What is Dante?

Dante transforms audio and video connectivity 

AV systems have traditionally required point-to-point physical connections between devices, resulting in cumbersome amounts of specialized, single-purpose cables that define where audio and video signals can go. Changes are labor-intensive and expensive, and noise and signal degradation are constant companions as distances grow. The result is systems that are difficult to deploy and even more difficult to adapt as demands shift.

Dante replaces all of those connections with a computer network, effortlessly sending video or hundreds of channels of audio over slender Ethernet cables with perfect digital fidelity. All connections are now managed with software, making routes fast, readable and reliable. Because all devices share the same network, signals can be sent between any devices no matter where they are located on a site, with no change to the wiring at all. Dante systems are easily expanded, exactly as one might add a printer to a network. Just connect additional devices to any available network jack and start using it. 

Dante is the evolution of AV systems, converging all previous connection types into one. Dante delivers vastly superior performance while making these systems easier to use, easier to expand, and less expensive to deploy.

How do manufacturers get Dante for their products? 

Dante is developed by Audinate and is available to manufacturers of audio and video products in several formats that suit different product types. Manufacturers may purchase Dante audio in the form of hardware modules, chips, reference designs and software that may be incorporated into products ranging from single channel microphones to massive 500+ channel broadcast consoles, while the Dante AV module brings this same functionality to video signals. No matter how Dante is implemented, complete interoperability between devices is guaranteed for easy, dependable deployment in the real world. 

Dante Solutions for manufacturers

How does Dante work?

The Dante hardware or software in a device takes digital audio and ‘packetizes’ it. The audio is segmented and wrapped it in IP (Internet Protocol) packets suitable for transmission across a standard IP network. The packets contain timing information and source and destination network addresses, allowing them to be efficiently routed through the network to the correct destination. 

When a device receives Dante audio packets, it reconstructs them back into a continuous digital audio stream, which is then played out, recorded, or digitally processed, depending on that device’s role in the audio system. Performance is second to none: all Dante audio is 100% lossless 24- or 32-bit, and sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz are supported. 

Dante AV does the same job with video, taking compressed video signals and converting them into IP packets that share the same timing and control mechanisms as Dante audio. 

Dante Controller software allows users to configure signal routes and other settings. All routes and settings are stored in the individual Dante devices, allowing them to run without any connected computers. Users don’t have to worry about re-establishing routes when a system is moved or power cycled - it “just works,” saving time, worry and setup costs. 

Who uses Dante? 

Hohokam Stadium from the stands. Photo courtesy Pro Sound Web.
Fred Smith Library

Dante is available in over 3,500 products from more than 500 manufacturers, covering a diverse range of installations and applications across industries, including: 

  • Houses of Worship 
  • Arenas and Stadiums 
  • Recording Studios 
  • Conference Centers 
  • Universities 
  • Broadcaster Studios 
  • Corporate Studios 
  • Amusement Parks 
  • Zoos 
  • Theaters 

These installations all benefit from Dante’s ease-of-use, flawless fidelity, and straightforward deployment. Because Dante can be used with existing networks, many of these applications benefit from infrastructure that is already in place for further savings.

CIty Church
London Eye

Easy to integrate, easy to install, easy to use. Ask for Dante.