ST 2110 vs IPMX: Choosing the Right Standard for Broadcast and ProAV Integration

The transition from SDI to IP is well underway across both the broadcast and professional AV industries. Yet amid this shift, a critical question keeps surfacing: Should you use ST 2110 or IPMX for your AV transport and system design?

Though these standards share common goals — high-quality, low-latency video over IP — their architectures, use cases, and implementation paths diverge significantly. Understanding these differences is essential for product vendors, broadcasters, and systems integrators planning their next move.

What’s the Difference Between ST 2110 and IPMX?

At a glance, both SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX (IP Media Experience) aim to replace legacy SDI/HDMI transport with IP-based networks. But they stem from different technical and industry roots:

ST 2110 was created for professional broadcast workflows. It’s modular, precise, and built for environments that demand deterministic timing, multi-stream separation (video/audio/ANC), and full synchronization across entire facilities.

IPMX, driven by the AIMS Alliance, builds on ST 2110 but simplifies it for ProAV and lightweight broadcast environments. It prioritizes ease of deployment, interoperability, and works without the need for specialized timing infrastructure like PTP.

In essence, ST 2110 is powerful but complex, while IPMX is accessible but less granular.

Where Does ST 2110 Make Sense?

ST 2110 thrives in high-end broadcast facilities where precision is non-negotiable. Think live sports production, multi-camera studios, and master control centers. Its key advantages include:

• Separate routing of video, audio, and data streams
• Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for frame-level sync
• Support for uncompressed video and deterministic latency
• Strong adoption by top-tier broadcasters and major equipment vendors

However, ST 2110 deployment comes with steep requirements — multicast support, PTP-aware networks, NMOS configuration layers — that demand experienced engineering teams.

When Should You Choose IPMX?

IPMX is ideal when your system needs interoperability, flexibility, and faster time to market, especially in corporate AV, education, or smaller media production setups. It’s being adopted for:

• Conference room AV systems
• Digital signage
• Remote education and lightweight studios
• Hybrid workflows combining NDI or HDMI sources

IPMX works over existing Ethernet infrastructure, supports compressed or uncompressed streams, and includes HDMI compatibility — making it a compelling choice where deep ST 2110 expertise is unavailable or unnecessary.

Can ST 2110 and IPMX Coexist?

Yes, and in many real-world projects they already do. For example:

• A major studio might run ST 2110 in its core production network
• Its outreach units (like remote training studios or event feeds) may rely on IPMX or NDI
• Both environments can connect via gateway devices or FPGA-based protocol adapters

Promwad has developed such FPGA-based cross-protocol bridges, helping clients maintain compatibility across diverse environments.

Case Example: Bridging the Divide in Live Event Production

In a recent client engagement, a global live event company wanted to unify its ST 2110-based production trucks with local AV gear at event venues using HDMI-over-IP. Our engineers built a custom bridge solution using Xilinx FPGA and embedded Linux that translated between ST 2110 and IPMX/HDMI standards — with built-in compression and real-time monitoring.

This hybrid architecture reduced setup time by 40%, eliminated signal sync issues, and improved stream monitoring accuracy for engineers on site.

Key Takeaway for System Designers and Vendors

Instead of asking “Which is better — ST 2110 or IPMX?”, ask “Where does each make the most sense?”

• Use ST 2110 when you need multi-stream precision, low-latency uncompressed video, and full facility synchronization
• Use IPMX when you prioritize ease of deployment, interoperability, and cost-effective scaling over time

System architects, hardware vendors, and broadcast engineers should consider building modular platforms that support both — or can at least be extended to bridge the gap.

Final Thoughts

The broadcast and AV industries aren’t converging on a single standard — they’re learning to coexist and interoperate across protocols. With the right engineering approach, it’s possible to combine the best of ST 2110 and IPMX in a way that’s transparent for users and sustainable for vendors.

At Promwad, we specialize in custom FPGA, embedded Linux, and hardware designs that power these integrations — from protocol conversion to end-device UX. If you’re navigating the ST 2110/IPMX decision or need a hybrid integration strategy, we’re here to help.

Let’s build what’s next — across both standards.