A person sitting at a recording console with a laptop in the foreground with Dante Controller software on the screen.

Dante is an AV-over-IP technology that makes it possible to send hundreds of channels of high-resolution, low-latency audio between devices using standard Ethernet cables. Created by Audinate and licensed to third-party manufacturers, the Dante protocol has been widely adopted by top brands like Focusrite, Universal Audio, Apogee, Avid, PreSonus, and RME.

Dante networks are used in major recording studios, post-production houses, broadcast facilities, and music venues around the world, but even the humblest home studio can take advantage of it, too. While networked audio may seem complex at first glance, it’s actually very easy to implement and has the potential to dramatically streamline your setup and workflow. In this guide, we’ll explain how Dante works and how to configure a few different types of Dante systems for different applications. 

Why Dante?

Dante is popular in the pro audio world because it supports uncompressed audio at high sample rates, operates at extremely low latency, and provides incredibly high channel counts over a single cable. Here are some quick facts about Dante:

High-Quality, Low-Latency Audio

  • Maximum sample rate: 192 kHz
  • Maximum bit depth: 32
  • Maximum channel count: 1024 (512 x 512 at 24-bit, 48 kHz quality)
  • Minimum latency: 150 microseconds (0.15 milliseconds)

Endlessly Scalable

Dante’s specs far exceed the requirements of most studios, meaning that any Dante system can scale to meet your needs as they grow. You can start small with a Dante interface in your control room linked to a Dante headphone amp in your live room, add an Ethernet switch to accommodate more devices, or even bridge multiple Dante networks to unify an entire multi-room facility.

Eliminates Cables

In a Dante network, one Ethernet cable can replace hundreds of analog cables. Instead of running multichannel snakes between your interface and console or cutting holes in the walls to install tie lines, you can enjoy a simpler, cleaner studio while saving money and reducing maintenance. The only analog cables you’ll need are the ones connecting your mics, headphones, and outboard gear to your Dante devices.

Simplified Routing

Any device on a Dante network can share lossless audio streams with all other devices, making it possible to route any input to any output without plugging or unplugging any cables. Any computer or mobile device connected to a Dante network can remotely control signal routing, mixing, and DSP effects, and even things like preamp gain and phantom power on certain devices.

Dante Controller software

What Do I Need?

Setting up a Dante system requires very few components. Obviously, you’ll need Dante-capable equipment and the necessary cables to connect mics, headphones, and outboard gear—but beyond that, it’s just a matter of connecting devices like a normal computer network. Once it’s all connected, everything else is handled on the software side.

Dante-Compatible Equipment

Dante isn’t the only audio-over-IP platform in town (some brands use other protocols such as AVB), so it’s important to look for the Dante logo before purchasing gear. Many products feature built-in Dante compatibility, while others require optional cards for Dante expansion. There are even PCIe cards that can turn your computer into a self-contained Dante interface.

Ethernet Cables

Dante uses the same standard Ethernet cables used in consumer and commercial computer networks, which are inexpensive and readily available. Dante requires gigabit bandwidth, so you’ll need to use Cat5e or higher cables. Most Dante devices feature standard RJ45 connectors, but some are compatible with EtherCON locking connectors for a more secure connection.

Ethernet Switches

Some Dante devices can be daisy-chained together, but larger networks require a central Ethernet switch to act as a hub for routing audio streams between devices. Fortunately, Dante networks can run on commercial off-the-shelf Ethernet switches as long as they meet certain criteria. To fully support Dante, your switch must have the following features:

  • Managed: capable of user configuration via software
  • Non-blocking: allows all connections to pass signal at all times
  • Quality of Service (QoS) functionality: allows you to set priority levels for different types of data
  • Ability to disable Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE): prevents throttling of signal bandwidth

Dante Controller Software

While many Dante devices have their own software or firmware tools for signal routing, you’ll probably still need the official Dante Controller software for initial network setup and reconfiguration. Dante Controller is free to download, and any computer on the network with Dante Controller installed can be used to configure the system.

