The professional audio field is moving towards the IT era of networking. Standardized and open audio IP technologies represent a brand new direction for the future development of Audio over IP (AoIP). The two major standards of the International Audio Engineering Society (AES) regarding network audio applications—AES67 and AES70—lay the technical specifications for future networked audio applications. On February 24, at the opening of the Guangzhou Professional Lighting and Sound Exhibition, Suzhou Fuchuan Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Fuchuan Technology) showcased a next-generation network audio platform based on the AES67+AES70 standards (Booth No.: 3.2F21), which includes various embedded modules designed for different application scenarios and scales, as well as a complete solution for comprehensive applications in sound reinforcement, performing arts, and public broadcasting.
Core Platform
The AES67+AES70 core platform is an original development based on AES67-2018 (transport of network audio streams) and AES70-2018 (control of network audio), aimed at future AoIP foundational solutions. After nearly three years of effort, Fuchuan Technology has successfully completed a series of hardware modules and software platform developments, including:
FPGA Solution: A fully hardware-based real-time audio stream packaging and unpacking solution, featuring large capacity (256ch+256ch), high sampling (192KHz), low latency, and low jitter. It supports primary and backup redundancy, suitable for scenarios with high network audio performance requirements.
FPGA Core Board
DSP Solution: The first to use DSP as a network audio processor, achieving simultaneous network audio transmission and algorithm computation on a single chip, capable of managing related parameters through AES70, suitable for products like mixing consoles and audio processors.
DSP Core Board
MCU Solution: An industry-leading cost-effective AoIP solution, successfully applied to various MCU chips, with a deeply optimized RTOS operating system, providing 2-4 channel network audio stream transmission and reception, and expandable audio processing such as equalization, dynamics, and crossover, suitable for devices like speakers, amplifiers, and conversion interfaces.
MCU Core Board (shown with PoE)
Management Platform and Drivers: For all interface modules and solutions, a multi-level management software and development support is provided, including complete device management, audio stream management, connection management, algorithm parameter management, as well as remote configuration, monitoring, and control, all of which can be accomplished through the AES70 open control architecture.
Configuration Software Device Management Interface
Configuration Software Audio Processing Management Interface
The core platform’s support for AES67 is both native and complete, meeting the basic requirements of AES67-2018’s PICS (Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement), enabling good interoperability with different AoIP systems like Livewire+, Ravenna, and Dante at the AES67 level; the platform covers synchronization, transmission, discovery, routing, status detection, and primary-backup redundancy, making it a complete solution for AoIP core functions; the platform clock complies with IEEE 1588-2008, supporting sampling rates of 48KHz, 96KHz, and 192KHz (FPGA solution), with transmission bit depths of 16 / 24 / 32 bits, a minimum packet time of 1 / 8 milliseconds, and supporting a maximum channel count of 256ch+256ch, capable of transmitting audio streams via unicast or multicast, supporting IGMPv2 / v3, and supporting SDP and SIP; it can provide control and management of AoIP devices and network audio streams based on AES70-2018; results from the measurement and testing center of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television show that interoperability with AES67 and AES70 standard testing devices/software is normal, with synchronization, error rate, latency, and other key technical indicators exceeding relevant requirements.
Technical Features of the Core Platform
Application Solutions
In addition to the core platform, Fuchuan Technology also brought a series of mature solutions for practical applications at this exhibition, including:
(1) Amplifier/Active Speaker AoIP Access Solution
This solution provides a network audio interface based on AES67 for analog and digital audio amplifiers and active speakers. The core board has 2 I2S interfaces (4+4 channels) and 2 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (switch or primary-backup mode).
The solution can achieve simultaneous network audio transmission and signal processing within a single chip, with algorithms including crossover, equalization, dynamics, delay, volume, and source switching, offering high cost-effectiveness.
The solution provides 6 analog inputs to complete the acquisition of temperature, voltage, and current, and 4 GPIO ports for status collection and remote power on/off. Additionally, it provides a UART serial port to connect to user subsystems (such as amplifier panels).
All remote control can be completed through the AES70 open management architecture, and can merge transmission with AES67 audio streams, sharing the IP address without the need for a separate dedicated network interface.
3-Way Active Speaker AoIP Solution
(2) PoE Speaker/Microphone AoIP Solution
This is an extremely simple and efficient PoE network audio integrated solution, especially suitable for use in ceiling speakers, flat speakers, and other cost-sensitive scenarios, and can also be embedded in conference microphones to provide distributed AoIP access.
The core board has 1 I2S interface (2+2 channels) and 1 100M or Gigabit Ethernet interface, capable of adjusting parameters for Class D amplifiers or digital microphones via I2C, such as gain, EQ, etc., with control and management protocols using AES70. The PoE part complies with IEEE802.3af/at, providing both isolated and non-isolated solutions.
PoE Ceiling Speaker AoIP Solution
PoE Conference Microphone AoIP Solution
(3) Complete Network Audio Processor Solution
This solution provides various AoIP modules with interface densities ranging from 8 to 256 channels for audio devices requiring multi-channel AoIP access, such as network audio transmitters/processors, digital mixing consoles, audio matrices, etc.
This solution also provides a complete network audio processor solution, with configurations of 8-16 analog inputs and 8-16 analog outputs, optional digital audio and GPIO interfaces, 4 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, supporting primary-backup cascading, and built-in DSP, with algorithms including equalization, dynamics, crossover, as well as feedback suppression, ducking, automatic mixing, etc., offering free basic software for network management platform and supporting secondary development by users.
Complete Network Audio Processor Solution
Case Photos
About Suzhou Fuchuan Technology Co., Ltd.
Fuchuan Technology is a high-tech enterprise in China dedicated to digital audio research and development for 20 years, primarily focusing on broadcast television audio. Leveraging 20 years of technological accumulation and continuous investment, it has become one of the few global solution providers mastering core AoIP technologies and successfully building commercial systems. In the face of the current dominance of various proprietary AoIP systems, it adheres to a strategy of standardization and openness, strictly following international standards such as AES67 and AES70, resolutely avoiding technical dependence and risks to users caused by proprietary protocol solutions, and striving to build a more complete and compatible professional IP audio system.
Fuchuan Technology is a member of several international audio organizations, including the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS, responsible for promoting AES67), and the Open Control Architecture Alliance (OCA, responsible for promoting AES70). All software and hardware are original developments with key technologies and related patents. For various applications, it can provide a full range of services from core solutions to commissioned design and production. Fuchuan Technology is committed to promoting the application of IP technology in traditional audio fields and has achieved successful breakthroughs in AoIP virtualization and cloud applications. It has successfully established a series of large-scale AoIP application systems in China (the largest project has over 180 AoIP nodes) and is also one of the pioneers globally to apply both AES67 and AES70 to AoIP.
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