BOTHELL, Wash.—A decade after its formation as an advocacy for media interoperability over IP, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is now rolling out a fully baked version of its IPMX protocol for AV over IP.

In what it terms as a “major milestone for Pro AV-over-IP at ISE 2026,” AIMS announced the official launch of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) as a fully developed, certifiable standard. Taking place Feb. 3–6 at the Fira de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, ISE 2026 will be the first major industry event to showcase formally certified IPMX products.

In booth 5K880, AIMS will highlight the first wave of IPMX-compliant products, which successfully completed formal certification during the recent IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

“ISE 2026 marks a defining moment for IPMX, AIMS, and the Pro AV industry,” said Andrew Starks, board of directors member and marketing working group chair for AIMS. “After years of collaborative development and real-world testing, IPMX is launching at ISE as a certifiable and deployable technology, with products that have formally demonstrated interoperability and compliance. As certified products begin to enter the market, we’re excited about the year ahead as IPMX drives the evolution of AV-over-IP from proprietary implementations toward a truly open, innovative, and future-proof ecosystem.”

To complement the certified products on display at ISE 2026, AIMS will present a live IPMX demo in its booth, focusing on real-world IPMX deployments and practical implementation. The demonstration will highlight the ease of deploying and operating IPMX-based systems, showing how the standard is ready for use in Pro AV environments today. Attendees will also be able to get a preview of the latest IPMX training initiatives that are in development for 2026 and beyond.

IPMX will also be featured in several partner kiosks within the AIMS booth. In these kiosks, member companies Packet Storm, Providius, Evertz, MegaPixel, and Meinberg will demonstrate IPMX-based systems across a wide range of real-world scenarios, including interoperability with SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, JPEG XS, Dante, and more.

ISE 2026 will also serve as a milestone for AIMS itself, as the organization marks 10 years of innovation, partnerships, and building an open future for media-over-IP. To commemorate both the anniversary and the official launch of IPMX, AIMS will host a cocktail reception at its booth on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 4:30 p.m., open to all ISE attendees to celebrate with the broader Pro AV community.

Created by AIMS in collaboration with VSF and AMWA, IPMX implements a standards-based approach based on SMPTE ST 2110, with features and capabilities that target the specific needs of the broadcast and Pro AV industries. In addition to simplifying the implementation of SMPTE ST 2110 and ensuring interoperability for AV-over-IP systems, IPMX incorporates core features tailored to Pro AV installations.

These features include asynchronous audio and video support suitable for both live production and Pro AV presentations, 4K60 transmission over a single gigabit network, and HDCP for content security. IPMX also includes a control layer provided by AMWA’s NMOS specifications, which enhances device interoperability and eases the dependency on a myriad of proprietary control system protocols.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Audinate Group Limited, developer of the Dante AV-over-IP solution, has announced the addition of Dante Media Encryption to the security features and benefits of the Dante platform. Dante Media Encryption protects the content of media flows using strong AES-256 encryption, safeguarding media from interception or unauthorized access.

Dante product updates for Dante Media Encryption will be available for original equipment manufacturers to integrate with their products in the second half of this year, the company said. 

Dante is a complete, AV-over-IP platform that is interoperable across more than 4,000 products from over 600 manufacturers, integrating audio, video, control, and management features. This interoperability, combined with the ability to access and route AV signals anywhere in the world, makes Dante uniquely qualified to add end-to-end encryption between connected products, the company said. 

Dante offers device, network, and media-level protections for Pro AV manufacturers to integrate into their products and system solutions. The accelerating convergence of AV equipment and IT network technologies has increased the need for integrators and manufacturers to provide network protection for system users with security-conscious designs and adherence to emerging IoT (Internet-of-Things) network regulations, the company said. 

Audinate also stressed that Dante systems and endpoints implement a multilayer security architecture that provides unmatched threat and vulnerability protection to the network and connected devices. The multilayer security architecture provides a solid foundation for manufacturers and systems integrators to follow best practices when configuring Dante and their products to meet new regulations. 

The addition of Dante Media Encryption enables Pro AV equipment manufacturers to upgrade qualified Dante firmware and software in new or existing designs to support AES-256 encryption security policies on managed Dante networks, the company reported. 

“Dante Media Encryption is the only fully interoperable and manufacturer-agnostic solution for AV installations, providing a powerful tool to customers that must adhere to strict security and privacy mandates,” says Mark Gerrard, group product manager, Audinate. “The introduction of Dante Media Encryption demonstrates Audinate’s ongoing industry leadership in the Pro AV industry.”

