Audio over IP (or AoIP) is a technology for transmitting multiple channels of digital audio over a standard computer network (Ethernet).

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Instead of using long, heavy analog cables (multicore cables) or point-to-point digital connections (such as AES/EBU or MADI), AoIP "packages" the audio into network data and sends it over the same type of cable and equipment (switches, routers) used to connect computers to the internet.

This allows for the creation of much more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective audio systems, especially in large-scale installations such as broadcast studios, live shows, and convention centers.

There is a wide variety of AoIP protocols, and most of them do not It is compatible with each other. Some of the best-known systems are:

• Proprietary Systems: Dante (by far the most popular), Ravenna, WheatNet, Livewire, etc.

• Open Standards: AVB/TSN (Audio Video Bridging), which is a set of IEEE standards designed to be an open and interoperable solution.

Some AoIP systems require a dedicated network exclusively for audio, while others can share the network with regular data traffic.