Although they overlap considerably, it's possible to argue there are three distinct chapters in the evolution of audio recording and post-production. First there was the exclusively analogue chapter that began with the invention of sound recording and tape-based linear editing. Next, with the development and arrival of digital recording and editing in the 1980s, the serially connected digital chapter began and non-linear editing became possible. Multiple workstations with independent users could be interconnected using distributed clock signals and multi-channel digital audio protocols. And then, as a result of the 1980s development of the TCP/IP communications protocol on which the internet is built, the network connected audio-over-IP (AoIP) chapter began in the early 2000s.
Today, AoIP technologies are fully established in the 'wild'. Countless studios, theatres, permanent or temporary music venues and commercial premises employ AoIP systems to great effect. Many sound stages are using AoIP to some extent; some are leaping ahead in terms of flexibility with full-scale networked audio systems. But despite this, AoIP has a long way to go to achieve market saturation in post-production. So this guide has been assembled to help inform pro audio professionals who want to learn more about Audio Over IP as it relates to their field. So if you've ever wondered if AoIP will suit your way of working (the answer is probably yes), or if it will make all your existing gear instantly redundant (it needn't), sign up for this guide because those are the kinds of questions we'll be aiming to answer.