FRANKFURT, Germany – Allen & Heath and Audinate announced at Prolight+ Sound that they are collaborating to introduce Dante networking modules for the iLive digital mixing series. Dante will be incorporated into Allen & Heath's range of audio networking plug in cards, which slot into the iDR MixRacks and allow iLive to interface with a variety of common audio interface and networking standards. Separately, Link announced a license agreement with Audinate to implement Dante in its DGlink Stage Box system. Audinate's Dante is a plug-and-play standards-based IP media networking solution. The Dante media networking technology suite transports low-latency uncompressed audio over a standard IP Ethernet network with sample-accurate synchronization.
"Dante simplifies installation because it supports automatic device and channel discovery, with easy to use signal routing. Dante also provides comprehensive network monitoring tools. Allen & Heath will be selling a 64 x 64 bi-directional Dante Card with full network redundancy.
Allen & Heath's iLive digital mixing series includes several Control Surface and MixRack variants, which can be mixed and matched in any combination and share the same firmware, so that show files are transferable between systems via a USB key.
They connect together with CAT5 cable and use the Ethernet protocol for control. All MixRacks feature the same 64×32 RackExtra DSP mix engine architecture, providing processing for 64 channels, 32 mixes, and 8 stereo FX processors. The modular iDR10 MixRack has two slots for networking plug in cards, while the fixed I/O iDR-16, iDR-32 and iDR-48 MixRacks have a single card slot.
"We are pleased to be working with Audinate to implement Dante in our iLive digital mixing series," said Glenn Rogers, managing director of Allen & Heath. "With the growing rate of adoption of Audinate's Dante networking in other A/V products, we felt the timing was right to add this to our iLive series."
The Dante 64×64 networking card from Allen & Heath will include the Dante Virtual Soundcard with each purchase. The Dante Virtual Soundcard turns a PC or Mac into a Dante-enabled device.
The Dante Virtual Soundcard has many of the characteristics of a physical sound card or audio interface, including the ability to play and record audio using any Windows audio application with standard ASIO multichannel audio support, or any Core Audio Mac application.
It uses the Ethernet port on the computer to communicate with a network of other Dante-enabled devices without the need for expensive soundcards. No special hardware is required other than installing Dante Virtual Soundcard on a conventional PC or laptop.
"We are excited about having Dante incorporated into the product offerings of Allen & Heath," said Lee Ellison, CEO of Audinate. "The addition of the iLive product portfolio to the family of Dante-enabled products gives customers a broader range of connectivity options."
"The addition of Dante significantly enhances the audio transport capabilities of our system while making it more flexible," said Marco Piromalli, president of Link. "We look forward to debuting a system at InfoComm10 in Las Vegas this June."
DGlink; is the first multi-protocol enabled modular digital snake system. The DGlink digital audio distribution system leverages a long lineage of eurocable analog/digital cables, LK connectors, and digital circuitry (all manufactured by Link) which provides a modular, touring grade, digital distribution system that is compatible with the architecture of traditional stage boxes. DGlink is specifically designed for live applications that require the integration and distribution of Analog, AES-EBU, and Ethernet based protocols.
"Partnering with Link offers a Stage Box solution that will take advantage of the many benefits Dantehas to offer," said Audinate's Ellison. "Link's unique hybrid approach, coupled with Dante's advanced technology, offers the end user a distribution system that will improve audio quality and simplify setup."
For more information, please visit www.ilive-digital.com, www.audinate.com and www.linkitaly.com.
