IP Tannoy System, IP Public Address (PA), IP Paging
SAY THE WORD!
- Mass Notification & Instruction
- Public Address (PA) & Information
- Staff Co-ordination
- H&S, Medical Response
- Security Announcements
IP Tannoy | Public Address System
Tannoy System, Public Address (PA) and Paging are widely used interchangeable terms, similarly describing an audio application used for voice announcements (live and recorded). IP Tannoy Systems, IP Public Address (IP PA) & IP Paging describe similar functional audio application, but utilise IP networks to provide improved capability, performance, monitoring and control when compared to traditional audio.
IP tannoy system applications are used extensively throughout all industry and business sectors. ‘Tannoy’ audio broadcast applications are employed to provide mass notification & information announcements as well as to instigate and co-ordinate security, medical and incident response.
Traditional Tannoy System
Traditional commercial tannoy, PA and paging sound system applications employ a cabling infrastructure design based on dedicated 70v/100v line cabling technology (output & speaker cabling). These design infrastructures use dedicated cabling to connect audio input source entities such as microphones and music source/s.
Traditional Tannoy Audio Entities
- Audio Source (microphones and music sources)
- System Equipment (mixing, amplification)
- Loud Speakers
- Cabling Infrastructure
How do traditional tannoy systems work?
As we can see, traditional tannoy systems are designed to include a wide range of audio entities. Audio is generated by source input entities such as a CD player or radio tuner (music) and tannoy / paging microphones for voice announcements. Audio mixer/matrix and amplification equipment is used to ‘process’ audio ready for output. Output entities (tannoy/pa and music loud speakers) are used for audio playout.
IP Tannoy System
Commercial AoIP and network IP audio tannoy, PA and paging sound system applications utilise shared ‘connection-less’ IP network infrastructures. As a result, no longer tied to cabling constraints, IP audio transmission is free to switch, route and terminate just like any other data application.
IP Tannoy System Audio Entities
- Audio Source (microphones and music sources)
- System Equipment (Firmware / Software)
- IP Loud Speakers
- IP Decoders / SIP Endpoints & Gateways
How do IP Tannoy Systems work?
IP tannoy system audio source and playout ‘entities’ functionally operate similarly to traditional audio entities. However, as they are IP communications devices they connect and communicate very differently. Audio source entities include an IP audio ‘encoder’ to convert traditional audio to IP audio. Audio output entities (IP speakers) typically include an IP audio ‘decoder’ and integrated power over ethernet (PoE) amplifier for simple network connection and audio playout.
IP Microphone Tannoy Announcement: An IP tannoy / paging microphone will encode IP audio, device/server/firmware entities are used to configure, control and manage audio (for example audio zones). IP speakers playout the received announcement audio.
SIP / VoIP Telephony Tannoy Announcement: A SIP IP encoder/decoder (gateway) device is connected to the network, registered to the local / hosted telephony service (just like an IP phone). A user dials the associated gateway SIP extension – the decoding and encoding function to transition SIP audio to IP audio for onward streaming transmission. Device, server and firmware entities are again used to configure, control and manage audio, IP speakers playout the received announcement audio.
Find out more about SIP and IP Audio integration.
Mixed Audio Technology
IP audio – Tannoy, PA and Paging audio applications are not technology specific. Mixed audio technology from traditional audio and IP audio device product portfolios can be used collectively within the same tannoy audio design.
This example shows how IP audio decoder entities are used to convert IP audio (for example from an IP microphone or other IP / SIP audio source entity). Traditional audio system equipment and 100v line speakers can then be used and installed for processing and audio playout.
Note: Mixed audio technology design topology is widely used today for large audio project installations such as a factory tannoy system, industrial, Military / MoD, schools and healthcare campus.
IP Tannoy System | Client Projects
Tannoy, Public Address, Paging...
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