What AV over IP actually means
AV over IP refers to the distribution of audio and video signals across standard IP networks rather than through dedicated point-to-point cabling or proprietary matrix switchers. Instead of running an HDMI or SDI cable directly from source to display, or routing signals through a hardware matrix, signals are encoded, packetised and transmitted across a network switch alongside data traffic.
This is not a new concept — broadcast environments have operated on networked AV infrastructure for over a decade — but the technology has matured to a point where it is now practical and cost-competitive for commercial AV installations of almost any scale.
The main AV over IP protocols
Several competing standards now exist for AV over IP distribution, each with different characteristics, use cases and hardware ecosystems.
SDVoE (Software Defined Video over Ethernet) is a zero-latency HDMI-over-IP standard using 10 Gigabit Ethernet. SDVoE systems use dedicated endpoint hardware but eliminate the matrix switcher entirely — routing logic is handled in software on a standard network switch. The result is a fully non-blocking matrix of arbitrary size with sub-millisecond latency. SDVoE is well suited to large-scale corporate and government installations where traditional matrix switchers would be prohibitively expensive or physically impractical.
Dante AV extends the Dante audio networking protocol — widely used in professional audio for over fifteen years — to video. Installations already using Dante for audio distribution can add video to the same network fabric without separate infrastructure. Dante AV operates on 1 Gigabit Ethernet and supports up to 4K video. It is increasingly specified for installations where Dante audio is already the baseline, including performing arts venues, houses of worship, and education facilities.
NDI (Network Device Interface) is a software-defined protocol developed by Vizrt that operates over standard IP networks without dedicated hardware endpoints. NDI is widely used in broadcast and live production environments and is increasingly appearing in corporate AV for applications like soft-codec conferencing and digital signage content distribution.
IPMX is an emerging open standard developed under the AIMS (Alliance for IP Media Solutions) umbrella, designed to provide interoperability across vendors and protocol variants. IPMX is expected to become the dominant open standard for professional AV over IP as adoption accelerates, though hardware availability remains limited compared to SDVoE and Dante AV.
Why the shift is happening now
Three factors have converged to accelerate the adoption of AV over IP in commercial installations.
First, 10 Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure has become standard in new commercial buildings. The bandwidth and switching performance required for zero-latency AV distribution over IP was previously only available at data centre cost. It is now routinely installed as part of standard building IT infrastructure.
Second, the cost of traditional hardware matrix switchers has not decreased proportionally with their AV over IP alternatives. A 32x32 HDMI matrix switcher from a major manufacturer costs significantly more than the equivalent SDVoE endpoint hardware deployed on an existing 10GbE switch. As installations scale beyond 16 inputs and outputs, the cost and physical space advantages of AV over IP become compelling.
Third, the operational model for large installations has shifted. Facilities teams increasingly expect AV systems to be manageable through software interfaces on standard IT infrastructure rather than through proprietary hardware control panels. AV over IP systems align naturally with this expectation.
What this means for specifiers
The most important practical implication for anyone specifying or procuring AV systems in the current environment is network readiness. AV over IP systems place different demands on network infrastructure than standard data traffic — particularly for zero-latency applications like SDVoE, which require a 10GbE multicast-capable network with appropriate QoS configuration.
Specifying an AV over IP system for an existing building requires an honest assessment of the network infrastructure, including switch specifications, port density, multicast configuration capability, and the appetite of the facilities IT team for managing AV traffic on the corporate network. In some environments, a dedicated AV VLAN on existing infrastructure is the appropriate solution. In others, a separate physical network for AV is more practical.
Protocol selection also matters at the specification stage. Dante AV and SDVoE are not interoperable without transcoding, and the ecosystem of compatible hardware differs between them. Specifying a protocol without confirming that the required endpoints, cameras, displays and control systems support it is a common and avoidable source of project complexity.
Our AV over IP capability
Masters Voice Technology installs AV over IP systems across SDVoE, Dante AV and NDI. Our team holds Dante Level 3 certification and we integrate AV over IP distribution into Q-SYS, Crestron and AMX control environments. If you are planning an installation and want to understand whether AV over IP is the right approach for your environment, we are happy to discuss the technical and cost tradeoffs in the context of your specific project.