Dante Media Encryption capabilities are fully compatible between updated devices in managed Dante networks. Managed networks are fundamental to a secure AV-over-IP system, with Dante Director and Dante Domain Manager (DDM) providing secure access controls, network segmentation, policy management, and event logging as essential protections to an installation. Dante Media Encryption policy is configurable by the AV network administrator through an intuitive user interface on the Dante Director management platform. Dante Director also provides strong key management, including key rotation, for enrolled devices, the company said. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that it will be highlighting the global broadcast and Pro AV market's increasing adoption of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) at ISE 2024, taking place Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 in Barcelona.

IPMX is a set of open standards-based protocols designed to ensure interoperability for AV-over-IP systems. At the show, visitors to booth 5E550 will see IPMX-based hardware and software working together seamlessly in live demonstrations, while presentations held in the AIMS-IPMX Theater will focus specifically on the standard's development and adoption.

"Historically, the broadcast and Pro AV industries have operated independently, with Pro AV lacking the uniform standards prevalent in the broadcast industry. In addition, the need to enable a convergence between live production and presentation systems within the two industries has become increasingly apparent. IPMX was created to address both of these issues and has made great strides over the last year," said Andrew Starks, board of directors member and marketing working group chair for AIMS. "The standard is set to really take off in 2024, and we're excited to get things started at ISE by showing off some of its capabilities at our booth, while providing opportunities to learn more from experts at the AIMS-IPMX Theater. It's going to be a landmark event and we can't wait to see you there."

Created by AIMS in collaboration with VSF and AMWA, IPMX implements a standards-based approach based on SMPTE ST 2110, with features and capabilities that target the specific needs of the broadcast and Pro AV industries. In addition to simplifying the implementation of SMPTE ST 2110 and ensuring interoperability for AV-over-IP systems, IPMX incorporates core features tailored to Pro AV installations. These features include asynchronous audio and video support suitable for both live production and Pro AV presentations, 4K60 transmission over a single gigabit network, and HDCP for content security. IPMX also includes a control layer, provided by AMWA's NMOS specifications, which enhances device interoperability and eases the dependency on a myriad of proprietary control system protocols, AIMS said. 

Throughout ISE 2024, AIMS will be providing demonstrations of IPMX in a multivendor digital signage system; digital signage application featuring HDCP content — utilizing IPMX's HKEP protocol; interoperable HDR application; and an NDI/IPMX gateway. Concurrently at the AIMS-IPMX Theater, end users, industry associations, solutions providers, and technology developers will be sharing their knowledge and perspectives on how the adoption of IP technology and IPMX is transforming all types of media organizations, today and in the future. Presentations will include "Exploring the Foundations and Future of IPMX," "Demystifying CODEC options in AV-over-IP," "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About JPEG XS," and many more.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) said it will showcase the new Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) set of open standards and specifications and how they are apropos for addressing the Pro AV Industry’s need for common, standards-based protocols to ensure interoperability for AV over IP during InfoComm 2020 Connected, June 16-18.

"IPMX is the first and only open-standards approach to AV over IP, and this alone makes our virtual booth at InfoComm 2020 Connected worth a visit," said David Chiappini, working group chair of the AIMS Pro AV Work Group.

"As the Pro AV world increasingly moves toward IP, IPMX provides a flexible, future-proof framework that ensures the interoperability and long-term utility of Pro AV systems. We encourage attendees to stop by to chat live with our experts, learn about the benefits of IPMX and consider joining AIMS and helping to shape the future of AV over IP."

IPMX enables transport and control of compressed and uncompressed video, audio and data over IP networks. Features of special importance to Pro AV installations include support for protected content via HDCP, simplified timing requirements and support for Pro AV signaling like EDID and DisplayID.

InfoComm 2020 Connected is a virtual event that will feature audio-visual product information, training, keynotes and networking opportunities. Registration is available online.

More information is available on the AIMS website.  

In many areas of professional and broadcast AV, we speak of things such as protocols and standards as if they are used in isolation. They are, of course, not used that way at all. Every protocol requires an implementation and some means for the end-user to operate and use it. Every standard requires multiple devices interact in an agreed fashion for the standard to have any meaning.  

