Getting to know ipDTL

Each week on the VO school Podcast you hear myself and my guests talk about the many changes happening in the voiceover industry. One of the most dramatic has been the move from an industry centered around the worlds major media hubs (New York, LA, London etc...) to one without centers, opening the industry up to more and more people.

Talent are no longer required to attend in-person sessions in pro recording studios, they can connect with clients, other studios and other voice talent from the comfort and convenience of their own home studio.

Until a few years ago ISDN was the most popular technology to facilitate this, but the need for a dedicated digital line, hardware boxes and call costs have made this technology an impracticality for many. In fact, many telephone companies are now withdrawing ISDN support, and the companies that do still offer ISDN are dramatically raising the prices of line installation and rental.

As ISDN fades a British company, 'ipDTL' operated by Kevin Leach is not only a viable ISDN alternative, but offers additional features, improved sound quality and reduced latency!

IpDTL doesn't require additional hardware, uses your existing Internet connection (so no additional line rental or call costs) and can connect and combine ISDN, phone and Internet sources into a simple and easy to navigate page in your browser.

How does it sound?

A stable Internet connection will yield audio send/receive quality superior to a standard ISDN codec. In addition, many will find the reduced latency a pleasant benefit. Gone are the days of speaking over your producer, stumbling over feedback and the ubiquitous 'you go, no after you' interactions.

Technical Data & Compatibility
Operating Systems:
Windows, Mac OS, Chrome OS, Linux
Browsers:
Chrome, Opera, Yandex
Hardware:
Comrex ACCESS + BRIC-Link, Tieline Bridge-IT
Smartphone / Tablet:
ipdtl.com: Windows SoftPhones: LuciLive, Media5fone
Audio Codecs:
IP: OPUS, G722, G711 ISDN: MPEG LII (128 Mono+JS, 64), G722, AAC LD (64 & 128), AAC 128, MPEG L3 128
Video Codecs:
VP8
Protocols:
STUN, TURN - Automatic Nat Traversal N/ACIP, SIP - AoIP / VoIP
Servers:
Europe, N. America, S. America, Asia Backup system at ipdtl2.com

One of the coolest features of ipDTL is the ability to combine multiple sources (phone, Internet, ISDN) and be able to mix/mute them to taste with the included mixer.

You can also record the session in your browser for download once you're done, send and receive video, share files and chat via a built-in text window.

You can invite non IPDTL users into your session with a dedicated link. The guest will simply open their browser, navigate to the link, choose their audio source and they're ready to go. This is particularly useful for radio/podcast producers who would like to record non audio professionals in superior quality than consumer offerings such as Skype or FaceTime.

In summary, IPDTL is an extremely well thought out alternative to ISDN, Skype, FaceTime or telephone, that enables producers and talent to connect in an un-fussy and reliable way. It's ability to combine sources and bridge to ISDN means that talent can connect to the worldwide voiceover network in a way that gives them a competitive advantage.

Visit IPDTL and try a day pass, or subscribe with a package that perfectly suits your needs.

Written by Jamie Muffett - March 2018.