IDI-Systems has announced IVON (Integrated Voice Over Net), a high-performance voice communication library purpose-built for games, training simulations, and virtual environments. IVON is not a repurposed VoIP stack or a hosted service — it runs on your infrastructure with no external dependencies or per-user fees.
The library covers the full voice pipeline: capture, variable-rate Opus encoding at up to 48 kHz with server-controlled codec profiles per voice group, network distribution via dedicated UDP fanout workers, and mixed spatial output. All traffic is encrypted by default using XChaCha20-Poly1305 authenticated encryption with per-group key isolation and automatic key rotation.
IVON is built on a lockless architecture designed for real-time constraints. The audio pipeline uses a phased processing model with parallel decode, parallel DSP, and mix stages separated by barriers, delivering predictable latency with zero data races. Forward Error Correction, Packet Loss Concealment, and an adaptive jitter buffer keep audio smooth even over degraded network conditions.
The library supports up to 256 participants per voice group with multiple groups running in parallel, separated control and data planes with dedicated UDP fanout workers, and server-defined codec profiles that let operators balance bandwidth and quality per channel at runtime. First-class hooks for spatial and 3D audio provide pre-DSP, post-spatial, and post-mix callback points for plugging in HRTF, panning, or custom spatial engines.
IVON is modular — ship only what your project needs. A standalone client, a dedicated server, an audio processor, or the full suite. Cross-platform across Windows and Linux, it offers a stable C API for engine compatibility, header-only C++ wrappers, and a runtime dynamic loader that requires no link-time dependency. Unreal Engine integration is available now, with Unity and Godot support planned.
IDI-Systems is an engineering research and development company focused on RF communications, software engineering, IT solutions, space/aerospace, and defense. Headquartered in Seattle, WA, its goal is to bring the best engineering talent worldwide to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions for its customers.