New technology enables ultra-low-latency audio over wireless links

Virscient has released LiveOnAir – a highly innovative technology that provides ultra-low-latency audio over low-power wireless links. The technology changes the game for key applications in live performance, such as digital wireless microphones and in-ear monitors, gaming, and other innovative audio scenarios.

These use cases fundamentally require low latency to ensure an optimum experience, and existing technologies do not meet this need. Further latency in live performance scenarios can result in a disconnect between performer and performance, with mixed/monitored audio poorly synchronised with real-time events. Likewise, in gaming applications, latency and audio quality are crucial to the competitive advantage – undue delays can limit the capability of the gamer to react to their environment.

The solution provides high-quality audio over long- or short-range wireless links with a latency of lower than five milliseconds from analogue to analogue. The system supports a variety of topologies, codecs, and RF options that enable optimisation for the specific needs of any given use case.

The company supplies a complete hardware/software reference design for low-power digital microphone applications based on Nordic Semiconductor's nRF5340 dual-core BLE SoC. The solution for nRF5340 allows OEMs to rapidly deliver high-performance wireless audio solutions supporting ultra-low-latency transport of 24-bit/48kHz audio with a compact and simple hardware BoM.

"LiveOnAir is a ground-breaking solution that enables ultra-low latency wireless audio at new levels of performance, efficiency, and simplicity," said Dr Dean Armstrong, CTO of Virscient.

"We have been delivering solutions to high-end audio and wireless companies for almost 20 years and fundamentally understand what the market requires. Virscient is investing heavily to build our IP portfolio, and LiveOnAir is the first of a number of developments that we believe will change the landscape for wireless and connected audio."

LiveOnAir evaluation kits are available with various codec and RF options, including Bluetooth, UWB, and other protocols.