A few days ago DHM posted an email about using the Dante audio system with Hauptwerk and I got curious. Now I am glad I did because this really looks like the way to go on systems with large numbers of speakers (up to 64) and as few as 4 speakers. If using powered speakers like the JBL LS305 or the Behringer 2031 monitors the only audio wiring needed over hundreds of feet is Ethernet Cat5e cable we all use for the internet. One Cat5e cable can handle 64 channels and a few audio jumpers to the speakers from the Dante box.
So since most of us have fewer than 64 speakers in our setup it means one small cable from our Hauptwerk computer to the location of the speakers and Dante interface Break out Boxes (BoB) which provide Dante Digital to analog conversion and a few short analog cables to the powered monitors. There are also Dante compatible amplifiers which can accept the Dante Digital audio directly and run passive speakers.
The sound card is a $30.00 license for the Dante Virtual Soundcard which can Send 64 channels of Hauptwerk ASIO digital audio out through the Gigabit Ethernet port. The signal is sent to the proper devices by using the Dante Controller software to route the from signals from transmitting devices to the appropriate receive devices where it comes out as analog audio to feed powered speakers. I have loaded a trial version which seems full fledged but I have yet to receive any Dante compatible D/A boxes to try it.
The main advantage of Dante is that it runs on readily available non-blocking, layer 2 switches which can be had for about $50.00 on Amazon for an 8 to 10 position Ethernet switch and Ethernet Cat5e cable. In the case of a Dante 32 channel BoB', only one cable needs to be run between the Hauptwerk computer and the BoB. The other cables are short analog cables that run to the speaker cluster.
As someone pointed out earlier, Dante, AVB, RedNet and others are similar but not always compatible with Dante. Still Dante seems to be the protocol of choice for more and bigger venues. From a medium sized church to a university campus, Dante audio over ethernet is the one to watch.
So since most of us have fewer than 64 speakers in our setup it means one small cable from our Hauptwerk computer to the location of the speakers and Dante interface Break out Boxes (BoB) which provide Dante Digital to analog conversion and a few short analog cables to the powered monitors. There are also Dante compatible amplifiers which can accept the Dante Digital audio directly and run passive speakers.
The sound card is a $30.00 license for the Dante Virtual Soundcard which can Send 64 channels of Hauptwerk ASIO digital audio out through the Gigabit Ethernet port. The signal is sent to the proper devices by using the Dante Controller software to route the from signals from transmitting devices to the appropriate receive devices where it comes out as analog audio to feed powered speakers. I have loaded a trial version which seems full fledged but I have yet to receive any Dante compatible D/A boxes to try it.
The main advantage of Dante is that it runs on readily available non-blocking, layer 2 switches which can be had for about $50.00 on Amazon for an 8 to 10 position Ethernet switch and Ethernet Cat5e cable. In the case of a Dante 32 channel BoB', only one cable needs to be run between the Hauptwerk computer and the BoB. The other cables are short analog cables that run to the speaker cluster.
As someone pointed out earlier, Dante, AVB, RedNet and others are similar but not always compatible with Dante. Still Dante seems to be the protocol of choice for more and bigger venues. From a medium sized church to a university campus, Dante audio over ethernet is the one to watch.
Complete Hauptwerk™ systems using real wood consoles, PC Sound Engines, Dante Audio for Home or Church. info (at) organtechnology.com http://www.organtechnology.com
Authorized Hauptwerk; Milan Digital Audio and Lavender Audio reseller.
USA and Canada shipments only.
Authorized Hauptwerk; Milan Digital Audio and Lavender Audio reseller.
USA and Canada shipments only.