NEXUS – XFIP – The concept:

XFIP is the most effective solution for connecting a single base device or the entire NEXUS system to an AoIP network. The open standard for audio-over IP transmissions is AES67. Common formats like Dante, Ravenna, Livewire and Q-Lan find a common denominator and become interoperable.

Not only synchronization and network transport, but also clock identification and transmission setup are standardized in this norm. In order to ensure maximum compliance with future standards, subsequent extensions and various AoIP protocols such as AES67 and Ravenna, STAGETEC uses DirectOut's AES67.IO modules to communicate with the IP world. The configuration via a web interface is particularly user-friendly.

Status monitoring is performed via the NEXUS operating program. A single XFIP card can convert a total of up to 256 incoming channels or output channels. With 32 input and 32 output streams each, all 256 audio channels of a base device can be converted. These can come from any source in the entire NEXUS network and can also be processed, mixed and output in any conceivable format within the system.

Equipped with complete redundancy according to the SMPTE 2022-7 standard (Seamless Protection Switching), the XFIP is up to the special requirements of real-time audio. For this purpose, a stream can be effortlessly sent and received on two physically separated networks via the two integrated RJ45 ports. Additional redundancy can be realized by logic programming with alternative streams. In addition, all information about the status of the active connections is available for transfer to external control software, i.e. fully automatic monitoring of the AoIP streams can be performed using the NEXUS system.

As is typical for NEXUS boards, precise synchronization in both networks is of course ensured. When the NEXUS system is configured as the PTPv2 master for the connected AoIP networks, the high-precision internal clock is used. Alternatively, the clock of the PTP grandmaster can be used as the synchronous source for the NEXUS system.