What is SMPTE ST 2110?

ST 2110 is a suite of standards developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) that define professional media over an IP network. The standards describe how video, audio, and ancillary data should be packetized and transported over an IP link and maintain synchronization and quality.

ST 2110 is designed to operate within existing IP network infrastructure and be scalable to accommodate future advancements in IP-based technologies. The standards are part of a broader effort to transition all production and transmission systems to an IP-based infrastructure.

Development of ST 2110

SMPTE ST 2110 is based on VSF TR-03, a standard developed for professional broadcast applications, which uses RTP (real-time protocol) as its primary transport protocol. ST 2110 transports separate streams of video, audio, and ancillary data over an IP network. The goal of ST 2110 is to create a single standard for professional media industries to transmit and receive media.

How does ST 2110 work?

SMPTE ST 2110 transports media by dividing the video, audio, and ancillary components into independent essence streams. This allows each component to be processed, transported, and stored separately from the others. Essence streams in ST 2110 are transported in a UDP/RTP packet and are self-contained, with each containing all the information necessary for that media type, including timing information. 

Elements of ST 2110

The standards are broken down into four main components: 2110-10 for timing, 2110-20 for video, 2110-30 for audio, and 2110-40 for ancillary data.
    • ST 2110-10 System and Timing: defines the timing and requirements for all essential streams in the ST 2110 series.
    • ST 2110-20 Uncompressed Video: standardizes the transport of uncompressed video over IP networks.
        ◦ ST 2110-21 Video Flow Shaping: standardizes traffic shaping and delivery timing of uncompressed video.
        ◦ ST 2110-22 Constant Bit Rate Compressed Video: describes the payload for constant bitrate compressed video.
    • ST 2110-30 Uncompressed Audio: standardizes the transport of uncompressed audio streams over IP networks based on AES67.
        ◦ ST 2110-31 AES3 Audio Streams: standardizes the transport of uncompressed audio streams over IP networks using AES3.
    • ST 2110-40 Ancillary Data: standardizes how ancillary data is encapsulated and transported via RTP. 

ST 2110 vs. SDI

SDI (Serial Digital Interface) was the standard for video IP transmission before ST 2110 came along. SDI combined video, audio, and metadata into a single stream over a cable. ST 2110, on the other hand, separates these three elements into discrete streams, allowing each to be transported independently over an IP link. This separation also allows for greater flexibility, as the receiver can choose what to listen to.

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