EtherSound
| EtherSound | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer Info | |
| Manufacturer | Digigram |
| Development date | 2001 |
| Network Compatibility | |
| Switchable | No[note 1] |
| Routable | No |
| Ethernet data rates | Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Minimum latency | 125 µs[1][2] |
| Maximum channels per link | 512 (256+256)[1][2] |
| Maximum sampling rate | 96 kHz[1][2] |
| Maximum bit depth | 24 bits[1][2] |
 |
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EtherSound is one of several audio over Ethernet technologies currently used in audio engineering and broadcast engineering applications. EtherSound is developed and licensed by Digigram.
EtherSound is intended by the developer to be compliant with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards. Just as the IEEE defines rates such as 100 Megabit and Gigabit Ethernet standards, EtherSound has been developed as both ES-100 (for use on dedicated 100 Megabit Ethernet networks or within a Gigabit network as a VLAN) and ES-Giga (for use on dedicated Gigabit Ethernet networks). The two versions of EtherSound are not compatible.
Network technology
While Ethersound is compliant with the physical 802.3 standards, logically its token-like scheme of transporting audio data prevents all of its features from being used in a standard any point to any point network topology. It cannot support two way communications in a standard hierarchical Ethernet topology, being able to only distribute audio and control data one way. It is not designed to share Ethernet LANs with typical office operations data or Internet traffic such as email. It supports two way communications only when wired in a daisy chain topology.[2] For this reason Ethersound is best used in applications suitable to a daisy chain network topology or in live sound applications that benefit from its low point-to-point latency.
Low latency
Low latency is important for many users of Audio over Ethernet technologies.[note 2] EtherSound can deliver up to 64 channels of 48 kHz, 24-bit PCM audio data with a network latency of 125 microseconds. Each device in a daisy-chain network adds 1.5 microseconds of latency. EtherSound's network latency is stable and deterministic: the delay between any two devices on an EtherSound network can be calculated.
Notes
- ↑ Audio may only be passed unidirectionally through a hub or switch.
- ↑ One of the most critical applications involves picking up sound from a vocalist's or instrumentalist's microphone on a live performance stage, mixing that signal with those received from other microphones (and performers) and delivering the mix to the performer via in-ear monitors. Latency in this application is particularly annoying to vocalists. This is because a singer hears his or her own voice through bone conduction as well as through the outer ear. If the sound from the in-ear monitor lags the bone-conduction sound by more than a few milliseconds, phase shifts and comb filtering will become audible.