Dante (networking)

For other uses, see Dante (disambiguation).
Dante
Manufacturer Info
Manufacturer Audinate Pty. Ltd.
Development date 2006
Network Compatibility
Switchable Yes
Routable Yes[lower-alpha 1]
Ethernet data rates Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Audio Specifications
Minimum latency 150 µs[1]
Maximum channels per link 1024 (512x512)
Maximum sampling rate 192 kHz[2][3]
Maximum bit depth 32 bits[4]

Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet) is a combination of software, hardware, and network protocols that deliver uncompressed, multi-channel, low-latency digital audio over a standard Ethernet network using Layer 3 IP packets.[5] Developed in 2006 by a Sydney-based company named Audinate, Dante builds and improves on previous audio over Ethernet technologies, such as CobraNet and EtherSound.

Like most other audio over Ethernet technologies, Dante is primarily for professional, commercial applications. Most often, it is used in applications where a large number of audio channels must be transmitted over relatively long distances or to multiple locations.

Digital audio provides several advantages over traditional analog audio distribution. Audio transmitted over analog cables can be adversely affected by signal degradation due to electromagnetic interference, high-frequency attenuation, and voltage drop over long cable runs. Thanks to digital multiplexing, the cabling requirements for digital audio distribution are almost always reduced when compared to analog audio. Dante also provides specific advantages over first-generation audio over Ethernet technologies, such as CobraNet and EtherSound. Technological advancements include native gigabit support,[6] higher channel count, lower latency, and automatic configuration.

History

After Motorola closed an Australian research facility in 2003, current Audinate CTO Aidan Williams brought a team of researchers to the National Information and Communication Technology Australia (NICTA) research centre in Sydney, Australia. There, with the help of government funding, the team spent three years developing the foundations of Dante. In 2006, Williams founded Audinate and began the process of bringing Dante to the market.[7]

Audinate received funding from NICTA until negotiations concluded in 2006, at which point Audinate became NICTA's first successful spin-out company.[8] Since 2006, Audinate has also secured two rounds of A$4 million investments led by venture capital firms Starfish Ventures and Innovation Capital.[9][10] In 2009, Audinate established an office in Portland, Oregon and named Lee Ellison as CEO.[11] Audinate also has offices in London and Hong Kong.[12]

Since its founding, Audinate has licensed about 150 companies[13] to integrate Dante technology into their products. Notable licensees include Allen & Heath, Ashly Audio, Behringer, Bosch, Bose, BSS Audio, Crestron, DiGiCo, Dolby, Electro-Voice, Extron, Focusrite, JoeCo, Lab.gruppen, Lectrosonics, Mackie, Peavey, Shure, Soundcraft, Millennia, Solid State Logic, Sound Devices, Symetrix, Telex, Whirlwind, Presonus, and Yamaha.[14]

Notes

  1. Although the UDP packets used for encapsulation of audio are routable, the Bonjour discovery protocol used by Dante does not traverse routers without special provisions.

References

  1. "Getting Started with Dante: 1. Dante Overview". Audinate. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  2. "Best Practices in Network Audio" (PDF). Audio Engineering Society. 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  3. Jin Evans (2011-02-02). "Audinate debuts Dante Brooklyn II". L&Si Online. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  4. "Dante Brooklyn II Data Sheet" (PDF). Audinate. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  5. "Dante Controller Manual, page 6: About Dante" (PDF). Audinate. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  6. Dante-MY16-AUD (PDF), Yamaha, retrieved 2011-10-16
  7. Holder, Christopher. "Audinate Dante" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  8. NICTA (December 7, 2007). "Audinate". Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  9. "Innovation Capital leads $4,000,000 Series A investment in Audinate Pty Ltd.". April 17, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  10. "Audinate Raises Additional $4 Million in Funding to Fuel Growth". January 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  11. ProSoundWeb (January 8, 2009). "Audinate Names Lee Ellison CEO, To Be Based At New U.S. Headquarters". Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  12. "From NICTA spin-off to global audio success-story". Electronics News. 2015-08-06.
  13. "Televic And Audinate Sign Dante™ License Agreement". 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  14. "Dante Licensees". Retrieved 2014-03-24.

External links

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