Similarly, a sound engineer can grab an SM57
(a design from the 1960s) or a C414 (a design
from the 1970s) or a pro microphone released
just last week and not have to worry about
what cable to use to connect it to the stage box
or mixer or interface. For the last 60 years or so,
a ‘microphone cable’ meant an XLR balanced
audio interconnection.
Contrast the land of guitar and microphone
connections with the junk drawer you likely
Common CAT 5 cables can serve as the pathway for Dante audio over IP (AoIP)
have filled with outdated digital connection Not only does Dante make the physical point C, etc. All of the stops in both directions
cables. SCSI anyone? DisplayPort? No, not interconnect between devices much more are accessible from anywhere on the common
that DisplayPort, the other one. I’ve got a future-proof, it speaks a very common tech networked system.
FireWire cable that went with the original language. A decade ago when Audinate iPod if anyone needs one. How about the invented Dante, they chose to use standard Turning back to your church audio system,
thousands of clock radios in hotel rooms that IT network-speak to transmit high quality this sort of network approach allows for easy
still have the old 30-pin iPhone connector? audio. Because of this common and readily- expansion and reconfiguration at any time with
Oops. Not only do these cables physically differ understood and readily-accessible language just a few mouse clicks. Dante allows you to
from any current standard, but the underlying choice, Dante is now the preferred audio hop in and out wherever you have a connected
‘language’ native to these protocols could be networking solution and has been adopted network point and easily record multitrack to a
functionally extinct. by more pro-audio AV manufacturers than Windows laptop, play audio from an iMac, add
any other networking technology out there. in a broadcast mixer, etc. without the need to
Live production has steadily moved from the According to Audinate’s latest count, over purchase additional ‘translation’ hardware or
use of analog mixers to digital mixers and 1,600 Dante-enabled products are available redesign your cable runs.
we’ve seen a number of similar digital audio from just about every audio (and now video) connector and language dead ends along the company out there. A number of those Dante- If this sort of technology has piqued your
way. Betamax lost out to VHS and iOS/Android enabled products are from Allen & Heath and interest, make sure to read Part 2 of the Dante
shoved Windows Phone to the wayside and we just released four more devices last month. in Worship series next month. Now that we
have some of the basic concepts down, we’ll
many proprietary and ill-fated digital cables
and formats also fell out of favor over the In our examples above, we talked about the be getting a bit more into the nuts and bolts
last few decades. As we work to be the best simplicity of connecting a mic cable to a mixer of system design and will present sample
stewards of the budget granted for church or the common practice of plugging a guitar ‘good, better, best’ application diagrams. If
tech needs, how do we avoid a proverbial (or to a pedal to an amp. These are examples you can’t wait a whole month to learn more,
literal) outdated tech format junk drawer? Enter of point-to-point connections. One other you can check out the free “Network Simplicity
Audinate’s Dante. nifty bit that Dante brings to the game is the that Scales from Sanctuary to Stage” webinar
possibility of creating a network of ‘logical I presented along with Audinate at http://bit.
Continuing on our theme of various cables and routes’ in addition to supporting simple mixer- ly/allenheathdante030619. Now where did I
connections, Dante is a lot like the instrument to-stagebox or mixer-to-mixer sorts of point-to- put my Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack
cable or XLR cable in that it has reached a point connections. adapter for my iPhone?
critical mass and has proven its staying power
and acceptance. In fact, by far the most One easy way to think about the benefit here
common type of connector in a Dante system is to imagine something like the New York City
is one I’d bet you have within a few feet of Subway system. Because all of the subway
you right now - the ubiquitous Cat 5 cable. tracks are on a common network, the paths
Yes, the same cable your computer uses to and options for where you get on and where
transmit your web search for “breakfast burritos you can exit are nearly infinite. There is no need
near me” can also carry pristine digital audio for a dedicated hard line from point A to point
via Dante. B and a separate direct line from point A to
March 2019
Jeff Hawley
Currently guiding the marketing for Allen & Heath
in the US market, Jeff has a diverse background
as a musician, engineer and trendsetting industry
executive. A noted LA-area jazz bassist, Jeff has
played in a wide variety of venues around the
world, including Carnegie Hall, Angel Stadium, the
Swiss Alps, and Guatemalan jungles. In addition to
performing and producing, Jeff has designed award-
winning music industry products and accessories
and directed the branding and marketing functions
for a number of top musical instrument and pro
audio brands.
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