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Dante Audio Protocol Deep Dive

Professional audio-over-IP for broadcast and live events

Professional Audio
Sub-1ms Latency
Studio Quality

Dante Protocol Overview

Technical specifications and professional broadcast standard

Transport Architecture

  • Protocol: Layer 3 IP (UDP multicast and unicast)
  • Discovery: mDNS (Bonjour) + Dante Domain Manager
  • Clock Sync: IEEE 1588 PTPv2 (Precision Time Protocol)
  • Packet Size: 1ms (48 samples) or 250µs (12 samples)
  • Encoding: Uncompressed PCM (lossless)

Audio Quality Specifications

  • Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
  • Bit Depth: 16, 24, 32-bit (floating point)
  • Channels: Up to 512x512 (device-dependent)
  • Dynamic Range: >120 dB (24-bit), >144 dB (32-bit)
  • THD+N: <0.001% (typical professional devices)

Latency Characteristics

  • ADC/DAC Latency: 0.1-0.5ms (device-dependent)
  • Network Transit: 0.1-0.5ms (local network)
  • Total E2E: <1ms typical (local network)
  • Deterministic: Sample-accurate timing via PTPv2

Network Features

  • Redundancy: Dual network paths (primary + secondary)
  • QoS: DSCP tagging for prioritization
  • Routing: Any-to-any routing via Dante Controller
  • Encryption: AES-256 (Dante Domain Manager)

Bandwidth Calculation

Dante Bandwidth Calculation:

Single Channel Bandwidth (48 kHz / 24-bit):
  Sample Rate: 48,000 samples/second
  Bit Depth: 24 bits = 3 bytes
  Data Rate: 48,000 × 3 = 144,000 bytes/second
  With Overhead: 144,000 × 1.25 = 180,000 bytes/second
  Bandwidth: 180,000 × 8 = 1.44 Mbps per channel

Common Configurations:
  Stereo (2 channels): ~2.88 Mbps
  Multi-track (16 channels): ~23 Mbps
  Large Event (64 channels): ~92 Mbps
  Maximum (512 channels @ 48kHz): ~737 Mbps

Network Overhead Breakdown:
  - Ethernet Header: 14 bytes
  - IP Header: 20 bytes
  - UDP Header: 8 bytes
  - RTP Header: 12 bytes
  - Dante Payload: Variable
  Total Overhead: ~25% of payload size

Note: Higher sample rates increase bandwidth proportionally
      96 kHz = 2x bandwidth, 192 kHz = 4x bandwidth

Professional Use Cases

Live events, studio distribution, and broadcast applications

Live Event Audio Distribution

Conferences, concerts, and theatrical productions using Dante to distribute audio from stage microphones to FOH mixer, monitor mixer, broadcast feed, and recording systems simultaneously over a single network.

Benefits: No analog snake cables, instant routing changes, scalable to hundreds of channels, multi-destination distribution without signal degradation.
Broadcast Studio Integration

Radio and TV studios using Dante to connect microphones, mixers, processing equipment, and on-air consoles. Integration with WAVE streaming platform for high-quality audio delivery to cloud encoding.

Benefits: Professional broadcast quality, sample-accurate sync with video, reliable multi-room distribution, integration with existing broadcast infrastructure.
Studio Recording & Multi-track Streaming

Recording studios and content creators capturing multi-track audio from Dante-enabled mixers and interfaces, streaming individual tracks to cloud for remote collaboration or sending mixed stereo feed to WAVE platform.

Benefits: Studio-grade audio quality, flexible routing, non-destructive multi-track capture, integration with DAWs and streaming platforms.
Remote Audio Guest Integration

Bringing remote audio guests into local Dante network via SIP/VOIP bridges or WAVE DESKTOP with Dante Virtual Soundcard. Professional-quality audio integration for podcasts, talk shows, and remote interviews.

Benefits: Seamless integration of remote participants, consistent audio quality across all sources, full mixer control of remote audio.
Installed Sound Systems (Churches, Venues)

Houses of worship and permanent venues using Dante for distributed audio throughout facilities. Main sanctuary connects to overflow rooms, nursery, streaming encoder, and recording system all via single network infrastructure.

Benefits: Cost-effective installation, easy expansion, centralized control, integration with streaming and recording systems.

