My apologies if this is the wrong forum, I just signed up I didn’t know these existed. I am looking at setting up a Dante Network to expand my outputs from my SQ6 at my church. I’m looking to do this to add in a couple of ME-1s in addition to our current outputs and also get over the 32-channel limit from sending audio over the USB connection. We bought a DX168 a couple of years ago to run our current IEMs in stereo. We’re running 8 IEMs. We’re using it for additional inputs as well.
Here’s my issue. I’ve found a post about using the DX168 in a Dante network and there were no guarantees it’ll work, which is fair its not set up for Dante. What I want to know if I can’t connect it directly to the network, should I be able to keep it connected to the SQ6 and access the channels through the SQ via tie lines? I imagine the optimal setup would be to connect it to the switch and control it through the Dante controller software, but if that’s not a possibility does anyone know if doing it through tie lines should work?
I’m new to networked audio, and I haven’t made purchases yet, I want to make sure I’m doing my due diligence before spending the dough on this. Thanks for the help!
Sorry i should have clarifed, Ive had the Dx168 for about a year and a bit now. So a little late to return it. I guess part of the question is, is it worth trying to sell the DX to get the DT? Or should i be able yo swing it with the DX
Sorry in advance if I’ve completely misunderstood and Steffen’s answer makes sense, but to clarify:
The DX protocol is intended for point-to-point connection and does not use IP addresses. The main benefits of DX (or other A&H protocols) vs Dante are; lower cost, lower latency and ease of use (e.g. automatic firmware updating and plug and play connectivity).
Dante is quite different as it does use IP addressing and can be connected over a standard network. This means many more devices can be connected over a single cable and in different topologies (e.g. cascaded or fan out from a switch). Dante requires a Dante module in any Dante device, which in this case would be a Dante option card for the mixer and DT expanders, along with a Dante option card in a ME-U hub if wanting to run the ME units on a Dante network too.
So you cannot run DX expanders directly on a Dante network because they’re not Dante devices, cannot be seen or controlled by Dante Controller and are designed to be connected directly to the SQ. But it is possible to patch any of the DX sockets to and from a Dante network via a Dante option card in the SQ (using Tie Lines for example).
I should also point out that
Expanders increase the number of input and output sockets in the system, but do not change the number of available processing channels. The SQ core always has 48 inputs and 12 stereo mixes (+LR+MTX) available.
Tie Lines are separate from processing channels and allow any input socket to be connected directly (digitally) to any output socket. There is no processing or level control of this signal, it allows signals to be routed around a larger system.
The ME units use the 48kHz dSnake/ME protocol, so cannot be used on the same connection at the same time as DX units. You might check out the GX4816 however, as this has a port that can connect to an ME system.
A DT stage box is a stand alone Dante device and therefore will provide I/O on the Dante network even if the console is powered off.
A DX/GX stage box is not a Dante device. However with a Dante card installed in the console, all of the stage box I/O can be routed to the Dante network through the console’s Dante card. It will just require that the console be powered on for that I/O to be available on the Dante network.
Thanks for the help gents. From my research, I expected what Keith mentioned. But Brian your info is exactly what I’m hoping for. That said, Keith, you mentioned that the ME and Dx cant be used on the same connection. I presumed that means out of the DX into the ME. However, if I add the Dante card, the ME-1s will connect via Dante, while the DX is hooked into the SQ, and like Brian said, will only be accessible to the network via the SQ. That should work in theory right?
Again thanks so much for the help guys, I appreciate it a lot.
As Steffen noted, the ME system doesn’t interface with Dante/Waves/Madi except through the use of a ME-U switch with the appropriate I/O card installed. So if you expect to connect your ME system over Dante, a ME-U with the appropriate Dante card installed (which is not the same card as what the SQ uses) will be required.
Otherwise you will need to connect the ME device(s) directly to an available SLink port, or by daisy chaining/connecting the ME device(s) to a ME port on a stage box that is connected to the console. Not every stage box offers a ME port however, so make sure you do your due diligence before making any purchases. I believe the GX4816 and the AR2412 are the only two stage boxes that have a ME port built in. Other stage boxes, including the DX boxes, do not support the ME connection.