Livewire is an audio-over-IP system created by Axia Audio, a division of Telos Alliance. Its primary purpose is routing and distributing broadcast-quality audio in radio stations.
The original Livewire standard was introduced in 2003 and has since been superseded by a second version, Livewire+. Livewire+ includes compatibility with the AES67 and Ravenna standards to allow interoperability with equipment from other manufacturers. Designed as a superset of Livewire functionality utilizing common protocols and formats, Livewire+ is available as an open standard through Axia's Livewire+ Partner Program.
Livewire+ provides flexible routing and transport of audio streams using multicast networking, with the ability to connect any input to any output (known as "anywhere-to-anywhere routing"). Distribution utilises standard IP and Ethernet over twisted pair cabling.
Protocol
The following table lists ports and protocols used in Livewire systems.
Port Protocol Multicast Address Purpose Notes 67, 68 UDP BOOTP Server/Client Remote IP address assignment 93 TCP Livewire Routing Protocol Also provides transparent passing of custom messages, similar to the Ancillary Data Transmission feature of AES3 123 UDP Network Time Protocol 514 UDP Syslog Activity logging to a syslog receiver. 2055 UDP 239.192.255.4 Multicast-based GPIO (CMsg2 protocol) GPIO commands, GPIO node → console-type endpoint 2060 UDP 239.192.255.4 Multicast-based GPIO (CMsg2 protocol) GPIO commands, console-type endpoint → GPIO node 4000 UDP Livewire Advertisement and Source Allocation Protocol Verbose advertisement and source allocation requests 4001 UDP 239.192.255.3 Livewire Advertisement and Source Allocation Protocol Periodic and verbose announcements; Source allocation state announcements and responses 4002 UDP 239.192.255.3 Engine Supervision Protocol 4010 TCP Livewire Control Protocol 4011 UDP 239.192.255.4 LWCP for Accessory Modules Module → Console 4012 UDP 239.192.255.3 LWCP for Accessory Modules Console → Module 5004 UDP 239.192.x.x RTP Livewire Audio Last two address octets pertain to Axia channel ID, e.g. 9999 = 39 15 (hex 27 0F) 5004 UDP 239.192.255.1 Livewire High Speed Clockhttps://docs.telosalliance.com/docs/what-multicast-addresses-are-used-by-livewire#specific-livewire-addresses One device assigns itself as the LAN-wide reference; all other devices slave to it 7000 UDP 239.192.255.2 Livewire Slow Speed Clock One device assigns itself as the LAN-wide reference; all other devices slave to it 9997 TCP Protocol logging Debug protocol logging for Element
References