrilled about the possibilities that Gigabit-EtherSound will offer. Imagine how quickly you'll be able to connect the stage and monitor mixers to FOH even in the largest live events, how easy it will be to route the audio; think of the huge cost savings by replacing large, heavy, expensive multi-core audio cables with a single high-quality Ethernet cable!
"This is the point where EtherSound's strategy to be compliant with IEEE's 802.3 Ethernet enforces all its value. We will be able to leverage the billions of dollars the IT industry has spent to develop Gigabit networks for the benefit of the pro audio industry."
EtherSound in its current stage is configured for 100Mbit/s networks and offers a maximum channel count of 128 channels of 24-bit/48 kHz linear audio (64 channels in each direction) as well as a control data throughput of 768kbit/s maximum.
Beyond the advantages of a quadrupled audio channel count, Gigabit-EtherSound will also dramatically enhance the capabilities to control connected devices and to use the EtherSound network to transmit other data, for example IP control or media streaming.
Other technology evolutions announced at AES include direct node-to-node data communication between any two devices in a network and freedom to connect one or multiple control devices anywhere on the network. Gigabit-EtherSound devices will be able to operate in 100 Mbit/s-mode and therefore will be able to coexist with currently available EtherSound devices on the same network.
All EtherSound licensees, who include Allen & Heath, Archean Technologies, Audio Performance, AuviTran, Bittner Audio, Bouyer, CAMCO, DiGiCo, Digigram, InnovaSON, Martin Audio, Mediachip, NetCIRA by Fostex, Nexo, Pinanson, VTG Audio, and Whirlwind, will autonomously decide when they will implement the new features as they become available.
(Jim Evans)