Wi-Fi is a good example of a set of protocols and standards that are in wide use with many different manufacturers. If protocols and standards were all that mattered, then all Wi-Fi access points and end-points would be equal in value and performance—but that is not the case. The market supports products that range from very inexpensive to very costly. Solutions are designed with different users and price points in mind. The expectations and use cases for an enterprise-level Wi-Fi router are not the same as the $29 version one may purchase online, and yet they are each based upon the same protocols and standards.

Likewise, an AV-over-IP (AVoP) system is not merely a collection of equivalent methods, but a toolset that makes it easier or harder for users at different levels to achieve their goals. What really matters is how that toolset works for the real-world requirements of studios and installations.

AV OVER IP

AVoP is the use of computer-style networking to connect and transmit media between audio and video devices. In AVoP, all media traffic is simply another form of data, and the same network equipment that is used to form business computer networks is used here.

In broadcast, AVoP eliminates all point-to-point connections between devices and allows any device on the network to communicate with any other device. This allows nearly infinite configurations to be chosen using only software, with no change to physical cabling at all. Costs of installation and maintenance are greatly reduced and signal quality exceeds all analog competitors. By keeping all traffic in the digital domain, noise and signal degradation of legacy systems is eliminated.

Broadcast, along with most other areas of professional AV, is migrating to AVoP to take advantage of greater flexibility, ease expansion and higher quality of signal.

THE TRANSPORT LAYER 

Most of the talk around standards today concerns only the transport layer of AVoP solutions. This is where we see the use of fundamental technologies such as the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) standard, which provides a reliable means to synchronize devices on a LAN. These come with some variations around Quality of Service (QoS) implementations, such as specialized switches for AVB systems. We also see distinctions around the way in which audio packets are sent, commonly RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and how they are defined for the network (TCP or UDP).

While there are many variations of standards in use, there is good news: they all work splendidly. One doesn’t hear anecdotes about audible differences in transport technologies because there aren’t any. The differences only manifest in externalities, such as special switch requirements for AVB. 

While there may be differences under theoretical high-stress conditions, there is no evidence these conditions ever occur in real installations with real equipment, and good system design can ensure that such conditions never appear.

THE CONTROL LAYER

The most important area of any AVoP solution is the control layer—the face of the solution for users, managers and operators. How does one tell the system what to do? How does one know that it is configured correctly? How are new devices brought onboard and how are older devices taken off the network? How are roles assigned and clocking set up? And critically: how are signal paths defined?

Unlike the transport layer, there are virtually no standards in use for control of network devices, and so all control schemes are proprietary. This is no barrier to interoperability—which is mainly concerned with transport layer functionality—but it does mean decisions around the control layer are critical when broadcasters are planning AVoP deployment. 

It is no surprise that this is an area where the differences between solutions are stark.

Depending upon the goals of the solution provider, control may be restricted to only products from a given vendor. This is a common approach that can work very well in homogeneous environments, but is considerably less friendly when accommodating third-party devices and control schemes. A broadcaster or other user may have to resort to using a low-level interoperability standard to make connections, forgoing more advanced features in order to achieve this integration.

Other control layer schemes are more flexible. When an AVoP solution vendor distributes their product among multiple manufacturers, you see a single, complete control layer toolset developed to work with all products from all manufacturers. This approach provides cross-brand consistency for signal transport, while allowing manufacturers to differentiate product in other areas. If deployment plans for your studio or broadcast facility include products from multiple makers, it is wise to consider using a cross-vendor AVoP solution in order to have a consistent toolset for control and, we shall see, security.

THE SECURITY LAYER

In 2020, few people need to be told that secure computing environments are essential to maintaining system integrity. With audio and video now migrating to computer networks, the same ideas and metrics now apply to modern AV in studios, corporate installations and broadcast facilities alike.

Prior to networking, security in AV largely meant placing a sign on a device that says, “Do not touch, or else.” But in today’s environment, the question must be asked: what does a security layer for AVoP look like?

In “regular” computer networks, security is usually handled by a central server that can control access to any part of the network. In AVoP, such a server is referred to as a “domain manager.”

The first element of security is user authentication. A domain manager enforces such a rule, ensuring no control can be taken at all without user login. Once logged in, users have whatever permissions are granted to them specifically by the administrator of the domain manager.

