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DANTE-ENABLED AMPLIFIERS : THE FULL POWER OF NETWORKED AUDIO
By Bradley Drummond
The popularity of audio-over-IP ( AoIP ) has grown significantly over the last several years . As a developer and manufacturer of professional-grade audio amplifiers , we are seeing a huge market shift toward Dante-enabled products in both small and large installations — and for many good reasons .
While most AV professionals have heard of audio networking , it may still be a foreign concept for some . Simply put , audio networking , or AoIP , is the transportation of audio signals and control data between devices in real-time by using standard IP networking technology .
A notable difference between digital audio networking and older connectivity methods is that with networked systems , connections are no longer point-to-point . Traditionally , AV professionals relied on several point-to-point cable connections defining the signal chain , which is limiting , expensive , and inefficient . Networked systems minimize the number and size of cables required and can be reconfigured in countless ways without moving any cables .
The Rise of the Dante Network It seems that Dante is everywhere in the pro AV industry today . Since its introduction in 2006 , Dante has become the industry ’ s leading standard for permanent-installation networked audio transport . The Dante software and hardware platform from Audinate distributes uncompressed , multi-channel digital media via standard Ethernet networks , with near-zero latency and perfect synchronization .
Dante enables digital audio distribution over a standard , IP-based network and allows audio , control , and all other data to coexist effectively on the same network . With over 3,000 Dante-enabled products from nearly 500 manufacturers available today , the Dante ecosystem is extensive , with most product manufacturers offering Dante-ready products right out of the box .
Digital audio networking offers many benefits , including the near-limitless flexibility to route signals wherever needed , without repatching cables . An audio network installation can easily and reliably handle hundreds of devices and carry thousands of channels of content , bringing unprecedented flexibility for users and content providers alike .
IP Network-Enabled Amps From the amplifier point of view , networking brings end-to-end digital transport to every audio device , meaning there is no noise , hum , or signal loss — even when there are large distances between devices . A Dante audio network can support high channel counts and high-quality audio through 96kHz sample rates and easily distribute that same high-quality signal to any number of amplifiers or specific channels .
A digital audio network dramatically reduces the cabling traditionally required for high-channel-count amplifiers . Dante-ready amps simply connect to other amps , consoles , DSP systems , servers , or other equipment via built-in Cat5e type connectors — very clean and simple — then all routing is addressed through software . Connecting multiple racks throughout a facility is as easy as running fibre or jumping onto the facility ’ s existing network infrastructure since AV can be run parallel with other common networking tasks like email , file sharing , communications , and more .
Additionally , because of the above reasons , network-enabled AV installations cost much less to install than analog installations . There is significant potential for project installation cost reduction by keeping everything on the network rather than creating patch bays and large quantities of analog signal wiring . By using AoIP , AV professionals can eliminate specialty analog cables and instead utilize readily available network standard cables and switches .
Ultimate Scalability Large or small , designing an audio system based on Dante-connected devices offers many benefits , but near-limitless system flexibility and scalability are at the top of the list . For example , when acclaimed music producer Brad Wood designed his new home studio in Los Angeles , Seagrass Studio , he used a pair of Dante-enabled , multi-channel amplifiers . Wood wanted digital amplifiers for their quality and power in a small footprint , but also for their connectivity and flexibility . Wood was transitioning from a traditional stereo system to a Dolby Atmos 9.1.4 system in conjunction with DADman software , part of the Avid matrix studio environment .
And at the other end of the size scale , when
AV system integrators were designing the audio network for the new Pearle Hotel & Spa in Ontario , the team installed a set of nine multichannel , Dante-enabled amplifiers to cover all of the hotel ’ s many common areas , restaurants , bars , ballrooms , and meeting spaces . The ability to decentralize system processing , set various zones and presets , and easily reconfigure the system as needed ( without moving a cable or equipment ) was a prime requirement , assuring the hotel could meet any future audio system need .
As we can see , digital audio networking is a rapidly growing segment of the industry . Today ’ s systems and components are growing smarter , faster , and more capable ( and less expensive ), and audio networking is bringing much-needed advancements to audio workflows .
The benefits of flexibility , cost savings , and improved performance are driving integrators and manufacturers alike to adopt networking not only as a way to transport content , but also to offer new levels of performance and functionality . Steering customers toward digital audio networking prepares them and their facilities for a world of new possibilities , with the flexibility and scalability to easily meet whatever future projects may hold .
Bradley Drummond is the Director of Application Engineering at LEA Professional .
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