Imagine a world where every note, every voice, and every beat flows effortlessly across a single cable—no more heavy snakes, no more signal loss, just pure, pristine audio delivered with precision. This isn’t a dream; it’s the reality of Audio-over-IP (AoIP). Over the past two decades, AoIP has transformed the way we design, deploy, and experience sound in live events, broadcast, and installations. From the analog era to today’s IP-driven workflows, the journey is nothing short of revolutionary.
Analog vs. Digital – The Early Days
For decades, professional audio relied on analog multicore cables: each microphone or instrument had its own copper line to the mixing console. This meant heavy cable snakes and inevitable signal loss over long distances. In the late ’90s, digital snakes emerged—MADI (1989) could transmit 56 channels over a single coax or fiber link, and CobraNet (1996) pioneered the use of standard Ethernet.
CobraNet was groundbreaking: it carried 64 channels of 48 kHz/20-bit audio over 100 Mbps Ethernet with fixed latencies of ~1.33 to 5.33 ms. Suddenly, an entire orchestra could travel over one cable instead of 64 individual lines—a revolution at the time. Despite limitations (Layer 2 only, special interface cards, and slightly higher latency), CobraNet became a staple in large installations like theme parks and stadiums. By 2010, newer technologies overtook it, but CobraNet deserves credit for putting Audio-over-IP (AoIP) on the map.
Dante – The Game Changer
The real breakthrough came with Dante, developed by Audinate and launched commercially around 2006–2007. Dante solved key challenges:
- IP-based and routable: Audio can travel across buildings or even WANs.
- Plug-and-play: Devices auto-discover; routing is managed via Dante Controller with a click.
- Ultra-low latency: Configurable from ~150 μs to a few ms, perfect for live monitoring.
Technically, Dante uses a mix of protocols (PTPv1 for clock sync, UDP for streams) on top of IP. Adoption skyrocketed as major manufacturers licensed it. Today, 600+ brands offer 4,000+ Dante-certified products—from consoles to microphones. Analog snakes are nearly obsolete in tours and theaters; shows like Hamilton on Broadway run fully redundant Dante networks for 100+ channels. Redundancy, integration with recording/broadcast, and seamless failover make Dante the industry standard.
Alternatives and Interoperability – AVB & AES67
Other AoIP approaches include:
- AVB (Audio Video Bridging): IEEE standards finalized in 2011, offering deterministic latency (<2 ms) and bandwidth reservation. Adoption was slow due to AVB-specific switches, but Milan (2018) added certification and interoperability for pro audio.
- AES67 (2013): A bridging standard enabling different AoIP systems to share audio. Dante supports AES67 since 2018, and it’s integral to broadcast standards like ST 2110-30.
These standards ensure that while Dante dominates, interoperability across platforms is possible.
Real-World Impact – Tours and Stadiums
AoIP is now standard in touring rigs and major events. Bands like Coldplay and Rammstein use Dante networks for consoles, stage racks, and amplifiers—making setup fast and flexible. At the Olympics, AoIP powers PA systems, wireless mics, and broadcast feeds over shared Dante/AES67 networks. For example, Tokyo 2020 used AoIP to route commentary and ambient sound from every venue to the International Broadcast Centre via fiber—tasks that once required dozens of analog or MADI lines.
In theaters, designers exploit AoIP’s flexibility: dynamic mic assignments during live shows are now possible with software-based patching. AoIP has transformed audio distribution as radically as DMX did for lighting—removing physical constraints and adding creative possibilities.
Key Takeaways
Audio-over-IP isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift. It reduces weight and complexity, enables flexible routing, and integrates seamlessly with recording and broadcast workflows. From CobraNet’s pioneering days to Dante’s dominance and AES67’s interoperability, AoIP has redefined professional audio for the modern era.
Ready to Power Your AoIP Network?
Behind every great AoIP system is a reliable network backbone. NETGEAR AV switches are purpose-built for Pro AV environments, offering easy configuration, robust performance, and seamless integration with Dante, AVB, and AES67 workflows. Whether you’re designing a theater, a stadium, or a broadcast facility, NETGEAR ensures your audio network is as flawless as your sound.
In the next blog post, I’ll tell you the history of video over IP, so stay tuned!
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Eric Lindeman, NETGEAR ProAV Staff Systems Engineer Benelux
For more information about NETGEAR AV Switching, please contact the NETGEAR Pro AV Design Team via email: ProAVdesign@netgear.com
If you’d like to delve deeper into AV over IP switching, I invite you to check out our Online Academy via the link: https://academy.netgear.com/
On our training portal, you can find both AV and IT-related training courses. These courses are free to attend after registration, and at the end of each course, you can take an exam to earn a certificate.
