Ligra DS | Signal distribution systems: when to adopt them

A/V signal distribution systems make it possible to distribute and transmit both audio and video signals within more or less large structures and for any installation requirement, from conference rooms to television studios, at various distances. The goal of an A/V facility is to provide users with the ability to see and/or hear their sources on what are generically called video stations and audio systems. To do this, sources must be able to be captured, moved, resized and displayed in a certain way. It is easy to imagine how useful and important it is to be able to distribute such signals, e.g. from a single source to several destinations, rather than between several sources with their corresponding crossovers, or even to convert a signal into another format and then transmit it to its destination, at distances ranging from a few metres to several kilometres.

Signal distributors: what functions do they perform?

As we have said, signal distribution systems often consist of a series of equipment interconnected in various ways that perform certain tasks, not only distribution and transmission of the signal itself but also conversion from one format to another.

Here are some examples:

It is a applianceswhich allows switching between different sources audio/video to different destinations; distributesce and gesturessce effectively signals in any multi-room environment, carrying out the appropriate intersections. Note that there are also either audio-only or video-only matrices (an example of the latter is the CYP OR-88U-4K22. The arrays are often modular, available for example with 16×16 and 32×32 chassis, where input and output modules can be inserted to accept signals in different formats for easy conversion. An example is the CYP MOD-16.

Lo scaler convertsor rather resize, a video signal to a given resolution into one with a different resolution. They are divided into upscaler e downscalerseconda that the output resolution is greater or less than the input. Both unfortunately entail a loss of quality of the signal which depends on whether fromthe hardware (especially by the chip making the process) either by the quality of the algorithm used. On the market there are scaler of different price as required, you go from models such as theHELGI HDMI 4K SCALER to the sophisticated Analogue Waywhich also perform the function of matrix e of converter.  

A video converter is a device that converts one type of video signal into another. A video converter may be needed to connect an old monitor to a new computer or a DVB decoder with HDMI output to a monitor with DVI input. The most common examples include passive devices (typically adapters) from VGA to DVI and vice versa, HDMI to DVI or VGA to composite video, while converters from the most common video signals to USB or HDMI to NDI require specific hardware. Very effective products for performing these signal conversions are for example those produced by the Magewell.

converters audio instead they typically convert analogue audio into the digital one (various formats) and vice versa e can also be enclosed in a single unitan example of ADC (Analogue to Digital Converterstereo economic and functionsality base consists of the CYP AU-D4  while of stereo DAC from CYP AU-D3-192Obviously, according to needs (mainly the conversion quality)will be adopted solutions more or less sophisticated. 

The embedder allow two-channel analogue audio or S/PDIF digital audio or multi-channel) in the HDMI signal. I deembedder perform the opposite function, i.e. allow audio to be extracted from an HDMI or SDI signal, providing an analogue output for stereo or dual mono signals and an S/PDIF digital audio output supporting two-channel signals or multi-channelAn example of HDMI audio embedder consists of the CYP AU-11CA  while of HDMI audio deembedder 5.1 from CYP AU-11CD

The switcher are the signal switches A/V. They allow multiple sources to be addressed su several exits, one at a time. While matrices allow to send (multiple) input signals to more sources outgoing destinations, the switcher allow d'send a single signal (switchable) to uscitaExamples of switcher are the CYP EL-42S  or the CYP EL-8500VA 

The splittervice versa, send the same input signal to two or more destinationsThe additional wording Amplifier identifies a product capable of precisely amplify the signal whenfor example, must be transmitted over long distances without loss of qualityTypical splitter example 1 a 8 is the CYP QU-8MS.

L'extender, in generale, is a device which allows to transfer a signal over long distances thanks to the protocol HDBaseT, to the Ethernet network (extender over IP) or fibre optics (fibre optic extender). In particular, in the video world the signal can be an HDMIor a VGA, etc. Of the category of extender are also part of repeaters of signal.  

AV Over IP, an established reality

Traditional A/V infrastructures, as we have seen, are primarily concerned with the switching and extension of audio/video resources.
With the introduction of the IP network protocol to carry audio and video over the network, the prospects for the transmission of A/V signals are greatly expanded.
In recent years, we have in fact witnessed a gradual replacement of 'traditional' AV infrastructures with IP-based ones, hence the term AV over IP. For some, the idea of using IP in the AV space of established facilities is fairly new, while for others it is familiar territory.

AV over IP stands for Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol. Essentially, it is the transmission of audio-visual data over a network such as a LAN, WAN or Internet. Unlike traditional AV environments, AV over IP (also known as AV/IP) refers to the use of standard network equipment (CAT 6 cables, switches, routers) to transmit and switch video and audio. The concept of Video over IP, like Audio over IP has actually existed for a long time. It encompasses everything from Internet-based live (or on-demand) video streaming to professional video distribution infrastructures in production and broadcast studios.

Inside the catalogue Ligra DS can be found various signal transmission devices that exploit this protocol. In particular, there is a line of soluations of connectivity CYP improving product performance audio/video in any environment of work

For example the CYP IP-CS7, capable of managing several extender IP through the same networkor the IP-7000, which consentono installers to set up a unique signal distribution system via a dedicated IT network infrastructure. 
And finally... 
The set of transmitters and receivers on fibre SDV-FRX/FTX, progettati to offer high-quality AV extension over IP with minimal latency.  

en_GBENG