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AV over IP is a term that stands for Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows the transmission and switching of audio and video signals over standard network equipment, such as Ethernet cables, routers, and switches. AV over IP has many advantages over traditional AV systems, such as scalability, flexibility, distance, management, and cost. AV over IP can be used for various applications, such as video conferencing, digital signage, video walls, remote monitoring, and more.

To understand how AV over IP works, let’s compare it to a traditional AV system. In a traditional AV system, you need dedicated devices to capture, transmit, switch, and display audio and video signals. For example, you may need a camera, an HDMI cable, a matrix switcher, and a monitor to connect a video source to a video display. The matrix switcher allows you to select which source goes to which display. However, this system has some limitations. You can only connect a fixed number of sources and displays to the matrix switcher. You also need long and expensive cables to extend the signals over long distances. And you need separate devices to manage and control the system.

In an AV over IP system, you replace the dedicated devices with network devices. You use an encoder to convert the audio and video signals into digital data packets that can travel over an IP network. You use a network switch to route the data packets to the desired destination. And you use a decoder to convert the data packets back into audio and video signals that can be displayed on a monitor or speaker. The network switch acts like a matrix switcher, but with much more flexibility and scalability. You can connect as many sources and displays as you want by adding more encoders, decoders, and switches. You can also use standard Ethernet cables or wireless connections to transmit the signals over long distances. And you can use a central platform to monitor and control the system remotely.