The Low-Down on Dante Networking

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes

Dante is an innovative networking technology that solves the challenges of delivering tightly synchronized audio and video signals with ultra-low network latency over computer networks. Replacing previous configurations in AV setups, Dante delivers the benefits of IT networking to the professional AV industry for a more flexible, scalable, and streamlined solution. The potential for Dante reaches almost limitless applications and has become the preferred digital audio networking solution in commercially installed systems, live sound, broadcasting, houses of worship, corporate systems, professional recording, transportation, and more.

AUDINATE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DANTE

The story of Audinate begins in 2003 when Motorola closed its Australia-based research facility. Some of the research engineers—headed by Aidan Williams—secured support and funding from the National Information and Communications Technology of Australia (NICTA). Williams’ interest in music informed the team’s direction of research; in creating audio setups, he noticed a recurring problem with the traditional “point-to-point” configuration, and his background as an IT professional suggested there may be a more streamlined way to deploy these systems over a single network.

With NICTA’s backing, the team embarked on developing an innovative technology that would become Dante. In 2006, with Williams as CEO, Audinate became a “spin-out” company of NICTA and began to present Dante to the market. In the ensuing years, Dante technology has dramatically changed professional AV, from installed systems to live venues to studios and beyond. Audinate’s AV-over-IP (AVoIP) uses Dante-enabled products to ensure seamless cooperation between AV devices and equips end users to enjoy high-quality, flexible solutions.

POINT-TO-POINT VS NETWORKED AV SYSTEMS

As Williams and his team at Audinate intended, Dante offers a streamlined, flexible alternative to the previous point-to-point option for AV setups.

The Problems with Point-to-Point

“Point-to-point” refers to how the individual devices are physically interconnected. These setups require multiple, single-purpose cables—one for each piece of gear you’re incorporating into your audio or video system. The more gear you incorporate, the more complicated it is to set up…and the easier it is to encounter problems.

Another aspect of point-to-point is that signals in this type of setup only flow in one direction. Any adjustments to the signal chain—no matter how minor—can be a difficult and even expensive undertaking.

Point-to-point configurations are also not easy to expand. The further apart you spread gear, the greater the distance between points, which necessitates longer runs of physical cables. In turn, the longer the cable, the higher the risk of experiencing signal degradation via interference, voltage drops, and other distortion that can have an observable effect on your audio or video quality.

Dante’s Networked Approach

The networked approach of Dante addresses each of these issues, delivering ease of setup, flexibility in changing that setup, and reliable signal quality.

Dante uses a single cable type—Ethernet Cat5e or Cat6—to connect all devices in your system to a central Dante device simultaneously. Each Dante device supports up to 512 channels, meaning that a single system can support hundreds of devices for ultimate scalability. Dante uses standard network switches. All network ports allow you to simply plug a device into an available jack to get started using it. Dante Video boasts the same benefits as Dante audio: Dante video systems dispense with the need for breakouts or matrix switches.

Need to change the signal flow on an existing Dante system? This is all controlled via software, meaning you don’t need to change your physical setup to change signal paths, no matter where the device is physically located. It also results in a more reliable signal. All settings are stored in the individual Dante devices, allowing them to operate without being connected to a computer.

Signal reliability and quality are optimized through Dante, offering 100% uncompressed, lossless digital audio with 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz sample rates, 24- or 32-bit digital audio, and ultra-low latency of 1 millisecond or less.

THE DANTE STACK

Central to Dante’s design is the “Dante Stack”—a comprehensive set of tools that address the needs of professional AV applications. There are four levels in this stack:

1. Transport sends lossless audio or low-latency video over standard network equipment.
2. Control allows you to set signal paths, name devices, and configure latency or sample rates.
3. Security prevents unauthorized changes to your device by implementing PINs and further restricts access to the system with user authentication and encrypted control data.
4. Administration oversees the entire network with instant notification of change or trouble, as well as configures domains to separate devices into logical groupings.

Dante segments and wraps data into Internet Protocol (IP) packets that are compatible for transmission across a standard IP network. Packets contain timing information and the addresses of the signal’s source and destination, which allows them to be efficiently and accurately routed through the network. When a Dante IP packet arrives at its intended destination device, it’s reconstructed into a continuous digital stream to be played, recorded, or processed.

DANTE TECHNOLOGY FROM AUDINATE

Audinate implements Dante in multiple hardware and software platforms, including soundcards and chips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and network management platforms. For example:

• Dante Broadway is an FPGA chip that allows manufacturers to incorporate a smaller-channel count Dante into their products, making it a good addition to small mixers, power amplifiers, and compact conferencing setups.
• Another solution for audio manufacturers is Dante IP Core, a soft IP solution that equips OEMs to add Dante audio connectivity to FPGA-based designs.
• For end users, Dante Domain Manager is a server-based network management software that delivers advanced management tools to make your AV system more secure, scalable, and controllable.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AND APPLICATIONS

Dante hardware modules, chips, reference designs, and software may be purchased to incorporate into third-party AV software and hardware developers. It is currently available in over 3,500 products from more than 500 manufacturers. All Dante-compatible devices enable interoperability for a fast, easy, and dependable network.

Due to its flexible scalability, reliable and quality performance, and ease of installation, Dante is a popular AV solution for a wide range of applications across multiple types of industries. Some of the most common venues for Dante installation include:

• Houses of Worship
• Arenas and Stadiums
• Conference Centers
• Universities
• Broadcast or Recording Studios
• Amusement or Themed Parks
• Theaters

Learn more about how Dante can benefit your audio and video application by contacting the experts at SoundPro by emailing info@soundpro.com or calling 800.203.5611.

Since 2021, Laura has been creating content for the Sound Productions website and articles. She graduated from UW-Whitewater with a BA in Literature, which provides the real-world skills of discussing Dante…though his Divine Comedy only vaguely covers AV applications.