One reason broadcasters love AES67 is because it’s an open standard that enables low-latency, synchronized, uncompressed audio delivery over Ethernet/IP. A key challenge with AES67, however, is that it was written for local area networks (LANs), while broadcasters today increasingly need to deliver and receive audio over wide area networks (WANs).
As IP systems are now moving into a widespread market adoption phase – we’re deploying SMPTE ST 2110 and soon IPMX into more and more facilities where the engineering teams are spread thin and covering a lot of ground – the next step for the technology is accessibility and systemisation.
If you’re in AV, IPMX is an acronym you need to know. Short for Internet Protocol Media Experience, IPMX is a fast-emerging set of open standards and specifications for AV-over-IP. Although it shares many of the advantages offered by NewTek’s NDI (Network Device Interface), IPMX is different because it is an open standard.
The Alliance will work with industry partners to address a skills and expertise gap.
As Pro AV productions get more complex, the industry has longed for a set of common, ubiquitous, standards-based protocols for interoperability on a managed video-over-IP network. In 2017, as the first set of SMPTE ST 2110 standards were published, AV professionals saw the framework of their dream become reality.
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) today announced that all members of the AIMS Board of Directors were re-elected earlier this month to serve once again in 2022.
Shortly after the election, Michael Cronk announced that he will step down from the AIMS Board and as chairman of the board due to a change in his employment that disqualifies him from serving. Steve Reynolds of Imagine Communications, who previously served as vice chair, takes over as chair, and Terry Holton of Yamaha will serve as AIMS’ new vice chair. Chuck Meyer of Grass Valley will join as a new board member replacing Cronk’s open position.
AIMS Board of Directors members for 2022 thus include AIMS Chairman of the Board Steve Reynolds, Vice Chair Terry Holton (Yamaha), Chief Financial Officer Andreas Hilmer (Lawo), Andrew Starks (Macnica), and Chuck Meyer (Grass Valley). Their terms start immediately, as does their ongoing work toward fostering a standards-based approach to IP in professional media.
“Michael Cronk has been instrumental in the formation and success of AIMS,” said Reynolds. “His commitment of time and energy during the past six years has made the AIMS mission of IP adoption a reality. Under his leadership, programs such as the IP Showcase were created and are still seen today as the source of industry education and advancement. And his efforts on behalf of AIMS have been recognized around the world. He will be missed!”
“Working alongside our partners including SMPTE, AMWA, VSF, and EBU, and with organizations such as the IABM, AIMS has served as a catalyst to galvanize the industry toward both standards like SMPTE ST 2110 and also open specifications such as AMWA IS-04, AMWA IS-05, and JT-NM TR 1001-1,” said Cronk. “We’ve made a difference, and it’s been a privilege to serve with so many talented individuals across the industry in pursuit of the AIMS mission. While I will miss being part of this important work, I’m confident that AIMS will continue to make important progress in the months and years ahead. Chuck will be immensely valuable in guiding this ongoing work, and AIMS is fortunate to be welcoming him as a new board member.”
Chuck Meyer, the newest member to the AIMS board of directors, is a Technology Fellow at Grass Valley. A rich career developing advanced products offering visionary performance for the worldwide consumer, semiconductor, and media markets. The most recent efforts have been focused on developing a cloud technology platform offering real-time performance yet incorporating, and accommodating, the statistical nature of cloud computing and transport.
Samuel Recine recently stepped into the role of Pro AV Working Group chair at AIMS, a position previously held by David Chiappini, who was a colleague of Recine’s at Matrox. Recine joined Matrox in 1997 amid the rise of PC-based standards and surging PC sales. Recine has held commercial and product management roles at Matrox and is currently focused on contributing to the growth of performance media over IP markets.
The effort to transport digital audio and video in the broadcast and Pro AV industries is intersecting with the major vendor standards in AV. This provides an opportunity for those who support the standards of the SMPTE.
The recent IP Oktoberfest 2021, the second such named (and totally free) gathering held Sept. 29-October 1st, is a live, interactive, virtual event for broadcast professionals that has thrived online. It was the second such meeting online this year jointly held by AIMS, in partnership with the VSF and AMWA.
In the run-up to the latest IP Oktoberfest event, due to take place online from 28-30 September 2021, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has issued a detailed primer about a new set of proposed AV-over-IP standards and specifications, collectively known as IPMX (IP Media Experience).
Across industries and around the world, standardization has been essential to the success and advance of major market sectors. From the early automotive and film industries to the personal computer, the internet, and countless other examples in modern times, standards have enabled the degree of conformity necessary to ensure consistency and interoperability.