Open Control Architecture (OCA) was officially standardized on January 4, 2016 by the Audio Engineering Standards Committee (AESSC).
The open control and monitoring standard for professional audio and AV media network was standardised in the newly published AES70-2015 standard for audio applications of networks - Open Control Architecture. With the ratification of OCA as AES70, it is now an official public open standard.
Bruce Olson, chair for the AESSC, said: "AES70 represents another important step towards the interoperable networked working environment that audio professionals will rely on. The AES will continue to develop the standards necessary to enhance these tools."
AES70 includes a complete Discovery specification which will compliment media transport standards and solutions such as AES67. However, AES70 may be implemented with any media transport mechanism, including AVB/TSN and analogue cable.
Speaking for the OCA Alliance, Jeff Berryman, chair of the OCA Technical Workgroup and the AES writing group for AES70 said: “The availability of an interoperable control, configuration, monitoring, and diagnostic architecture for media networks will provide new opportunities for highly integrated systems. Such systems will be able to exchange control data and information in ways previously not possible.”
Marc Weber, chair of the OCA Marketing workgroup, added: “This is another major step towards making the OCA / AES70 vision a reality. One where all network devices are talking the same remote control language, AES70. In this emerging world, media system integrators and users will be free to choose the best products for their own purposes, with few compatibility concerns. Systems will have long service lifetimes with rich on-going upgradeability. The OCA Alliance and the AES are looking forward to the growth of a media network ecosystem that will offer standardized system control capabilities for professional audio and AV products and systems.”