https://lnkd.in/gFiRDE_k A grasp of digital audio starts with understanding analog principles By Jason Eusebio Audio and radio technology continues to evolve at an astonishing rate, leaving technicians and engineers to adapt to new equipment and attempt to retrofit legacy equipment for modern applications. As audio transitions from physical cable runs to audio over IP, analog equipment moves toward obsolescence.
However, AoIP networks still require physical infrastructure and incorporate analog principles. I realized that as an aspiring broadcast engineer, I would need to develop a better understanding of how AoIP systems are built and deployed.
With help and equipment donated by Telos Alliance and the Salem Radio Network, along with the guidance of my academic advisor Dr. Andrew Gladding, chief engineer for WRHU Radio Hofstra University, I decided to design and build an AoIP system using legacy broadcast hardware as a way to expand my knowledge of the subject.
Two-month project
As a high school freshman, I fell in love with audio engineering when I saw my first audio rack. A 10-channel analog mixer, a graphic equalizer and two amps were all it took to make me want to dive in and start twisting knobs and pushing buttons.
Analog equipment first enticed me into the craft, and its widespread accessibility helped me quickly hone my skills. The lessons I learned from using analog equipment as a young engineer have served me well, and as I now look forward to my professional career, I wanted to be able to offer future students the same opportunity.
For this reason, I designed an independent study for my spring semester that would accomplish this goal. The task was to use legacy Telos Axia hardware, specifically generation one analog and microphone nodes, to create a wireless audio over IP network from scratch.
While this equipment may be somewhat outdated for many commercial applications, the fundamentals it reflects are still beneficial, and it acts as a great piece of intro hardware for future students. Additionally, I felt that having experience with the Telos Livewire infrastructure would be a major asset for my professional skill set.
Using six IP-configured Telos Axia blades, a QOR frame, Cisco switches and wireless 1-Gig wireless point-to-point system, this equipment laid the blueprint for a makeshift, over-the-air AoIP network that we intended to use for a pop-up outdoor concert on Hofstra University’s campus. The build process for the network began in late February 2024, and the concert date was in late April, so I had two months to build, design and troubleshoot this system in preparation for a live band multi-mix.....