Dante Device Ecosystem

Mixers, interfaces, speakers, and professional equipment

CategoryDeviceChannelsLatencyQuality
Mixers
Yamaha CL/QL Series64x64
<1ms
48kHz/24-bit
Mixers
Allen & Heath SQ/Avantis128x128
<1ms
96kHz/32-bit
Mixers
Behringer X3232x32
<1ms
48kHz/32-bit
Interfaces
Focusrite RedNet Series256x256
<1ms
192kHz/32-bit
Interfaces
Audinate AVIO AdaptersVaries
<1ms
48kHz/24-bit
Interfaces
Shure MXA910 Ceiling MicVaries
<1ms
48kHz/24-bit
Amplifiers
Lab.gruppen D SeriesVaries
<1ms
48kHz/24-bit
Speakers
QSC Q-SYSVaries
<2ms
48kHz/24-bit

Software Solutions

  • Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS): Turn any computer into Dante endpoint (2-64 channels)
  • Dante Controller: Free routing and configuration software (Windows/Mac)
  • Dante Via: Software-only Dante for computers and applications
  • Dante Domain Manager: Enterprise management, encryption, access control

WAVE Desktop Integration

  • Native Dante Support: Direct Dante input via DVS or physical interface
  • Multi-channel Audio: Send stereo or multi-track to WAVE cloud
  • Professional Quality: Maintain 48kHz/24-bit quality through streaming pipeline
  • Live Mixing: Real-time audio processing and effects in WAVE DESKTOP

Network Requirements & Configuration

Bandwidth Requirements by Scenario

ScenarioChannelsBandwidthSwitch RequiredLatency
Simple Stereo Streaming22.3 Mbps100 Mbps<1ms
Small Studio (16 channels)1618.4 Mbps1 Gbps<1ms
Live Event (64 channels)6473.7 Mbps1 Gbps<1ms
Large Venue (256 channels)256295 Mbps1 Gbps (dedicated)<2ms

Audio Quality Levels

Quality LevelSample RateBit DepthChannelsBandwidthUse Case
Broadcast Standard48 kHz24-bitStereo~2.3 MbpsLive streaming, broadcast
Professional Studio96 kHz32-bitUp to 64~150 MbpsStudio recording, mixing
High-Resolution192 kHz32-bitStereo~9.2 MbpsMastering, archival
Multi-track Live48 kHz24-bit32 channels~37 MbpsLive multi-track recording

Dante Setup with WAVE Platform (7 Steps)

1

Network Infrastructure Setup

  • • Deploy managed Gigabit switches (recommend Cisco SG350 or Netgear M4300)
  • • Create dedicated VLAN for Dante traffic (e.g., VLAN 10)
  • • Enable IGMP snooping on all switches
  • • Configure QoS/DSCP prioritization for Dante packets
  • • Disable EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet) on all switch ports
  • • Use CAT6 or better cabling throughout
2

Install Dante Controller & Configure Devices

  1. Download Dante Controller from audinate.com (free software)
  2. Connect computer to Dante network VLAN
  3. Launch Dante Controller - devices auto-discover via mDNS
  4. Configure device names for easy identification
  5. Set sample rate (48 kHz recommended for streaming)
  6. Configure clock master (typically main mixer or dedicated clock device)
  7. Enable dual redundancy if using secondary network
3

Route Audio in Dante Controller

Create audio routing matrix between Dante devices:

  • • Click intersections in routing matrix to create connections
  • • Route microphones → Mixer inputs
  • • Route Mixer outputs → Recording interface / WAVE DESKTOP
  • • Configure multi-destination routing (one source to multiple receivers)
  • • Save routing preset for easy recall
  • • Test audio flow through entire chain
4

Install Dante Virtual Soundcard (Computer Integration)

  1. Purchase Dante Virtual Soundcard license from audinate.com ($49)
  2. Install DVS on computer running WAVE DESKTOP
  3. Launch DVS, configure channel count (2-64 channels)
  4. DVS appears as audio device in system (Dante Virtual Soundcard)
  5. In Dante Controller, route mixer output → DVS input channels
  6. Verify audio appears in DVS meter
5

Configure WAVE DESKTOP for Dante Audio

WAVE DESKTOP Audio Settings:

Audio Input Device: Dante Virtual Soundcard
  - Stereo Mix: Channels 1-2 (for standard streaming)
  - Multi-track: Channels 1-64 (for advanced recording)

Audio Settings:
  - Sample Rate: 48 kHz (match Dante network)
  - Bit Depth: 24-bit (professional quality)
  - Buffer Size: 256 samples (low latency, adjust if crackling)
  - Channels: Stereo or Multi-track

Audio Processing:
  - Normalization: Optional (prevent clipping)
  - Compression: Optional (reduce dynamic range)
  - EQ: Optional (frequency shaping)
  - Noise Gate: Optional (remove background noise)
6

Test Audio Sync & Quality

  1. Play test tone through Dante network
  2. Verify audio appears in WAVE DESKTOP meters
  3. Check for clipping or distortion
  4. Test latency (should be <5ms Dante + encoder latency)
  5. Monitor PTP clock sync status (must be locked)
  6. Verify no audio dropouts or clicks
7

Stream to WAVE Platform

  1. Configure stream settings in WAVE DESKTOP
  2. Select protocol (WebRTC, SRT, RTMP, OMT)
  3. Set audio codec: AAC 320 kbps or Opus 256 kbps
  4. Start stream - Dante audio automatically included
  5. Monitor stream health and audio levels
  6. Recording automatically captures Dante audio quality

