Networked streaming technology has evolved tremendously. Applications like corporate, education, government, casinos, and hospitality, just to name a few, need extensive networked AV support and are looking for products that not only excel in performance and features but are also incredibly reliable and secure.
AMX recently hosted an in-depth Introduction to Dante AV Webinar with Kyle Barron, Networked AV Product Manager for HARMAN Professional and Kathryn Taub, Product Marketing Manager for Audinate, developers of Dante AV technology.
Watch the ‘Introduction to Dante AV’ Webinar
Dante is a network platform that simplifies AV device connectivity by replacing physical connections with a network. HARMAN Professional has been integrating Dante into many of its brands’ products including: AMX, JBL Pro, BSS, and Crown to empower more efficient, standardized, product-to-product communications.
While we encourage you to check out the full webinar, we’ve consolidated the discussion into some key takeaways. They include how AMX’s SVSI N2600 and N3300 product families utilize Dante to create more versatile, best-in-class networked AV installs. We also gain a better understanding of how Audinate and Dante support more standardized and streamlined projects.
Kyle Barron on AMX Networked AV Solutions Utilizing Dante
Kyle, what are the key differences between the AMX SVSI N2600 and N3300 families and how is Dante utilized?
Sure, let’s talk about both. First off, I think it’s important to note that we designed both families for maximum versatility to best support the unique streaming needs of the user and their intended applications. So we’ve included models that offer primary-only or primary and secondary streaming capabilities, depending on your source quality distribution needs, network capabilities, and available bandwidth.
- N2600 Family – Ideal for 1G Networks & Dante AV-A Interoperability
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Learn more about AMX N2600 Series codecs in this short video.
High-Quality, Low-Latency Primary Stream – So we built our N2600D and N2600S models to utilize the high-quality, low-latency 4K60 4:4:4 Motion Wavelet Compression(MWC) codec for the primary stream. This allows us to deliver excellent video quality for distributing both live video and detailed video content in places like courtrooms, meeting spaces, classrooms, and other applications.
- High-Compatibility, Low-Bandwidth Secondary Stream – And in our N2600S models, we also offer a secondary high-compatibility, low-bandwidth 1080p H.264 stream that is great for distributing video over often more congested networks and these models are also compatible with third-party devices and networks such as Panopto, Wowza, YouTube, and Facebook.
- Dante AV-A Interoperability – We leverage Dante AV-A in the N2600 models for up to 4K60 4:4:4 video and audio interoperability with other products that utilize Dante AV-A technology. Additionally Dante Controller, Dante Domain Manager, and Dante Director can be used to manage configuration, signal routing, and additional IT-level management.
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- N3300 Family – Ideal for H.26X Distribution Flexibility & Dante AV-H Interoperability
- High-Quality, 4K60 H.26x Primary Stream – The N3300 Series primary stream is again great for high-quality 4K60 H.26x streaming and again delivers stellar, detailed video quality for casinos, NOCs, classrooms, and other applications.
- High-Compatibility H.26x Secondary Stream – N3300 encoders can simultaneously output a secondary, standard H.26x video stream to also provide design flexibility and the most compatible options for remote viewing or recording.
- Dante AV-H Interoperability – With the N3300 models, we can offer 4K60 video and audio interoperability with other products that are compatible with Dante AV-H technology. H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC video compression standards are also supported.
Why did HARMAN decide to standardize on Dante technology?
- As a manufacturer, we want to align with technology developers that share our vision for device interoperability and technology that’s meant to excel and grow, not regress behind a walled garden.
- Audinate shares that vision which is why Dante has become such a widely adopted industry standard. So along with hundreds of manufacturers integrating Dante into thousands of products, Dante has become our chosen standard.
- And with a growing community of hundreds of thousands of Dante-certified installers, access to more and more capable integrators is growing rapidly.
How has Dante’s integration into the BSS Soundweb OMNI platform elevated device interoperability?
- One of the big things about Dante AV-A and AV-H standards is their ability to support 96 kHz sample refresh rates, which aligns perfectly with our new BSS Soundweb OMNI signal processing platform.
- This ensures that more system integrators can integrate more best-in-class Dante-enabled products into their Soundweb OMNI designs.
- And because our Dante-enabled SVSI N2600 and N3300 encoders and decoders utilize Dante, they can also be integrated easily and immediately into Soundweb OMNI projects.
Kathryn Taub on Audinate and Dante AV Simplifying Networked AV
Kathryn, how does Dante promote more effective and efficient networked AV installs?
- So with Dante, we’re replacing point-to-point physical connections and single-purpose cables with the network and easy-to-run and easy-to-use Ethernet cables that can carry multiple signals like audio, video, and control.
- All connections can be easily managed using software with easily readable routes that you can always see.
- Connection changes can be made quickly and reliably with infinite expandability.
- And when all devices share the same network, signals can be sent anywhere between any device, no matter where they’re physically located.
- Dante additionally offers system management solutions that enable remote support, additional logging, scalability, and security functionality for AV networks.
How does Audinate ensure customers can be most successful?
- Audinate is a trusted 3rd party in interoperability, meaning we offer users consistent experiences from product-to-product, regardless of manufacturer. We really wanted to give customers the flexibility to pick the right products for their application – knowing they’ll always work together.
- We can also ensure more cost-effective installs by using a building’s existing network infrastructure and general server hardware versus bespoke AV cables and other equipment.
- The Dante Training Certification Program offers free training for AV industry professionals ensuring a wide and knowledgeable Dante user base.
- We offer support and engineering resources to both manufacturers looking to integrate Dante as well as customers looking to build, integrate, and operate Dante systems.
- Finally, we are committed to innovating and developing new features that can be rolled out across multiple manufacturers with the simplicity of a firmware update.
What drove the development of Dante AV?
Get complete details about Audinate’s Dante certification program for integrators and installers.
- We developed Dante AV as a networked video solution that could be configured and routed with the same simplicity as Dante audio and would function and interoperate seamlessly on the same network as Dante audio devices, something customers had been requesting for years.
- Dante AV-A, used in the AMX N2600 Series, delivers high-quality, visually-lossless video with ultra-low latency but it comes at the cost of needing higher bandwidth, so it’s the ideal solution for applications like IMAG where those things are most important.
- Our Dante AV-H solution, that’s used in the N3300 Series uses the H.264 and H.265 codecs that require much lower bandwidth. It’s still very good video quality and pretty low latency, but it’s a much better choice for those applications where network bandwidth is limited like sending video to overflow spaces or across campuses.
