For years, moving 32 channels of audio from a stage to a console meant a heavy, expensive multicore snake. Networked audio (AoIP, audio over IP) replaces that snake with ordinary Ethernet cables. Dante, developed by Audinate, is the most widespread protocol in live sound, installations and, increasingly, sound carts and mobile units.
How it works
- Every compatible device (stagebox, console, wireless receivers, recorder, computer) connects to a network switch.
- Dante Controller software decides which channel goes where: it's a virtual patch, with no re-cabling.
- One device acts as the leader clock and all the others sync to it using the PTP protocol, so the audio samples line up.
- A computer can send and receive Dante channels with a virtual sound card, without a physical interface.
Latency
Dante lets you choose each device's latency: low values (below one millisecond) for monitors and in-ears, and higher values when the network is large or has several hops between switches. More latency doesn't mean worse sound: it's a safety margin so no packet arrives late.
The network: where you win or lose
| Point | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Switch | Gigabit and, ideally, managed | Audio and clock need guaranteed bandwidth and priority |
| Quality of service (QoS) | Enabled, prioritizing clock and audio | Keeps other traffic from delaying critical packets |
| Energy saving (EEE) | Disabled on the ports | It can cause dropouts and sync errors |
| Redundancy | An independent secondary network on devices that support it | If a cable or switch fails, audio continues over the other network |
| Dedicated network | Separate from the internet and public Wi-Fi | Less unexpected traffic and more security |
Dante in audiovisual production
In live sound, Dante links the stage, front-of-house console, monitors and multitrack recording. In audiovisual production it shows up in mobile units, reality shows with many microphones and sound carts where receivers, mixer and recorder exchange channels without analog cables. AES67, an interoperability standard that Dante supports, makes it possible to connect equipment from other networked audio systems.
Sources and recommended reading
Technical documentation from manufacturers and regulators. Links open external sites.
- Dante: audio over IP · Audinate ↗
- AES67 · Wikipedia ↗
- Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588) · Wikipedia ↗
