Merging Technologies At NAB 2018

Audio over IP is the major focus on and off the booth

Puidoux, Switzerland, March 2018: NAB 2018 will continue to feature the importance of IP technology as was the case at IBC and NAB 2017. Merging Technologies was one of the early adopters, incorporating AoIP into its hardware products in 2012. The choice of RAVENNA as the most flexible and broadcast-friendly of the protocols on offer, proved to be a wise choice as AES67 compliance was a simple task once the standard had been agreed. Merging was a keen supporter of the MNA during its period of relevance and has now migrated to the support of AIMS which supported AES67 and ST2110 from the beginning.

Merging has participated in all the recent IP Showcase events at NAB and IBC and there will be a similar presence at this year’s demonstration on Booth C12634 showcasing ST2110-30 compatibility. The company’s Hapi Networked Audio Interface is a familiar sign in the rack and is also to be seen as part of other manufacturers’ installations. Console manufacturers, Calrec and Solid State Logic have found Hapi to be an ideal device to test compatibility or to provide a PTP master to an installation. Henry Goodman, Calrec’s Director of Product Management commented; "At Calrec we have a number of very active developments involving IP audio transport and control, which includes audio connectivity for AES67 end points both from other manufacturers as well as Calrec. We have for some time used the Merging Technologies Hapi units as a bench mark AoIP end point and we have found the Merging AoIP implementation both reliable and easy to set up and establish streams. Interoperability is a key aspect of our AoIP strategy so working with like-minded companies like Merging is essential for our development teams but also for demonstrations including those at key IP Showcases both at IBC and NAB."

Merging’s own stand, C3037, will host its own interoperability demo, showcasing hardware from Luminex, Ward Beck Systems and Genelec all working seamlessly on an AES67 network and all monitored by ANEMAN Enterprise. This new addition to the ANEMAN program is designed for high availability and large audio networking systems’ monitoring and configuration. NAB will be the first North American showing of ANEMAN Enterprise which uses the same connection and network management technology developed for the free, award winning, ANEMAN free to use software.

In addition to ANEMAN, the latest versions of Pyramix and the highly popular Ovation Audio and Event Server will be on show connected to Horus and Hapi. Ovation has found favour with a number of North America’s leading broadcasters and outside broadcast facilities.

Immersive audio is never far from the headlines at the moment and Merging continues to lead the way on providing a number of different workflows to suit a variety of applications. The most interesting and relevant will be demonstrated on the Fraunhofer booth, SU4916. Pyramix will be on show, highlighting the MPEG-H and ADM capabilities that have been jointly developed by the two companies.



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ANEMAN Audio Network Manager




ANEMAN Audio Network Manager




ANEMAN Audio Network Manager


Merging Technologies SA is a Swiss manufacturer with over 25 years of experience in developing groundbreaking, professional Audio and Video products for a wide range of entertainment and media industries. With a dedicated user base in the elite end of the music, film, television, mastering and performances industries, Merging is committed to developing product ranges with unrivalled quality and flexibility, no matter what the application. Merging builds tools for people who want more from their systems, have an inherent need to push boundaries, and believe that quality always comes first.

RAVENNA is a solution for real-time distribution of audio and other media content in IP-based network environments. Utilizing standardized network protocols and technologies, RAVENNA can operate on existing network infrastructures. RAVENNA is designed to meet the strict requirements of the pro audio market featuring low latency, full signal transparency and high reliability and is fully AES67 compatible. With a capacity of nearly 8 x MADI streams over a single Gigabit Ethernet link, it is also the first and only Layer-3 based IP audio protocol with full support for high-channel count DXD and DSD signals.

While primarily targeting the professional broadcast market, RAVENNA is also suitable for deployment in other pro audio market segments like live sound, install market and recording. Possible fields of application include (but are not limited to) in-house signal distribution in broadcasting houses, theatres, concert halls and other fixed installations, flexible setups at venues and live events, OB van support, inter-facility links across WAN connections and in production & recording applications ravenna.alcnetworx.com