Has any one a connection from a SQ5 to a MacBook Pro M1 within Dante I/O card and Dante VIrtual Soundcard ?
I need a deeper manual to integrate it to my network … for recording sessions
and one question about a stage box for Dante … what’s reconomed for SQ5 and M-SQ-DANT32 I/O card?
I’m running a similar system here in Las Vegas in a home studio with ProTools. I have 2 DT168s and 2 DX168s. Do you need Stage boxes or simply running local I/O in the SQ-5? Jim
one stage box with 16 in or similar … eventually 8 out
have an apollo x8p to route back effects … lofi home recording
Setting up a Dante connection like that is relatively easy. You need to route the audio properly in both the console (using the routing page) and in Dante Controller. If you need more help with this, I suggest that you take the Dante Level 1 and Dante Level 2 certification coursed found on the Audinate website. They are free and will teach you a lot about how Dante works.
EDIT - Before I get into my original answer below, I actually have to ask if you really need a stage box at all? What I/O counts are you trying to use that would require more I/O than what is already built into your SQ console? I’m wondering if you just don’t have a misconception of how the overall system works and somehow think you MUST use a Dante stagebox in order to use Dante at all (which isn’t true). By installing a Dante card in the console, it effectively takes all of the normal “non-Dante” I/O that is available in the console (includes both built in I/O and any I/O connected via stageboxes, I/O cards, other digital connections, etc) and makes it compatible with the Dante network.
Original Answer:
This is just my personal opinion, but I would always choose an A&H non-Dante stagebox over a Dante stagebox unless the situation demanded the use of a Dante box.
There are many reasons for this. First and foremost, the proprietary audio protocols used to connect an A&H console to a stagebox are faster and simpler than a Dante connection. In other words, there is less that can “go wrong” when you use a non-Dante solution vs a Dante solution. Second, the total I/O in the system can be used over the Dante network even if you use non-Dante stage boxes. The only difference is that the console must be powered on and connected to the Dante network. If you had Dante stage boxes, that I/O would be available on the Dante network even if the console was powered off. For 99.9% of the situations however, simply turning on the console isn’t a problem and will likely need to be turned on anyway. Third, if you use a Dante box from a manufacturer other than A&H, you will not have preamp controls on the A&H console. This is because the Dante protocol does not make provisions for preamp controls. This means you will have to use the preamp control software from the stage box manufacture to be able to adjust preamp settings like gain, phantom power, polarity, etc. Finally, the Dante boxes are significantly more expensive than the non-Dante boxes and there are fewer models (ie different I/O options) available.
Long story short, I just don’t see the reason to spend more money for a stage box that is less reliable and has more latency than the cheaper non-Dante boxes.
that’s a good point …. the costs and my choice will be A&H …. there 3-4 different boxes
don’t know what I should choose … 8-16 in 8-16 out in this segments is only the DT168 … would it eventually use on a gig for later savings … at the moment I study the manual of the SQ5
DANTE or Not DANTE … this is the question
for fun I would not choose Dante … the Dante VIA App gave me access to Apple sound devices that’s why I choose the Dante I/O-Card … for having the mixer in the ecosystem to play in or record streams …. like phone calls or zoom calls … whatever I want ….
the local I/o ports are well enough …. and a stage box is not necessary … but good to know what to choose if I need it for gig’s or else
@sic0048 good answer … helps me a lot … thank you
EDIT: i See that once std account for $20 and each device $1 so a small network … charges $24