Dante Setup Examples

Dante networks can take many different forms, from a handful of devices in the same room to an entire facility running multiple Dante “domains.” Here are a few real-world examples of Dante setups with suggested equipment.

A Neumann MT 48 audio interface sitting on a desk with Neumann headphones and Neumann studio monitors in the background.

Small Dante System for a Two-Room Studio

In a typical recording studio with a separate control room and live room (or even a home studio with a vocal booth in the closet), just two or three Dante devices can eliminate the need for tie lines, patch bays, and huge tangles of cables. A system like this would be based around a Dante audio interface connected to the studio computer and equipped with whatever arrangement of mic preamps and I/O you require.

In the live room, one or more satellite units can provide all of your mic and instrument inputs, as well as headphone amps and a talkback system for the performers. But instead of running a mess of cables back into the control room, all you need to do is run a single Ethernet cable through the wall or install an RJ45 wall plate.

The entire system can be controlled from the studio computer, or from a mobile device if the network is connected to a Wi-Fi router. This makes it easy for performers to adjust their own headphone mixes and allows the engineer to remotely reconfigure their I/O routing while plugging mics in. You can even save and recall routing configurations and headphone mixes for various types of sessions.

Recommended Gear:

Neve 1073OPX

Medium Dante System for a Complex Studio

Larger studios with full-sized mixing consoles, racks of outboard gear, and multiple isolation booths are an excellent use case for Dante. In the control room, multiple devices such as Dante interfaces, A/D converters, and digital patch bays can link all of your gear together while eliminating dozens of failure-prone analog connections and vastly reducing downtime when you need to reconfigure your setup.

The main live room can house remotely-controlled preamps and headphone amps, and isolation rooms can easily be fitted with RJ45 jacks to accommodate Dante I/O boxes or user-adjustable headphone/talkback systems. And because everything’s on the same network, all devices can be accessed and controlled from the control room or a mobile device.

The larger your Dante network gets, the more important your network topology becomes. At this scale, it’s probably not possible to daisy-chain all of your devices in a line, ring, or tree topology due to latency and bandwidth limitations, so you’ll probably need to implement a “star” topology with an Ethernet switch as the central hub. Be sure to leave room in your budget for a good switch that meets your needs and allows room for your network to grow.

Recommended Gear:

A person adjusting a knob while looking at a screen with a rack full of audio gear next to them including an Avid MTRX Studio audio interface.

Large Dante System for a Multi-Room Facility

Commercial facilities with multiple tracking and mixing rooms, editing bays, and mastering suites can make the most of Dante’s potential—in fact, it would be almost foolish for any large recording or broadcast studio not to take advantage of networked audio. Implementing a Dante system is the easiest way to lower costs, streamline operations, and increase reliability in big facilities.

Imagine a studio complex with an “A” room and a “B” room that share a central live room, plus a separate “C” room for mixing and overdubs. When studio A has a tracking session, the engineer can tap into the mic inputs and headphone system in the live room while studios B and C operate independently for mix sessions. During an in-studio performance, studio A can focus on the broadcast or streaming mix while studio B records the raw tracks and studio C functions as an extra isolation room for the talent.

Multi-room facilities can be set up as one large network running off a central Ethernet switch or as multiple mini-networks called “domains.” Using one unified network provides the most simplicity and flexibility, while the domain model allows studios to be “bridged” as needed or operate completely offline to prevent leaks of high-stakes projects.

Recommended Gear:

Conclusion

Ready to plan your Dante upgrade and enjoy a more flexible workflow, a tidier studio, and a futureproof platform that can adapt to your needs? Get in touch with one of our Audio Consultants to get a great deal on Dante gear or schedule a demo at one of our showrooms to see how it works for yourself.

Michael CraverIf you’re interested in purchasing any of the gear mentioned in this blog or need help building a Dante networked audio system for your studio, we're here to help! Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.