24 Sep Ireland’s Broadcast Toolkit Explained
A vision mixer is the device that cuts live between multiple camera and graphics sources during a stream or broadcast. Dante and AoIP (Audio over IP) carry audio signals across a standard network instead of dedicated audio cabling. SMPTE ST 2110 does the equivalent job for video, moving broadcast-quality video over IP networks. These standards matter most for larger, technically complex events — most single-camera corporate shoots don’t need them. Broadcast terminology gets thrown around a lot in livestreaming conversations, often without much explanation. Here’s what the core pieces of kit and standards actually do, and when they matter for your event.
The vision mixer
A vision mixer (also called a switcher) is the piece of hardware or software that takes feeds from multiple sources — cameras, a presentation screen, a pre-recorded video — and lets an operator cut, fade, or transition live between them in real time. Blackmagic’s ATEM range is a common choice for corporate and event work, offering multi-camera switching, graphics overlay (lower thirds, titles), and output to a livestream platform, all controlled live during the event.
Dante and AoIP: audio over the network
Traditionally, audio signals travel over dedicated analogue or digital cabling built specifically for that purpose. Dante and AoIP (Audio over IP) instead route audio signals across a standard IP network — the same kind of network infrastructure used for computer data. In practice, this means microphones, mixing desks, and recording equipment across a venue can be connected with standard network cabling rather than a web of dedicated audio cable, which scales more easily for larger or more complex events.
SMPTE ST 2110: the video equivalent
SMPTE ST 2110 is an industry standard that does for video what AoIP does for audio — carrying broadcast-quality, uncompressed video over standard IP networks instead of dedicated video (SDI) cabling. It’s used on larger productions and increasingly in permanent broadcast facilities, allowing cameras, mixers, and displays to be networked together with more flexibility than fixed point-to-point cabling allows.
Why this matters for your event
For a straightforward single-camera corporate video or a small two-camera livestream, none of this is strictly necessary — traditional cabling handles it fine. These standards become genuinely useful on larger multi-camera productions, events across bigger venues or multiple rooms, and any production where video or audio signals need to move flexibly between different equipment without physically re-cabling everything. If your event is at that scale, it’s worth asking whether your production crew is certified in these standards rather than assuming any livestream provider can handle it equally well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to understand any of this to book a livestream?
No — this is background for anyone curious about the technical side, or for events large enough that it’s worth confirming your crew’s capability. For most standard corporate shoots, a good production company will simply handle the technical choices without you needing to specify them.
Is SMPTE 2110 only relevant for TV broadcasters?
It originated in broadcast television but is increasingly used in large-scale corporate, sports, and event production too — particularly for permanent or large temporary installations, such as major conferences or sporting events, where flexible IP-based video routing is genuinely useful.
What should I ask a production company about their technical setup?
For a large or technically complex event, it’s reasonable to ask directly whether the crew have relevant certifications (Dante, SMPTE ST 2110) and how many cameras or sources their equipment can handle simultaneously.
Get In Touch
Idiosync Films’ crew hold Dante Level 3, SMPTE ST 2110, and Calrec AoIP certifications, and have applied them on productions including the Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Get in touch at hi@idiosyncfilms.com to discuss the technical requirements of your event.