Dave D: How soon till I can get a good cheap digital drive snake?

Ray: We have all the pieces; it is just a matter of getting the chips cranked out. As to the time frame, ask me after I have some experience with the chip business :>)

Jon Tatooles: Ray, what is your feeling about dedicated audio hardware versus "native" processing systems?

Ray: DSP on a general-purpose computer is fine for many things. If you want a lot of processing in a box, you will still find it better to use dedicated DSP chips.

Dave D: Do you foresee DSP manufacturers including CobraNet right on their boxes?

Ray: Yes. This has started already, and will continue. I hope many more devices will come out with CobraNet right in them.

Moderator: So Peak envisions CobraNet proliferating in more "common, everyday" professional systems at venues like churches?

Ray: Absolutely! There is no reason that CobraNet will not drop in cost like all other digital technologies. That means even low priced systems in the future will be able to afford this. The computer industry is helping drive the price down because we use Ethernet for the network components.

Moderator: Kind of along the same lines, from Jon Tatooles: Do you see CobraNet becoming the ubiquitous I/O connection for installed sound?

Ray: I think that AES3 (AES/EBU) will stay around for a while for 2-channel applications. But CobraNet should take over for everything above that, and maybe even eventually replace AES3.

Gerald: What will the advantages of CobraNet be for the contractor, and for the sound staff at a venue?

Ray: Well CobraNet runs on Ethernet, and is a true network, not just a point-to-point connection. This means that the network can route signals, so if you want to change the "interconnections" you can do it without physically changing anything.

Jon Tatooles: Where does wireless high-speed data fit in with CobraNet? Does it carry the protocol just like wireless Ethernet?

Ray: Today's "11 meg" wireless Ethernet only gives 3 meg real world performance in many cases. The wired Fast Ethernet we use for CobraNet has 100 meg bandwidth. Once we get a wireless Ethernet with a bit better performance, then it should carry CobraNet fine.