Hi!
Here's a feature request regarding the use of Digital Audio (AES67) over IP into vMix using Ravenna, an open standard for realtime audio over IP
https://www.ravenna-network.com/RAVENNA is an open technology. Developed by ALC NetworX in Germany, all the information about implementing RAVENNA is freely available in the public domain.
This standard has already a lot of broadcast and audio partners (manufacturers of hardware solutions, software developers, etc) and was chosen for SMPTE ST2110
AES67 was ratified by the Audio Engineering Society in 2013.
It is not an audio networking solution on its own, but a series of interoperability guidelines that, if followed, mean that different audio networking protocols can communicate with each other.
This interoperability extends to SMPTE ST2110*. It has been agreed that the audio element of the standard is fully based on the AES67 standard.
So, the question for video equipment manufacturers is: "How do I implement AES67 into my products?". Ravenna is a free and open solution for this.
That's why I think it would be great for vMix to support this standard...
Thus Ravenna is compatible with Dante (RAV2SAP) and other audio over IP protocols and provides free software solutions like a Virtual Soundcard... vMix could benefit all this new ecosystem and production workflows over IP. Along with NDI for the video part...
To support this request with specific use cases, I must say that at certain levels of production it's no longer possible to use analog audio. I'm involved in projects (artistic productions) where sound engineers refuse to use analog in order to maintain very high quality audio (no more AD/DA conversions). It'd be much easier if vMix could use Bonjour (as it does for NDI) for AES67 audio sources discovery on the network and use them directly for production.
It would be very interesting too if vMix could originate AES67 feeds too (from inputs and buses), to a venue sound control room or PA for example or external recorders (there's a lot of FR for this if I remember it well).
Ravenna's website is full of information about who uses it, why, how... I believe it's an obvious standard for audio over IP that vMix should support and be part of. An opportunity to bring vMix to the next level and be the first live production software to integrate AES67 natively. Another step towards excellence...
If you don't know Ravenna, I invite you to visit their website and watch their videos... If you don't really understand what's it's meant for and why it's important, just think that it's sort of the audio equivalent of NDI and imagine what it would be if we could transport the highest quality of audio as easily as NDI feeds over the network for all aspects of production and diffusion.
Guillaume
PS : Ravenna is the italian city where Dante died ! ;o)