Transforming Audio-Visual Networking for Modern Spaces
Technology is rapidly developing and with that comes great expectations for audio and visual (AV) experiences. For example, whenever there is a conference, most presenters use a PowerPoint to share their views or ideas. That uses AV. From small school’s assemblies to large corporate annual conferences, there is a need for projectors, lighting, sound and display boards. To have the AV working without any issues however, there is a need for a critical element to work, the network. That’s where RUCKUS Pro AV comes in. A purpose-built networking solution designed to meet the unique demands of professional AV environments.
Designed to support AV-over-IP, Pro AV uses standard networks instead of dedicated cables. Previously, AV would have usually been one cable per connection such as laptop to HDMI to screen. Whilst on a local level there is nothing wrong with this route, it does the task necessary without any issues but if you want to scale the AV or have a bit of flexibility in the setup, it’s very difficult and on larger scales it becomes messy and expensive.
The modern approach however, AV-over-IP is different. Instead of being one cable per device, it converts audio or video into data packets and sends them over a standard Ethernet network. What this means is, signals are converted IP packets and can be sent anywhere on the network. It can look a bit like laptop or AV source is fed into an encoder which then converts the signal into compressed and decompressed digital packets. Network switches then pass the packets through them and routers, from there decoders receive the packets and converts them back into outputs such as a HDMI for screens. As it is only transferring data, that means that it’s much easier to be flexible with a setup and scale up or down depending on the environment.
What makes RUCKUS Pro AV standout?
Firstly, there is no adaptation required, Pro AV is designed specifically for AV-over-IP. Some of the expectations of modern networks are simply too much for standard networks to handle. 4k/8k streaming, ultra-low latency audio, real-time synchronisation and multicast video distribution. These workloads are what is expected of Pro AV to handle and so have designed switches built specifically to optimise AV. The good thing as well with it being tailored for AV is the installers will not need deep networking expertise to deploy systems with complicated.
What has historically been complex AV networking, RUCKUS Pro AV simplifies by automating technical configurations like VLANs, Quality of Service, multicast management and traffic prioritisation. RUCKUS provide pre-configurated AV templates and smart AV profiles optimised for several platforms. The accessibility of a system that operates with a plug-in and go model enables significantly faster deployments, fewer configuration errors and lower costs for IT teams.
Live AV environments have no room for error, a concert cannot have audio dropouts or lag – it’s simply inexcusable and that’s why with RUCKUS who have a well-established background in enterprise network infrastructure, they can design and build products capable of operating on high uptime, stable throughput and high-density environments. So, in locations such as stadiums, hospitality and broadcast environments these things matter a lot.
Previously, AV teams and IT teams were separate operations and would handle their respective operations independently of each other but now, they overlap with RUCKUS.
- Standardised Ethernet infrastructure
- Centralised cloud management
- Enterprise security practices
- Familiar IT management models
This advancement on the technology means there is less friction between the teams and raises possibilities of shared responsibilities.
RUCKUS Pro AV switches are designed to suit normal AV RUCKUS racks. This includes rear-facing ports which are in a rack-friendly layout. For AV integrators because installs must look professional, this matters to them and not to just work technically.
The Future of AV Networking
As organisations continue to digitise their operations, AV systems will only become more integrated into daily workflows. Whether it’s supporting hybrid work, enhancing customer experiences, or delivering immersive content, the network must evolve to keep up.
RUCKUS Pro AV represents a proactive approach – one that acknowledges the unique requirements of AV traffic and delivers a purpose-built solution. The future of Pro AV is centred around AV-over-IP mainly as well as AI and cloud management. This is due to traditional ways to provide AV has been revolutionised from the dedicated cabling to the scalable Ethernet-based infrastructure and as time goes on the more it will transition to this. As the number of people working remotely has increased, particularly since the pandemic, the demand for flawless conferencing and flexible meeting spaces has accelerated to keep up with demand and so it’s key for systems to be able to handle that. With RUCKUS also having a cloud management operating system, the Pro AV switches can be accessed and managed remotely. This helps with centralised locations which run spread out environments such as campuses and retail locations.
Final Thoughts
Having successful AV is essential. As demand increases for perfect connectivity, the quality of the switches must be equal. That is why with RUCKUS Pro AV, businesses can move into the future without the previous limitations of the traditional AV configurations. As soon as AV-over-IP is rolled out across the majority of operations, the standard of quality AV is going to shoot up. That is why getting onboard with Pro AV now will put businesses ahead of possible competitors and enable AV professionals and IT teams a chance to deliver extraordinary experiences consistently and at scale.
Purdicom has an expert team of sales account managers who would be happy to sit down and discuss the potential of integrating RUCKUS products and services into your environment including Pro AV and RUCKUS One cloud management. If you would like to speak to someone about anything RUCKUS, get in touch sales@purdi.com or give us a call 01488 647 647..