What is AoIP (Audio over IP)?
Short answer AoIP (Audio over IP) carries digital audio as IP packets across standard Ethernet networks instead of dedicated audio cable. One network cable can carry hundreds of channels bidirectionally, but the network must provide QoS, a synchronised clock and predictable latency.
What it replaces
| Traditional | AoIP equivalent |
|---|---|
| Analogue multicore | One or two Cat6 runs |
| AES3 pairs per channel | Channels multiplexed in packets |
| Fixed patchbay routing | Routing changed in software |
| Point-to-point topology | Any-to-any across the network |
What it demands in return
Audio is now sharing infrastructure designed for file transfer, where a delayed packet is harmless. Three things must be added back:
- A clock — see PTP
- Priority — QoS marking so audio and clock packets are never queued behind bulk traffic
- Bounded latency — a fixed device buffer chosen to cover the worst-case network delay
Where it is used
Conference rooms and corporate AV, public address and mass notification, broadcast studios, live production, stadiums and transport hubs — anywhere the channel count or the distance makes copper multicore impractical.
Frequently asked
Is AoIP the same as Dante?
No. AoIP is the category. Dante, AES67, Milan, Q-LAN and OMNEO are specific implementations within it.
Does AoIP need a dedicated network?
Not necessarily. A correctly configured VLAN on a shared managed network is common. A dedicated network is required for AVB/Milan and preferred where the IT department will not apply QoS.
Specifying a system right now? ［邮箱位 · 待填］ ［电话位 · 待填］