Another key element is segregation of devices into useful domains. These are akin to zones in legacy AV, and correlate to different physical areas in which AV devices are grouped. For example, a domain for a small interview studio might contain only the mixer, microphones and monitor speakers that are in that room. Users may then be assigned to that domain and be given permission to work with those devices without the risk that they can alter anything else on the network. Domains provide useful organization for more efficient workflows, as well,

A domain manager enforces rules and records actions taken, allowing for audits and reviews of user actions and device behaviors. This is useful when tracking problem sources and educating users on the proper use of the system. 

Finally, a domain manager “sees” the entire audio network at once and can instantly report on any deviations from expected behavior. Alerts can be triggered for missing devices, clock issues and changes to channel routing as desired, delivered via dashboard, email or SNMP.

CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF THE MANAGED STACK AND MANAGED WORKFLOW

Combining these core elements—transport, control and security—into a stack that considers not just the underlying protocol, but also the administrative layers necessary to create a solution, is the future of managed AVoP infrastructure. This is particularly true for broadcasters.

The ability for broadcast organizations to gain observability and administration over the content on their networks—the AV feeds critical to their product—means an increased ability to manage quality. It not only ensures the production of such feeds is effectively and efficiently managed, but it also protects against outside actors. And, more than likely, it guards against innocent mistakes that are not uncommon in production workflows.

The result is a more effective, efficient and reliable workflow. A production that allows for peace of mind while also improving quality and swiftness in content creation. And that is a solution that not only improves AVoP, but also protects and strengthens a brand.

Brad Price is senior product manager at Audinate.

Black Box will mark the European introduction of its new MCX AV-over-IP system and feature products across its Emerald Unified KVM (keyboard, mouse and video) portfolio, including a new remote app, at IBC 2019, Sept. 13-17, at the RAI in Amsterdam.

The Remote App for the Emerald Unified KVM platform enables authorized users to remotely access sources, including PCs, servers and virtual machines, at the same time across an Emerald KBM network. The app, which supports full-HD up to 45fps, is well-suited for tasks like remote process and application monitoring.

Used with the Black Box Boxilla network manager, the Remote App provides a list of connections and makes access quick and easy. Because the Remote App is not tethered to a fixed position, users can access the Emerald KVM network from anywhere.

The company will also feature its Emerald ZeroU DVI transmitter for its Emerald Unified KVM platform. Compact in size, the ZeroU transmitter works with the Emerald SD receiver, offering users a seamless desktop experience anywhere on a TCP/IP network with hardware housed in a secure corporate data center or in the cloud.

Requiring less than 40Mb/s of bandwidth for 1080p video, the transmitter enables high-performance connectivity for a variety of applications.

The company also will demonstrate the need for convenient, intuitive real-time access to multiple computers from multiple locations at its IBC stand.

See Black Box at IBC 2019 Stand 8.B59.

More information is available on the Black Box website.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions is taking an educational role at InfoComm 2019, announcing that it will have representatives from member companies giving presentations on adopting open standards for AV over IP. The presentations will take place over three days at the AIMS Theatre at booth 375.

AIM will host the educational presentations from 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday of the conference and from 10-11:30 a.m. on Friday. The scheduled presentations, which will be repeated throughout the three days, are:

• “Who is AIMS and What is SMPTE ST 2110?” from Andre Testa, director of ASIC/FPGA Engineering at Matrox;
• “NMOS: The Open AV Over IP API” from Andrew Starks, director of product management, Macnica;
• “How Open Standards Like AES67 and ST 2110 Drive Innovation” by Bill Rounopoulos, business development manager, OEM & Partnerships, Ross Video;
• “ST 2110 and Intercomm” from Martin Dyster, vice president of business development-TV for The Telos Alliance

In addition, AIMS members are also slated to participate in the session “Audio and Video Streaming Using Established IP Standards” that will be held on Tuesday, 1-3 p.m., during the show. AIMS members participating in the session, and their topics of focus, are:

• “The Origins of Audio Over IP and the Need for Standards” from Richard Zwiebel, vice president, systems strategy, QSC;
• “There’s Nothing to Be Afraid of With SMPTE ST 2110” by Andrew Starks;
• “The Open Standards-Based Methodfor AV Over IP,” Scott Barella, chief technology officer at Pesa and deputy chairman of AIMS ProAV Working Group;
• “Next-Gen IP for Networked Media—Collision or Convergence?” from Karl Paulsen, CTO, Diversified

InfoComm 2019 takes place from June 8-14 in Orlando, Fla.