Failover & Redundancy Configuration

Dual Network Redundancy

Dante Redundancy Architecture:

Primary Network (VLAN 10):
  Switch A (10.0.10.0/24) ←→ Dante Devices (Primary Ports)

Secondary Network (VLAN 11):
  Switch B (10.0.11.0/24) ←→ Dante Devices (Secondary Ports)

Configuration:
  1. Connect each Dante device to both networks
  2. Enable redundancy in Dante Controller
  3. Primary network handles all traffic normally
  4. Secondary network monitors and stands ready
  5. Automatic failover <10ms if primary fails
  6. Seamless return to primary when recovered

Benefits:
  - Zero audio dropouts during network failures
  - Cable/switch failures don't interrupt audio
  - Maintenance can be performed on one network
  - Professional reliability for critical events

Clock Redundancy

  • Primary Clock Master: Main mixer or dedicated clock device
  • Secondary Clock: Backup device automatically takes over if primary fails
  • Unicast Clocking: For redundant network paths

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Devices Not Appearing in Dante Controller

Cause: mDNS discovery blocked, wrong subnet, or firewall issues

Solution: Verify all devices on same subnet or enable mDNS reflection on router. Check firewall allows UDP 5353 (mDNS), UDP 319-320 (PTP), and UDP 14336-14600 (Dante audio). Restart Dante Controller and devices.

Audio Dropouts / Clicks / Pops

Cause: EEE enabled, network congestion, or insufficient QoS

Solution: Disable Energy Efficient Ethernet on ALL switch ports. Enable IGMP snooping. Configure QoS/DSCP. Check for network bandwidth saturation. Increase DVS buffer size if computer-related.

Clock Sync Problems (Red Clock Icon)

Cause: PTP clock synchronization failure, network issues, or conflicting clock masters

Solution: Designate ONE clock master in network. Check network allows PTP packets (UDP 319-320). Verify managed switches support IGMP and PTP. Restart devices in sequence: clock master first, then others.

High Latency / Slow Response

Cause: Large buffer sizes, network congestion, or WiFi interference

Solution: Use wired Gigabit Ethernet only (never WiFi). Reduce DVS buffer size. Check for network congestion. Verify QoS prioritization. Use dedicated Dante VLAN.

Sample Rate Mismatch Errors

Cause: Devices configured for different sample rates (e.g., 44.1kHz vs 48kHz)

Solution: Set ALL devices to same sample rate (48 kHz recommended for streaming). Configure in Dante Controller device settings. Ensure WAVE DESKTOP audio settings match. Restart all devices after changing sample rate.

Performance Benchmarks

<1ms
End-to-End Latency
Local network, typical devices
144dB
Dynamic Range
32-bit floating point audio
512x512
Maximum Channels
Per Dante network (device-limited)

Audio SDK Integration Examples

import { WaveClient } from '@wave/api-client';

import { DesignTokens, getContainer, getSection } from '@/lib/design-tokens';
const wave = new WaveClient({ apiKey: 'wave_live_xxxxx' });

// Stream with Dante audio input
const streamWithDante = async () => {
  const stream = await wave.streams.create({
    title: 'Professional Dante Audio Stream',
    protocol: 'webrtc',
    audio: {
      // Dante Virtual Soundcard input
      input: 'Dante Virtual Soundcard',
      sampleRate: 48000,      // Match Dante network
      bitDepth: 24,           // Professional quality
      channels: 2,            // Stereo (or multi-track)

      // Encoding settings
      codec: 'opus',          // High-quality codec
      bitrate: 256,           // Kbps (transparent quality)

      // Processing
      processing: {
        normalization: true,  // Prevent clipping
        compression: {
          enabled: true,
          ratio: 3,
          threshold: -18,
          attack: 10,
          release: 100
        },
        eq: {
          enabled: false      // Use mixer EQ instead
        }
      }
    },
    recording: {
      enabled: true,
      quality: 'source'       // Preserve Dante quality
    }
  });

  console.log('Streaming with Dante audio:', stream.playback.url);
  return stream;
};

// Monitor audio levels and quality
const monitorAudio = async (streamId: string) => {
  const ws = wave.streams.subscribe(streamId, {
    metrics: ['audio']
  });

  ws.on('audio', (audio) => {
    console.log('Audio Levels:', {
      peak: audio.peak,           // dBFS
      rms: audio.rms,             // dBFS
      clipping: audio.clipping,   // Boolean
      sampleRate: audio.sampleRate,
      bitrate: audio.bitrate
    });

    if (audio.clipping) {
      console.warn('WARNING: Audio clipping detected!');
    }
  });

  return ws;
};

streamWithDante();
Dante Audio Protocol Deep Dive | WAVE Documentation | WAVE