Dante Best Practices Part 3: Using Dante Controller

This is Part 3 in a series of articles about AudioControl Dante amps. If it's your first time setting up these amps, we highly recommend you read through Part 1: First Steps.
To learn about connecting your AudioControl amps using Dante, check out Part 2: Setting up Dante.

Using Dante Controller

Our Dante amps have the potential to access up to 144 Dante streams at any given time, and each Dante amp only has 16 available Dante Inputs. It’s important to understand how AC Dante amps manage Dante streams, specifically when using both AC Dante streams and Dante controller subscribed streams.

Can I use sources from AudioControl Dante amps and other Dante Sources at the same time?

Yes! The AudioControl Dante amplifiers make some routing changes in the Dante Controller automatically to allow for audio matrixing, and you can add other sources to open inputs in Dante Controller.

You can use only sources from other AudioControl amps, only sources from other Dante sources, or a mix and match them!

How AudioControl and Dante Controller interact

When assigning a Dante stream from one AC Dante amp to another, The AudioControl signal will put itself on a matching input.

For example, an audio signal on RCA input 9-10 will try to assign itself to Dante input 9-10 when assigned to another amplifier.

We recommend trying to keep AudioControl sources and other Dante sources on separate channels. Meaning, if you have 8 sources going to your AudioControl Dante amplifiers and 4 other Dante sources, connect the other sources to inputs 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 in Dante Controller. Take the other 8 sources from your AudioControl amps, and split them up between multiple amplifiers—The first 4 sources can go into inputs 9-16 on amp 1, and the next 4 can go into 9-16 on amp 2.

In very rare cases, the AudioControl Dante sources may take priority over non AudioControl sources and disconnect them. If this happens, you will need to open Dante Controller and reconnect for those sources.

Other situations

If you have 1 AudioControl Dante Amp with 8 sources connected directly to it, and other non-AudioControl Dante sources and receivers, your set up will work without interruption. An amp's local inputs and the Dante inputs cannot interfere with each other. Simply assign all your Dante sources to the inputs on Dante Controller, and the amp will easily switch between its local and Dante inputs.

Additional Assistance

The AudioControl support team will gladly help you plan your system to avoid any hiccups. You can give them a call at 425-755-8461, or email techsupport@audiocontrolpro.com.

• Related Articles

• Using Dante with AudioControl

  An Introduction to Dante Dante is an exciting tool that allows AV installers to effortlessly transmit audio sources to multiple devices without any noticeable latency. In a typical matrix amp like our M6800, you have full 16x16 control, easily ...

• Dante Best Practices Part 1: First Steps

  This is Part 1 in a series of articles about AudioControl Dante amps. If it's your first time setting up these amps, we highly recommend you read through this first part! To learn about connecting your AudioControl amps using Dante, check out Part 2: ...

• Dante Best Practices Part 2: Setting up Dante

  This is Part 2 in a series of articles about AudioControl Dante amps. If it's your first time setting up these amps, we highly recommend you read through Part 1: First Steps. To learn more about using the Dante Controller with our amplifiers, check ...

• Using the Control4 driver with your AudioControl Dante Amp

  The Control4 driver for AudioControl’s Dante-enabled amplifiers makes setting up a large-scale Dante audio system easy in just a few steps. The process is the same whether you are using the M4800D, M6800D, or CM-70v Dante amplifiers. The Control4 ...

• Renaming Dante Inputs on your AudioControl Dante Amplifier

  Dante Input Names On AudioControl's Dante-enabled amplifiers, like the M4800D, M6800D, and the CM 70V Dante amps, the inputs shared between amplifiers will automatically display their chosen name when you click Look for Devices. For example, on your ...