The need for hybrid tools is blending audio and video data in new ways, to achieve better camera tracking, intelligibility, and interoperability among other things. I’ve been around the data side of signal for decades; this is a unique time of cross pollination and collaboration. Long standing expertise and standards work is finding new or evolved relevance, the so-called silos are getting networked both technically and philosophically. This has been a stated goal for a long time but it’s accelerating into more of a reality, not necessarily with fanfare, maybe just because it’s time for the groundwork to come together.
Some of this is happening between audio manufacturers (L-Acoustics and d&b just announced a collaboration around Milan AVB). Some is happening on the alliance, certification, or marketing side, and some on the raw signal side. I do find the mixed signal work—the overlap of video and audio standards and technology to be some of the most interesting.
As we went to press Audio-Technica announced that they had added VISCA over IP to the ATND1061 ceiling array mic to improve camera tracking. VISCA stands for Video System Control Architecture. It’s a Sony-patented protocol that’s been around at least 20 years that I’m aware of, maybe longer. It’s for synchronized control of multiple video peripherals (yes even a VCR). But in our world, it was for PTZ cameras, specifically for remote control of surveillance and block cameras.
As Audio-Technica explains it, when you need professional audio in conference rooms or classrooms, VISCA over IP allows users to position the camera to match with the audio captured by the ATND1061. VISCA over IP integrates with modern video conferencing software, and can follow a speaker and identify which person in the room is speaking based on their position.
Many PTZ camera manufacturers support the VISCA over IP protocol, so the ATND1061DAN works with cameras like the Sony SRG-X40UH, Canon CR-N300, JVC KY-PZ200, and JVC KY-PZ200N.
The ATND1061DAN is configured through A-T’s Digital Microphone Manager software to send preset recall information directly to the PTZ camera via its IP address. The ceiling array detects the location of the person talking, outputs a control signal, and calls up a preset camera position. If no one talks for a predetermined length of time, the camera will move back to a room view or other default.
The integration with Digital Microphone Manager enables things like presets, and settings like angle of view, how many seconds of silence you want before the camera returns to its default setting, and how long to wait before turning to an individual who has started talking.
There is a compelling need to spatially integrate professional audio and cameras. The same can be said for other “new” problems. I found this method interesting because it’s an example of how engineers leverage those who toiled before them, whether on proprietary protocols, or big standards bodies like SMPTE, AES, or MPEG, or even the marketing alliances like SDVoE who herd cats that would otherwise go their own separate ways. Some protocols have come and gone, but now more than ever I would say that the work of the past is converging with the needs of the future.
