Allen&Heath DANTE User Manual

Dante Option Card Publication AP8340

Fitting and Setup Guide

This guide applies to Dante Release 2 (firmware 3.6.4) or later.

This release adds dual redundancy and supports bridging of other control networks over
Dante. Please refer to the notes regarding differences with previous firmware 3.4.15.

Part number M-DANTE-A

Issue 2

Issue 4

M-DANTE is one of several plug-in card options available from Allen &
Heath that may be fitted to iLive, GLD and ME Series products.

DanteTM is a high performance, multi-channel, AVB ready industry

standard digital media transport system developed by Australian
company Audinate that runs over standard IP networks and can
distribute signals between iLive, computers and 3rd party DanteTM
enabled equipment. Its main benefits are:

64 channel bi-directional audio plus control over CAT5
Uses standard off-the-shelf computer networking equipment
Easy to add, name, remove and rearrange devices
Secondary port for redundant connection option
Control port can bridge other control network over Dante
Very low latency
Direct connection to computer for multitrack recording
Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS) software
Dante Controller software for setting up the network

Note The Allen & Heath M-DANTE card provides an interface to the

Dante network. The Dante ‘Brooklyn II’ hardware used and the software
required to set it up and record to computer is provided and supported
by Audinate. For further information or help on using Dante please refer
to the documentation and support at Audinate: www.audinate.com

M-DANTE is supplied with one Dante Virtual Soundcard licence to
enable a single computer. More can be purchased from Audinate if
required. The token below is needed to obtain your licence Id. Please
read the instructions provided within this guide.

Dante Virtual Soundcard Licence ID token:

iLive M-DANTE Option Instructions 1 AP8340 issue 4

REMOTE AUDIO 2

Port A

REMOTE AUDIO 2

Port B

iDR10

RAB2 module

RAB2 module

Surface

Port B

Port A

Surface to MixRack audio link

X

Fitting the M-Dante card

Port B

Dante

Dante

Note Requires iLive

firmware V1.71 or higher.

First switch the system off. Remove the 2 screws
securing the blank panel over the port slot. Slide the
card into the slot and press it firmly into the mating
connector. Secure the card using the 2 screws.

iLive Fixed format

iDR-16, iDR-32, iDR-48 or iDR-64 MixRack
xDR-16 Expander

Dante in Port B - System linking, expansion, recording
and audio networking.

iLive Modular

iDR10 or iDR0 MixRack

Dante in Port A – Surface to MixRack link.
Dante in Port B – System linking, expansion, recording
and audio networking.

The option card fits into a slot on the Remote Audio 2
(RAB2) module. Systems fitted with the older Remote
Audio module can be upgraded by replacing it with the
new RAB2 module available from Allen & Heath.

Note The M-DANTE card cannot be used in Surface

Port B. The only option currently supported in Surface
Port B is the M-MMO (Mini Multi Out) card.

console

Rear panel I/O Port - System linking, expansion,
recording and audio networking.

iLive M- DANTE Option Instructions 2 AP8340 issue 4

personal mixing hub

Interface the ME system with a Dante network to receive
its 40 input sources.

Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS) is a software application

that turns your PC or Mac into a Dante enabled device allowing up to 64
channels of bi-directional audio for recording, processing and playback
when connected to a standard computer Gigabit Ethernet port, either
direct from the M-DANTE card or via an Ethernet switch. No additional
hardware is required.

Note For minimum system requirements and support information please

visit the Support section at Audinate: www.audinate.com

Note Install Dante Virtual Soundcard on the computer you intend to use

for recording. Once registered the licence cannot be transferred to
another computer.

Note Computer based recording applications use a lot of processing

power and memory. For best results we recommend that you do not run
other applications on the computer while recording. Refer to Audinate for
more information.

Windows The DVS uses Steinberg’s ASIO audio interface and can be
used with any audio application that supports ASIO.

Mac OSX The DVS uses the standard Core Audio interface.

Please read the Dante Virtual Soundcard User Guide available from
Audinate for information on how to install, configure and use the DVS
software.

To obtain your DVS Licence ID

Locate your DVS token on the label on the front of this guide. This is

of the format: XXXXX – XXXXX – XXXXX – XXXXX – XXXXX

Visit www.audinate.com and go to Support / Register Your Product /

Redeem DVS Token. You will be asked to log in or register before
continuing.

Enter your token string in the field provided. Once validated a page

will be displayed with your Dante Virtual Soundcard Licence ID.

Follow the links to download the Dante Virtual Soundcard software

and User Guide. Choose the version you require – Mac OSX or
Windows.

Download the Dante Controller software and User Guide. Choose

the version you require – Mac OSX or Windows.

Install both applications and activate Dante Virtual Soundcard.

Note The DVS Licence ID is not the same as your token. Your token

cannot be used to activate the software.

iLive M-DANTE Option Instructions 3 AP8340 issue 4

Dante Controller is a software application provided by Audinate

which allows users to configure and route audio across Dante networks.
It is available as a free download to registered users, and can be installed
on the same computer that is running the Dante Virtual Soundcard.

Using Dante Controller you can view and configure all Dante enabled
audio devices and their Dante audio channels.

Note To install Dante Controller on a PC you will need to download

‘Bonjour’ for Windows. A link is provided in the installer package.

Note You must have Dante Controller installed on a PC or Mac on your

Dante network to control and route audio. Once your network is
configured and audio set up you can remove the PC or Mac if required.

Please read Audinate’s Dante Controller User Guide for system
requirements and information on how to install, configure and use the
Dante Controller software. Refer to Audinate for further information.

Check the Dante card firmware version

This guide refers to Dante second release firmware (from version 3.6.4).
This is loaded into Allen & Heath Dante cards manufactured from April
2013 onwards.

Note We recommend that older cards are updated to take advantage of

the new features and improvements.

To check the firmware version:

Power up the console with Dante card fitted.
Plug a CAT5 cable from the Dante card Primary port to the Network

port of your computer. Make sure its Lan port is enabled.

Start Dante Controller and open the Device Status tab. Your Allen &

Heath Dante card should be listed as a device. Check that the
Product Version indicates ‘3.6.4’ or higher.

Visit the Allen & Heath web site Dante product page and open the

Firmware tab to check the latest version of Dante firmware available.

To update the Dante card firmware

Download the firmware file from the Allen & Heath web site Dante

product page Firmware tab.

Follow the link on the page to the Audinate web site to download the

Dante Firmware Update Manager application for Windows® or Mac.

iLive M- DANTE Option Instructions 4 AP8340 issue 4