Introduction to Dante

DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

LEVEL 1
About Audinate
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia
Network engineers first
Develop Dante as 100% interoperable solution for all audio
manufacturers
What we make
Dante technology (all of it)
Hardware modules
Development tools
Software products:
Dante Controller
Dante Virtual Soundcard
Dante Via
The Dante Certification Program
Course structure:
 Level 1: Introduction to Dante
 Level 2: Intermediate Dante
Concepts
Certificate requires:
 Pass Level 1 online test
 Pass Level 2 online test
 Pass Level 2 in-person hands-on test
The Dante Certification Program
Do your hands-on testing for Level 2 today at
test stations
All attendees will receive an email within 24
hours detailing next steps if you wish to become
certified
Both Levels 1 & 2 must be passed
If you are in Track 2, you will be able to pass the
Level 1 online test
Level 1 Topics
Digital audio basics
IP networking basics
What is Dante?
Using Dante
Digital Audio Basics
LEVEL 1
DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Analog to Digital Conversion
Analog signal is sampled at
constant intervals
Yields a stream of values in
time
PCM
Sample Rate
How often samples are
taken
Nyquist Theorem:
Samples must be taken at 2x
maximum audio frequency
Bit Depth
How many bits are used to Number of Bits Number of
represent amplitude Integers
More bits -> more accuracy 1 2
2 4
CDs: 16 bits 4 16
Pro: 24 bits 8 256
16 65536
24 16777216
32 4294967296
Combining Sample Rate & Bit Depth
More of each -> greater fidelity
Increased bandwidth usage
Diminishing returns
Bandwidth
Bandwidth = (Sample rate) x (Bit depth)
Example: 48kHz sample rate, 24-bit depth
48,000 x 24 = 1.152 mbits/sec per channel
64 channels of audio at 48kHz/24-bit
48,000 x 24 x 64 = 74 mbits/sec
Word Clock
The clock that determines
when each sample is
sampled or played out
Must match original clock
for playout
Must be consistent for all
devices in a digital system
Jitter
Distortion caused by
inconsistent word clock in
playout
Classic problem with older
“daisy chained” digital audio
AES3, MADI, ADAT, S/PDIF
Expensive to solve in older
systems
Latency
Audio signal delay in a
system
Transport and processing
Mainly a problem when we
hear delayed and un-delayed
signal simultaneously
Problem for legacy
networking systems (VoIP)
Summary
Digital audio works by playing out or recording samples
Bit depth describes amplitude resolution
Sample rate determines maximum frequency
Word clock must be consistent
Digital audio produces data that can be transported like any
other – time is key that Dante provides
IP Networking Basics
DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
LEVEL 1
How much networking do I need to know?

Not very much

(usually)
Physical side of networking
Modern small networks are made of 3 things:
Things that get connected
Switches: provide a central bridge for connections
Cables: connect them together
What kind of cable for Dante?
Same as for any regular
computer network
Gigabit rated:
CAT5E
CAT6
300 feet max per run
What about Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is another way to
connect to IP networks
Much less reliable that
wired Ethernet
Not compatible with Dante
audio
OK for Dante Controller only
What about fiber?
Just another way to do
Ethernet
Much greater distances if
needed
Requires switches with SFP
Switches
Switches connect devices on a common network
Available small (5 ports) up to large (48 ports)
Switches support all ports going full speed all the time
Use gigabit switches!
Switches – unmanaged & managed
Unmanaged switches – plug ‘n play, limited
Managed switches – many many options and adjustments
Dante works with either type
Managed switches needed in “mixed” (e.g., audio + other
data) or heavily loaded networks
Unmanaged switches good in small dedicated audio
networks
EEE Switches
One special note:
EEE or “Green” switches are often not a good for real time
media
The energy saving feature will shut down ports and prevent
parts of Dante from working properly
Disable this feature, or use switches that do not support it
Topology
Device
Daisy chain 1

