Guide to Blueline Audio Over IP Transmitters and Receivers

Unlock Seamless Sound: Your Guide to Blueline Audio Over IP Transmitters and Receivers

In today's interconnected world, traditional audio cabling can be cumbersome and limiting, especially for large-scale or multi-zone sound distribution. Enter Audio Over IP (AoIP), a revolutionary technology that transmits high-quality audio signals over standard Ethernet networks. At the forefront of this innovation is Blueline Digital AoIP, offering robust and flexible solutions for a vast array of audio applications.

This guide will demystify Blueline AoIP transmitters and receivers, helping you understand their capabilities and how to choose the perfect components for your specific audio distribution needs.

What is Blueline Audio Over IP?

Blueline Digital is a professional range of Audio Over IP (AoIP) designed for high-quality stereo audio streaming in commercial and professional environments. Unlike traditional analog systems, Blueline transmits digital audio packets over your local area network (LAN) or even wireless network bridges, providing exceptional sound quality with minimal latency.

The system is built around transmitters (encoders, senders) that convert analog audio into an IP stream, and receivers (decoders) that convert the IP stream back into analog audio for playback through amplifiers and speakers. This distributed audio system utilizes RTP multicast streaming in common formats PCM or MP3, making it incredibly versatile and scalable.

Popular Blueline IP Audio Models:

• BLS2 Lite MkII (Transmitter): A compact, high-quality stereo Audio Over IP sender, perfect for point-to-point audio streaming across a venue or LAN. Supports PCM or MP3 formats and offers PoE or 12/24V DC power.
• BLS2 SD MkII (Transmitter): Another robust Audio Over IP transmitter, offering similar functionality to the Lite version, but with an SD card slot for storing audio files, which can be triggered via OSC commands.
• BLR2 Lite MkII (Receiver): The counterpart to the BLS2 Lite, this receiver extracts a stereo audio channel from IP-based sound systems, converting it back to unbalanced analog audio.  A simple receiver that can be placed anywhere on the network it's needed.
• BLR2 A PLUS MkII (Receiver with Amplifier): A high-performance AoIP receiver with an integrated amplifier (up to 30W with external power supply), ideal for distributing audio in commercial and networked AV environments directly to 4-8ohm speakers.
• BLR2 MkII (Receiver with GPIO): A one-channel stereo AoIP receiver featuring advanced control capabilities with GPI (General Purpose Input) and GPO (General Purpose Output) ports for system integration and remote triggering of audio file playback, paging triggers and external AV control.
• SPS8 (Smart Paging Station): An 8-zone paging microphone designed for simple zone selection and efficient communication across multiple zones in commercial buildings, schools, and public facilities.

Why Choose Blueline Audio Over IP?

Blueline AoIP systems offer significant advantages over conventional audio setups:

• Scalable Audio Solutions: Easily transmit multiple audio channels (+ control) over Ethernet, supporting everything from simple point-to-point setups to complex, multi-channel systems with advanced features like alarm management.
• Flexible Power Options: Most Blueline devices offer versatile power options, including Power over Ethernet (PoE) or an external 12/24V DC power supply, simplifying installation and reducing cabling needs.
• Seamless Integration: Blueline units are designed for easy integration with existing public address systems, connecting directly to power amplifiers, 100V line installations, or endpoints with built-in amplifiers for direct 8-ohm speaker use.
• Long-Distance Transmission with Minimal Loss: IP networks allow audio signals to travel much further than analog cables without signal degradation or interference.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Utilizing existing network infrastructure can significantly reduce cabling costs and the need for numerous dedicated audio components.
• Simple Expansion: Adding more audio zones or endpoints is straightforward; simply connect new transmitters or receivers to your network.
• Remote Control & Management: Blueline Digital equipment is often compatible with mobile devices via free OSC software, allowing for professional audio management from your smartphone or tablet.
• Plug-and-Play Simplicity: Designed for ease of installation, many units require minimal setup, making deployment straightforward even without extensive networking expertise.

Common Applications for Blueline AoIP Systems

Blueline Audio Over IP is ideal for a wide range of audio distribution applications in diverse environments:

• Commercial AV Installations: Retail stores, shopping centers, offices, and corporate environments for background music and paging.
• Multi-Zone PA Systems: Easily manage different audio content and volume levels across various zones in a building.
• Large Venues & Distributed Networks: Perfect for concert halls, stadiums, and convention centers where audio needs to be distributed across vast areas.
• Linking Audio Between Buildings: Seamlessly connect audio systems across different buildings on a campus or complex.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and universities for bell systems, paging, and classroom audio distribution.
• Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals and clinics for announcements and background music.
• Hospitality: Hotels, restaurants, and bars for ambient music and announcements.
• Emergency Announcements: Vital for clear, simultaneous communication in buildings and campuses for life-safety messages.
• Outdoor Installations: Transmit audio reliably over long distances in car parks, sports grounds, and amusement parks, often paired with weatherproof speakers.
• Heritage or Design-Sensitive Buildings: Allows for discreet, low-profile speaker installation and hidden wiring, preserving aesthetics.

Choosing the Right Blueline Transmitters and Receivers

Selecting the appropriate Blueline components involves considering your specific requirements:

1. Input/Output Needs (Transmitters):

   • Analog Source: How many analog audio sources (e.g., mixers, media players, microphones) do you need to convert to IP? Blueline transmitters like the BLS2 Lite MkII typically handle one stereo unbalanced audio input.
   • Channel Selection: Some transmitters offer multiple selectable channels, allowing for flexible audio routing over the network.
   • Control Integration: Do you need to trigger audio files or control other devices via OSC commands or GPI/GPO (General Purpose Input/Output) ports?

2. Output Requirements (Receivers):

   • Analog Output: How many audio zones or endpoints do you need to feed? Receivers convert the IP stream back to analog audio.
   • Integrated Amplifier: Do you need a receiver with a built-in amplifier (e.g., BLR2 A PLUS MkII) to directly power passive speakers, or will you connect to external power amplifiers? Integrated amplifiers are convenient for smaller zones or where space is limited.
   • Control Integration: Do you need GPI/GPO outputs for triggering external devices based on received audio signals, or for local volume control/source selection?

3. Network Infrastructure:

   • Wired vs. Wireless: Blueline systems operate over standard LAN networks. For wider area PA systems or difficult-to-wire locations, consider combining them with WiFi Bridge distribution.
   • PoE Capability: If your network switches support PoE, opting for PoE-compatible transmitters and receivers can simplify wiring by delivering both power and data over a single Ethernet cable.
   • Network Bandwidth: While AoIP is efficient, ensure your network has sufficient bandwidth, especially for multiple high-quality PCM streams.

4. Audio Quality and Format:

   • Blueline supports RTP multicast streaming in formats like PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) for uncompressed, high-fidelity audio (e.g., 1.5 Mbps) or MP3 for more bandwidth-efficient transmission (e.g., 220 Kbps). Choose based on your audio quality priorities and network constraints.

5. Control and Management:

   • Consider how you want to manage the system. Blueline devices can often be configured via Workcad 3 software or even web interfaces. For multi-zone control and paging, dedicated paging microphones like the SPS8 (Smart Paging Station) are available.

Check your project's specific requirements against the features of Blueline's range, you can confidently select the ideal Audio Over IP transmitters and receivers to create a highly efficient, scalable, and reliable audio distribution system.

For more detailed specifications and product information, visit the Edwards Sound Blueline IP Audio page.

Contact our team today for discuss your needs!