RH Consulting (RHC) has been counting networked audio products and licensees since 2013 to chart the adoption and evolution of audio networking in the pro audio, AV and broadcast markets.
The 2024 edition of this report on Networked Audio Products, which has meanwhile extended to cover also audio, video and control products, is available now and confirms the growing strength of AES67, RAVENNA and ST 2110 and the dominance of Dante and NDI standards.
The 12th instalment of the report reveals a significant surge in overall adoption, with a total of 6,013 products from 602 brands. This analysis, building on twelve years of audio research and three years of video data, sheds light on emerging trends and market dynamics.
“A milestone has been reached with over 6000 networked AV products on the market and with video-over-IP products numbering more than 1000,” reflected Roland Hemming, Audio Consultant at RH Consulting. “Networked media products are steadily becoming part of everyone’s work. Soon it will be easier to count the remaining analogue products!”
The research confirmed that Dante has experienced growth over the past 12 months, showcasing an 11% expansion in audio products. With 4,131 products, Dante outpaced all other protocols combined, introducing 420 new products and involving 45 manufacturers for the first time.
On the other hand, AES67 reached an impressive 4,380 compatible products, supporting various protocols such as Dante, RAVENNA, Livewire+, Wheatnet and ‘raw’ AES67. The report suggests that the majority of Dante solutions likely support AES67, indicating a high level of integration in the market.
RAVENNA secured the second-highest increase in audio products with 344 offerings. MILAN and AVB also demonstrated growth, with MILAN-compliant products increasing to 45.
In the video-over-IP realm, the market is still maturing compared to networked audio. The report analyses protocols such as NDI, SDVoE, ST 2110, Dante AV, IPMX and AVB, revealing insights into their adoption and maturity.
NDI emerged as the leader in terms of product numbers with a total of 494. ST 2110 experienced growth with 344 encoder and decoder products, while Dante AV, a relative newcomer, tripled its product numbers in just 18 months, totalling 62 products.
SDVoE, despite a small decline, maintained a presence with 364 products. IPMX ‘ready’ products, totalling seven offerings, indicate potential growth upon full protocol release.
As the market matures, players are yet to fully embrace video-over-IP standards, raising questions about the industry’s future direction. The report invited stakeholders to consider the evolving landscape and adapt to emerging trends in networked AV technology.
“We now have three years of data for video products so we can start to draw a line,” concluded Hemming. “Other than overall growth, we still can’t identify a ‘winner’ for AV-over-IP. “Several major video manufacturers are still using proprietary technology – is it time for them to jump off the fence and commit to offering real interoperability?”
