Hernán Ranucci has decades of experience working in AV throughout Argentina, starting in the 1990s with the seismic shift from analog to digital, and he’s embraced the evolution of AV ever since. Hernán has worked as an application engineer in the pro audio industry, a live recording engineer, a professor at the renowned Buenos Aires Institute of Technology and a sound operator for television.

Today, Hernán owns his own company—AISSI SRL—where he works as an AV integration consultant and project manager for clients that range from corporate to education to government.

Hernán believes that the best AV solutions start with strong client relationships, identifying the barriers and opportunities, and then leveraging his deep experience to design and implement integrated AV platforms built around Dante, his preferred AV-over-IP platform.

Dante:

First of all, what do you think of Dante?

Hernán:

Dante is an excellent solution with a promising future. The platform is so flexible and user-friendly. I am very satisfied with the evolution of Audinate’s audio, video and control products. Their alliances with leading manufacturers and the wide portfolio of solutions make the Dante platform truly sustainable.

Dante:

Who are your clients at AISSI?

Hernán:

Some of my biggest success stories here in Argentina include: Walmart, Lincoln Schools Association Argentina, CEMA University (in association with the University of Chicago), Honorable Senate Chamber of the Nation, Ministry of Defense: Argentine Antarctica, Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, General Roca Railway Rolling Stock Workshops, as well as franchises like Hard Rock Café and Osaka.

Dante:

Can you describe a typical job from start to finish?

Hernán:

We work with the client to identify barriers and opportunities to create unified communications, and then we use our vast accumulated experience to design and implement an integrated platform for AV content distribution across their network.

Dante:

How did you get into this line of work?

Hernán:

From the ‘90s onwards I gained experience in supporting DAW (digital audio workstation) systems, integrating digital equipment with redundant disk matrix file systems, working with SAN (storage area networks) and making live recordings using Pro Tools for MTV in Argentina with artists like Diego Torres. I’d also ventured into the early iterations of AoIP (Audio over Internet Protocol) systems using CobraNet and AVB (audio video bridging).

Dante:

When did you first encounter Dante and when did you realize its power?

Hernán:

During an in-person training at BIAMP in Portland, Oregon, in 2010, the company was in the final development stage for launching the Tesira line, adopting AVB as the standard signal transport. At the factory, there was talk about a protocol from Australia (now known as Dante) that would revolutionize the market. Without a doubt, Dante has proven to be a reliable and secure transport tool today.

Dante:

How does Dante and Dante-enabled hardware fit into your current designs?

Hernán:

Dante is the integration option, especially given the standardization of cabling installations in buildings where all services are shared through dedicated VLANs. Analog or discrete digital end-to-end installations are no longer practical or feasible from a maintenance point of view, especially with the increased demands for bandwidth and distance between devices.

With a lot of our projects we’re migrating from obsolete systems to the Dante platform, gradually scaling our clients’ AV devices. Part of our job is to provide client training so they can familiarize themselves with the platform and gain confidence in its operation and management.

Dante:

What are some of your favorite projects, and why?

Hernán:

Every project has its particular challenges, considering infrastructure or network security. The Walmart corporate auditorium project was technically challenging because our plan was such a comprehensive solution and included getting the local IT department up to speed with Dante. Another favorite: handling transmissions for the Argentinian presidential elections. We created a custom remote connection with the telecommunications companies, taking transport protocol to a new level. On one occasion, we established a live remote broadcast with nearly 10km between Dante devices and a latency under 1ms.

Dante:

Where do you think the future of AV design is heading in your field?

Hernán:

Back in the ‘90s, audio mixing and recording was transitioning from analog to digital, and the DAW workflow was being established. From that moment, I saw that the future of AV would be digital. I’ve known and used digital formats ever since because it’s flexible, friendly and intuitive for all types of users.

The evolution of being connected through cloud services is a very interesting challenge, and one that we’re working on. I’d like to see manufacturers adopt a standard platform like Dante, so that no matter what hardware is used there’s a universal platform to connect and control every device.

Dante:

What would you consider your superpower in the AV field? And are there Argentine superheroes (or superstars) you identify with?

Hernán:

I wish I could compare myself to soccer stars like Messi, ‘Dibu’ Martinez and Diego Maradona! But I believe my strength lies in the experience accumulated throughout my career, leading me to conclude that it’s essential to listen to the client and users, synthesize their problems, and design the very best solution.

By using the technology provided by Audinate and working with their staff, there’s constant feedback for a continuous improvement process. It’s all about teamwork and the value that that adds, which only leads to a more diverse range of products and higher quality. For this reason I am very grateful to Dante!