Network Protocols HOW-TO by Phil Ward
Network protocols are a key topic for discussion for House of Worship techs, with their significant cost-savings and added flexibility. One of the latest products to offer networked digital audio transport is also one of the simplest: Dante Via™, a software package developed by Audinate®, the company behind the ubiquitous Dante™ networking protocol.
Dante is a rapidly emerging digital audio-over-IP transport protocol; initial take-up has been enthusiastic in the live and installed sound sector, with broadcast and other markets too expressing growing interest. Its take-up by pro audio manufacturers has been astounding. With 300 partners now on board, placing over 750 Dante-enabled products on the current market, support for the protocol shows no sign of abating. It has been described as ‘next-generation CobraNet.’
Renowned consultant Roland Hemming. “One of the things I like about Dante is that you don’t have to have any specific hardware,” he says. “The economic models for the other protocols demand that the inventors and manufacturers sell the silicone to third parties, such as Peavey. Dante becomes part of its customers’ devices, delivered as a finished package and no further headaches. Audinate does this, but also has software drivers: Dante can be run directly on your PC or Mac, which opens it up to a wider market. It has lower propagation delay, too.”