Atlas IED Dante HPA-DAC4 Owner's Manual

Owner’s Manual

HPA-DAC4

Dante

®

Accessory Card

AtlasIED.com – 1 –

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

1601 Jack McKay Blvd. • Ennis, Texas 75119 U.S.A.

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

HPA-DAC4

Dante® Accessory Card

Owner’s Manual

HPA-DAC4

Dante

®

Accessory Card

AtlasIED.com – 2 –

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

1601 Jack McKay Blvd. • Ennis, Texas 75119 U.S.A.

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Description

The HPA-DAC4 accessory card is designed to work in conjunction with HPA Series 4-channel

ampliers. The HPA-DAC4 is a 4-input Dante® receiver that features digital audio transportation over
standard IP networks. The HPA Series 4-channel ampliers come standard with four balanced line
inputs and an accessory card slot to add an additional 4-inputs, giving the amplier a total of 8-inputs.

Analog Input 1, Dante® Input 1, and the analog balanced input levels are isolated from each other and

are electronically summed together forming a mixed output. Both the Dante® input and the analog
balanced input levels to the amplier channel are controlled by the Ch-1 level control. Channel 2
inputs are congured the same as Channel 1.

Features

• Dante® Digital Audio Platform

• 4-Channel Receiver

• Integrates with 4-Channel HPA Series Amplifiers

Dante® Overview

Audinate® created Dante®, an uncompressed, multi-channel digital media networking technology,

with near-zero latency and synchronization. Hundreds of Dante® enabled products are available from
many manufacturers, enabling you to mix devices from multiple manufacturers.

One cable does it all. Dante® does away with heavy, expensive analog or multicore cabling, replacing
it with low-cost, easily-available CAT5e, CAT6, or fiber optic cable for a simple, lightweight, and
economical solution. Dante® integrates media and control for your entire system over a single,
standard IP network.

Dante® systems can easily scale from a simple pairing of a console to a computer, to large capacity

networks running thousands of audio channels. Because Dante® uses logical routes instead of
physical point-to-point connections, the network can be expanded and reconfigured at any time with
just a few mouse clicks.

Since the signal audio is transmitted digitally, common analog challenges like interference from other

electrical equipment, crosstalk between cables, or signal degradation over long cable runs is not a
problem. Setting up Dante® networks is easy, even the most complex networks can be set up and

configured quickly and easily with Dante®, making system integration simple. Dante® automatically

handles the technical complexities.

Signal routing and system configuration with Dante® is fast, simple, and incredibly flexible. Dante®

Controller is a powerful software application that manages devices on the network. Setting up a

Dante® network is typically just a matter of plugging devices into an Ethernet switch and connecting

a computer to the network. All Dante® devices are automatically discovered and displayed in Dante®
Controller, so a system can be up and running in seconds.

Visit www.audinate.com for details or to learn more on using Dante®. There are many Dante® guides
available in the industry. AtlasIED offers one in the BlueBridge® DSP section of atlasied.com.

Owner’s Manual

HPA-DAC4

Dante

®

Accessory Card

AtlasIED.com – 3 –

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

1601 Jack McKay Blvd. • Ennis, Texas 75119 U.S.A.

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Audio Applications

When installed, the HPA-DAC4 converts the HPA Series amplier into a digital audio network
amplier and makes the HPA Series amplier the “go to” solution for a variety of applications

including:

• Restaurants

• Government facilities

• Schools

• Industrial facilities

• House of worship

Selecting the dBFS Reference on the HPA-DAC4

The HPA-DAC4 comes with a choice of dBFS (Decibels Full Scale) gain selections of 0dBFS = 10dBu
and 0dBFS = 20dBu. Factory default for the card is 0dBFS = 20dBu. There is a 2-pin header on the
card that is the OdBFS gain selection. When a shunt is applied to the header, the 0dBFS = 20dBu
setting is engaged. When the shunt is removed the setting is 0dBFS = 10dBu. Most pro audio
equipment gains are in the range of 20dBu – 24dBu. Read the entire manual to understand these
settings.

Matching Gain from a Source to the HPA Series Amplier In a Dante® Network

Understanding the gain structure is very important to avoid clipping the audio signal or amplier
output. There are three potential ways to clip the signal chain.

1. Amplier Input Clipping - This occurs when the applied input signal exceeds the maximum input
level of the amplier input stage.

2. Amplier Output Clipping - Driving the amplier to maximum output level using the factory default
requires 0dBu or .775V of signal when the channel level control is set to maximum or the all up fully
clockwise. Note: AtlasIED recommends the level to be set with the level being controlled from
the source. Exceeding .775V or 0dBu level will cause the amplier output stage to clip.

3. Digital Clipping - This occurs when the 0dBFS levels are exceeded. This is very important to
understand. Several examples are provided to help understand digital to analog gain structure.
Note: AtlasIED recommends to always place a limiter set for 0dB in the signal path prior to the
Network Output of the transmitting device. This is the best way to prevent clipping the HPA-DAC4.

Shunt on 0dBFS = 20dBu, factory default
Shunt off 0dBFS = 10dBu

Owner’s Manual

HPA-DAC4

Dante

®

Accessory Card

AtlasIED.com – 4 –

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

1601 Jack McKay Blvd. • Ennis, Texas 75119 U.S.A.

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

HPA-DAC4 Card Installation

Note: Accessory card installation must be done by a qualied technician.

1. Remove the HPA amplier from the AC mains source. Note: In standby mode there are DC voltages
present. The HPA amp must be removed from the AC Mains source in order to prevent damage to
the card or amplier.

2. Remove the two screws (M3 x 8mm Pan Head Black) holding the HPA Accessory blank panel.

3. Remove the ribbon cable from the cover plate.

4. Connect the accessory card to the ribbon cable by carefully aligning the ribbon cable connector to
the mating PCB connector. Do not force. If aligned correctly the cable will mate easily.

5. Carefully guide the accessory card into the slot without forcing the PCB or cable.

6. After the card is inserted and the accessory panel is ush to the chassis, align the two screw
holes and secure them together by inserting two M3 x 8mm screws.