Simplifying IP Networking in Broadcasting
In an effort to ease the complexities of IP networking in broadcasting, Calrec has introduced Connect, an application designed to simplify setting up and managing network connections between devices.
According to Pete Walker, Product Manager at Calrec, 'Out of the box, when you buy one of our new native AoIP products – our new radio system Type R being a prime example – it has a Connect server running on its processing core.' This means that any PC or tablet that can connect to the AoIP network can access the Connect server via a web-browser.
Connect identifies media streams and devices on a network regardless of their registration/discovery protocol, presenting an operator with all devices on a network. The app displays this complex information in a visual, familiar, and user-friendly way that allows them to be easily interconnected and eliminates the requirement for detailed networking knowledge.
The application provides elegant access to in-depth configuration but extracts the necessary information in a simplistic way to provide fast workflows for day-to-day management by production staff. Users can search by stream, device or group name and maintain their own favorites list. Stream connections across the network are visualized, and can quickly and easily be changed, saved, and recalled en-masse.
Streamlining Network Management
Connect also allows for configuration of streams across devices and provides network diagnostics such as bandwidth utilization and dropped packets, along with warnings. It even enables the creation of GPIO-style logic connections between devices and provides control for things like mic pre-amp gain and power.
In a statement, Walker continued, 'In 2004, Calrec's Hydra system launched a networking solution with intelligent control systems that transparently managed complex routing networks. Hydra2 introduced greater management capabilities and Connect does the same for the IP landscape.' It provides a simple-yet-powerful tool for managing IP-based connectivity, providing familiar broadcast workflows across a wide range of devices, agnostic of manufacturer and specific protocol support.