Device Device Device Device Device Device

Switch
1 2 3 4 3 2

Device Star
4
Single Switch Example

SWITCH

PC or Mac

Dante Virtual
Soundcard
Multiple stars
Device Device
1 5

Device Device Device Device

Switch Switch
3 2 8 6

Device Device
4 Switch
7
Multiple stars example
Summary
Use gigabit switches
CAT5E or CAT6 cable
Fiber for long runs
Managed or unmanaged switches OK for audio-only
networks
Use a “Star” topology to minimize switch hops
Avoid or disable EEE
Logical side of networking
Physical wiring diagram not very useful
All connections “logical” – name-to-name in software
Data delivered in packets
Network technology is neutral; no special gear needed for
audio
A word about network layers
Each layer passes data to the next
Layer 1: physical connections
(e.g., cables)
Layer 2: devices represented by
fixed hardware addresses (MAC)
Layer 3: devices represented by
variable IP addresses
What is an IP address?
Numeric addresses mapped
to devices
Dynamic or user-assigned
Communication only
between devices in the same
IP address range
LAN: all addresses in same
range
What is a LAN?
Local-area Network
Small number of devices
(<200)
Covers a relatively small area
Very reliable, fast
Shares a common IP address
range
Majority of audio networks
are LANs
What is a “stand alone” network?
A single LAN
Usually dedicated to one purpose
Not dependent upon external resources (e.g., internet,
servers)
Not connected to other LANs through a router
Automatic addressing
LAN requires IP addresses in
same range
Automatic addressing
enabled by default on Dante
devices
Self-assigned addresses
create working LAN
Summary
Layer 3 networking allows use of IP addresses for
connections
”Stand Alone” networks are not connected to internet or
external resources
Automatic addressing enables simple “plug and play” use
of Dante in stand alone networks – use it!
What is Dante?
DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
LEVEL 1
Dante is a hardware and software solution
that transports precisely timed digital
audio between devices using standard IP
networking
Dante features and benefits
All devices use human-readable names
Precise time alignment of all audio
Automatic device discovery
One-click routing
Low, deterministic latency
Virtually jitter-free
Automatic re-connection after power cycles
How is Dante built into products?
Dante Bandwidth
Legacy digital systems Max Channels

constrained to lower channel 512

count
Gigabit means Dante is
capable of 512x512
Even a large 64 channel 64 32
console consumes only 1/8
Dante over MADI Cobranet over
capacity of a single port Gigabit Ethernet 100bT Ethernet
Sample Rate and Connection
Only Dante devices using
the same sample rate may
48kHz connect
Multiple sample rates on the
same network OK
48kHz Higher sample rates = fewer
channels for same
bandwidth
Latency
100% deterministic – always well-defined
Default Dante latency 1ms – suitable for large networks
(10 hops!)
Adjustable to suit needs
Minimum 150μs
Maximum 5ms
Set per Device
Clocking
Dante handles clocking
automatically
Clock Master is determined
by election
All devices sync'd to Master
Each device has a clock
New Clock Master elected as
needed
What does Dante NOT do?
Sample rate conversion
Level control
MIDI
SMPTE time code
These are handled by products
Control and other data runs alongside
Dante on network
Using Dante
DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
LEVEL 1
Dante Controller
Primary Dante tool
Routing: Setup, view, change
Clock
Sample Rate
Latency
Monitoring
Discovery and Routing
If no devices are connected,
Dante Controller is empty
Dante Controller always
shows current state of
network
Key concept: network state
lives in devices
Discovery and Routing – direct connect
When they are connected to
network, Dante devices
automatically appear in Dante
Controller
No pre-configuration
Human readable names
A Dante device can be
connected directly to a
computer
Discovery and Routing – view channels
Use switch to connect multiple
devices
Click “+” sign to view device
channels
Click “-” sign to hide channels
Transmitter channels on
horizontal
Receiver channels on vertical
Discovery and Routing - subscriptions
Dante connections are
“subscriptions”
With device channels showing,
click at intersection of desired
transmit and receive channels
Green checkmark means
subscription is OK
Sample rates match
Discovery and Routing - deleting
To delete a subscription,
click on green checkmark
Checkmark disappears,
subscription deleted
Discovery and Routing - splits
Splits are easy with Dante
Simply click at intersections of
multiple receiver channels for a
desired transmitter
Audio sent to all subscribed
channels
Device names
Recommended: Name first,
then route
You can use device names
of your choice
Double click device in
Routing view, go to Device
Config tab
Edit name
Channel labels
Labels can be applied to any
channels
Use Device View
Makes it easy for volunteers
or newbies to use system
Software version of masking
tape 😉😉
 Adjust Sample Rate
In Device View -> Device Config tab
Adjust sample rate and bit depth (Encoding)
Choices determined by product
Most common 48kHz / PCM 24
Power cycle recovery
Dante Devices contain settings –
not in Dante Controller
At power up and/or
reconnection, all subscriptions
are re-established
Dante Controller not required!
Does Dante Controller need to be
on the network all the time?

No
Summary: Key takeaways 1
Dante Controller automatically displays connected devices
Dante devices have user-definable names
Dante Controller displays both transmitter (source) and
receiver (sink) channels
Channel to channel connections are called subscriptions
Subscriptions are made and deleted by clicking at the
intersection of transmit and receive channels
Summary: Key takeaways 2
Subscriptions may only be made between devices running
the same sample rate, adjusted in Device View
Dante devices “remember” settings and subscriptions
Dante automatically selects a Master Clock
Dante Controller does not need to remain on network
Dante does not alter audio data in any way
Next steps
Want to know more?
Take Level 2!
Go in depth on:
Dante Controller
Dante Virtual Soundcard
Using Multicast
Redundant Dante networks
More!
Thank you
DANTE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
LEVEL 1