DAD AX Center Base Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with DADlink Module

The NTP DAD AX Center Base Thunder Core Audio Interface is a versatile and powerful audio interface that delivers exceptional audio quality and flexibility. It features Digital Audio Denmark AD & DA conversion combined with the renowned transparency and musicality of DAD mic preamps, providing you with accurate and detailed sound capture. This configuration features the DADlink module pre-installed. This enables you to connect to other DADlink-compatible hardware units with an ultra-fast connection.

ANALOG CONNECTIVITY

The AX Center offers two XLR / 1/4" combo connectors on the front for microphones and instruments, and can be further expanded with up to two 8-channel mic/line A/D cards for a total of 16 mic inputs. You can also add one 8 channel D/A card for an additional 8 analog outputs, making it ideal for mixing in 7.1.4 ATMOS format, or for mastering conversion. The interface features two headphone connections that enable you to monitor all sources in the system easily.

DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

The rear panel of the AX Center includes Thunderbolt, Dante AoIP, MADI, ADAT, S/PDIF, and Word Clock connectivity options. When fully expanded, this interface can support up to 984 input and output channels. The interface also features a 984x984 audio-routing matrix that allows you to route any input to any output, or duplicate any input and send it to multiple outputs simultaneously. You also get access to DAD’s flexible Pro|Mon monitor control solution, featuring a 512x64 channel summing engine.

DSP PROCESSING ENGINE

The onboard DSP-processing engine can handle up to 128 channels with a total of 1024 EQ filters, making it ideal for speaker correction at large immersive sound stages. The AX Center ensures that your precious audio is converted from analog to digital completely true to its natural expression, seamlessly routed and summed with utmost precision, and finally passed through a world-class D/A stage before reaching your speakers.

DADLINK MODULE

The pre-installed DADlink module enables you to connect to other DADlink-compatible hardware units with an ultra-fast connection. DADlink is a proprietary audio and data format that establishes a super-fast highway between DADlink-compatible units such as AX64, AX Center, Core 256, AX32, and more. Depending on the sample rate, you can transfer up to 256 bidirectional channels between units at zero latency on two optical fibers. Sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz are supported, and the dynamic range is a staggering 237 dB, ensuring a fast and reliable transfer at the highest audio quality imaginable. In fact, DADlink is not only the fastest track from DAD to DAD units, as some units by NTP Technology are also compatible with the DADlink format. Compatible with AX64, AX Center, Core 256, AX32, Penta 720, and Penta 721s Series.

The DADlink format supports the following sample rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8.8 kHz and 384 kHz. The maximum number of bidirectional channels to run via DADlink depends on the sample rate you are using – lower samples rates equals higher channel counts.

• 44.1 kHz/48 kHz = 128 channels
• 88.2 kHz/96 kHz = 64 channels
• 176.4 kHz/192 kHz = 32 channels
• 352.8.8 kHz/384 kHz = 16 channels

NTP DAD AX CENTER FEATURES:

• Thunderbolt 3 interface, with 256 bidirectional channels at 48 and 96 kHz, 128 channels at 192 kHz and 64 channels at 384 kHz
• Interchangeable Thunderbolt 3 main and expansion port with 15 W power for ancillary equipment
• Audio Drivers for macOS and Windows
• MADI interface on BNC connectors with 64 bidirectional channels at 48 kHz, 32 channels at 96 kHz, 16 channels at 192 kHz and 8 channels at 384 kHz
• Dual ADAT interface on TosLink Light pipes with 16 bidirectional channels at 48 kHz, 8 channels at 96 kHz, and 4 channels at 192 kHz, configurable also as 2 channel S/PDIF input
• DANTE AoIP interface via Ethernet with 256 bidirectional channels at 48 kHz, 128 channels at 96 kHz, and 64 channels at 192 kHz
• Two card slots available for DAD I/O expansion cards
• Word clock I/O, and Video Black and Burst input on BNC connectors
• 128 channels speaker processing with a total of 1024 filters and delay
• Summing Processor 64 output/512 input busses
• Internal router: 4096 x 4096
• 32-bit floating point processing
• DADman control software for macOS and Windows connecting via Ethernet or Thunderbolt
• Pro|Mon monitor control functionality and integration for Avid Eucon Enabled Devices via DADman