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The OCA Alliance Previews AES70-2021 Open Control & Monitoring Standard

Incorporates several enhancements and new features designed to improve accessibility and useability.

Following the recent announcement of a “lightweight” AES70 implementation designed to make the open control and monitoring standard more accessible and available to a wider range of users and applications, the OCA Alliance has provided an advance look at the latest version of the AES70 device control standard.

The new AES70-2021 release will be upwards-compatible from the current AES70-2018 and offers several significant enhancements for improved features along with a number of documentation upgrades designed to increase clarity, readability and precision.

New features include:

Datasets. This is a mechanism for devices to exchange data blocks (datasets) with controllers. Data block size is limited only by implementation. AES70-2021 will specifically define several types of datasets. Further, manufacturers will also be able to add their own datasets as required.

Media File. Due to the new Datasets feature, controllers can now manage device audio file recording, playback and storage.

Logging. A new logging mechanism – also based in the Datasets feature – enables controllers to retrieve logs generated by a device, in any format and at any time.

Command Sets. A new mechanism for storing predefined control command sequences in devices and executing them on request, at scheduled times, or at specified positions in media streams.

AES70-21 also includes several enhancements to existing functionality:

Streamlined media connection management. Designed to make managing device media streaming connections easier to program and implement.

Connection negotiation support. New support for connection negotiation, the process by which controllers develop compatible transmitting and receiving settings for media stream connections.

Managing presets support. A new mechanism for storing and recalling device presets has been implemented that is capable of handling complex devices with tens of thousands of parameters. It is designed to be easier for controllers and devices to program and supports much larger sets of stored parameters.

In total, the new 2021 release numbers about 40 new or enhanced features and 15 documentation upgrades. According to Bosch Communications senior scientist and OCA Chair Jeff Berryman, AES70-2021 will provide some welcome useability improvements, simplifying the route to adoption.

“As with any standard, the more widely it is adopted and used, the greater the benefit to all concerned and the industry at large,” Berryman says. “The 2021 release offers several enhancements and upgrades to make it more accessible, easier to implement and also improve performance. Combined with our recent lightweight implementation, we now have AES70 control solutions for every part of the spectrum, from the simplest to the most complex systems.”

AES70-2021 is scheduled for release during the second half of 2021 and will be downloadable from the OCA Alliance website.

OCA Alliance

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Linea Research is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance power amplifiers and DSP controllers for the entertainment, live sound, installed sound and commercial sound markets.