Networking; Motu's Avb Implementation; Networking Examples - MOTU 8M User Manual

AVB is already shipping on current Macs —
■
Apple has already implemented initial support for
AVB on all current shipping Macs. MOTU is
working closely with Apple to realize the full
potential of AVB Ethernet class-compliant
connectivity and scalable networking for all
current-generation Macs.

MOTU'S AVB IMPLEMENTATION

MOTU engineering has faithfully implemented the
IEEE 802.1 AVB standard for the MOTU AVB
products. This means that MOTU devices are fully
interoperable with any 3rd party AVB-compatible
device. In addition, MOTU has fine-tuned AVB
operation among MOTU AVB devices for
optimum performance, within the AVB specifi-
cation. Here is a brief summary of advantages you
will enjoy when using MOTU AVB devices
together in a network:
256 channels of host I/O — Over Thunderbolt,
■
each MOTU AVB interface support 256
simultaneous channels of audio I/O (128 in, 128
out) to and from the entire network.
Support for multiple computer hosts — All
■
computers and all network devices run in sync
with each other, resolved to the network's master
clock.
Gigabit Ethernet — MOTU interfaces and the
■
MOTU AVB Switch deliver 1 Gbit Ethernet
performance, which provides substantially higher
bandwidth and lower latency than 10/100 Mbit
Ethernet.
Over 500 channels of network audio — MOTU's
■
AVB network can stream over 500 channels of
audio throughout the network. Each MOTU AVB
device can broadcast sixteen 8-channel network
streams and simultaneously listen to sixteen
8-channel network streams.
76
Exceptionally low network latency — Standard
■
AVB network latency is 2 ms. MOTU AVB network
latency is an astonishing 0.6 ms, even over seven
"hops" (switches) and hundreds of meters of cable.
By comparison, other commercially available,
proprietary audio network protocols have variable
(unpredictable) network latency in the range of
2-5 ms.
Star configuration — MOTU AVB supports a
■
star network configuration, which is much more
flexible than daisy-chain scenarios, which depends
on all devices in the chain.
Web interface — MOTU AVB devices can be
■
controlled from the MOTU AVB Control Web App,
which runs within any web browser on any
networked laptop, tablet, or smart phone.
Although the web app shares the network with
AVB, AVB audio streams are never compromised
because AVB streams over the network traffic.
Bridging to standard Ethernet — the MOTU
■
AVB Switch provides an extra standard Ethernet
port for bridging to your local Ethernet network,
Wi-Fi, etc. for command and control, internet
access, and other standard network traffic. All
ports allow connection to standard (non-AVB)
network devices, however, the "Ethernet" port is
suggested because it does not support AVB.

NETWORKING EXAMPLES

Networking comes into play as soon as you hook
up a second MOTU interface to your first one, as
explained in "Setup for two interfaces" on page 36,
to add more I/O to your studio. Here are just a few
examples of what is possible.
Personal studio expansion
Let's say you have a 1248 mounted in a rack next to
your computer. You could add an 8M interface and
position it across the room, near your drum kit, for
placing up to 8 mics on the drums. All the mic
cabling is kept near the drums, and you have one
simple, clean network cable running back to your
N E T W O R K I N G