The SQ-Dante interface card comes in two versions: 32 x 32, and 64 x 64. I’m interested to know how the input/output limits work. Is there simply a brick-wall limit of 32 inputs and 32 outputs or is the combined processing power ‘shared’ between input & output channels?
For example, if an SQ-Dante (32 x 32) card were receiving 24 inputs from two DT168 stage boxes, plus another 16 channels of tracks from a Mac via Dante virtual sound card - and sending only a left/right output to the FOH system - would this exceed the limitations of the card - and what would be likely to happen if that was attempted? I’m presuming that all would be running at 96K.
In your case you will need 40 inputs via the Dante network, and no the 32x32 is not “flexiputs” where you can use 40 as inputs and the only have 24 as outputs.
All the I/O cards have a set amount of inputs and outputs. As Soren said, they are not flexible. A 32x32 card has 32 routable inputs and 32 routable outputs. When you look at Dante Controller or the SQ’s I/O routing page, only the first 32 channels of input and outputs will be active and you cannot route any of the I/O past 32. This means if you have a 32x32 Dante card but had 40 available Dante inputs on the overall Dante network, you can route any 32 into the card/console, but you will absolutely be limited to 32 Dante inputs with that card. If you had the 64 channel card, you would have 64 routable inputs and 64 routable outputs available in the Dante Controller and on the SQ’s Routing tab, but since the SQ only has 48 available input channels you could use a maximum of 48 inputs at a time.
If you are close, don’t skimp on I/O numbers. With a 64/64 Dante card, you will have, as Soren says, the full capacity of the SQ at your disposal. Sounds like, if not today, someday, you will need every channel available.
Oh, it’s super easy to use more Dante I/O than your console has mixing channels, so I would always recommend that you get a Dante card with more capacity than you think you are going to use initially. The most common way is to want to multitrack record as well as use some inserts for plugins, etc.
For example, if you are using all 48 channels on the SQ and want to multitrack record, that will obviously use 48 channels of SQ Dante card’s outputs. If you then also want to add some plugin processing - lets say to your 5 vocal channels - that will take an additional 5 channels of Dante outputs and inputs back into the console. Depending on how many sources you want to use plugins on, it can quickly add up.
Additionally, it easy to find ways to expand your Dante system as time passes, so having some extra capacity will likely come in handle in the future.