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Probably the easiest and most robust way to connect your audio gear from stage inputs to console and streaming computer is via Dante. This protocol transmits digital audio over standard Ethernet/CAT5 systems, which makes it extremely efficient and economical. No more weird RF interference in your long analog cable runs. No more thick, heavy bundles of mic snakes to run between stage and front of house. And it easily scales, meaning you can simply add more devices and computers to the network and they automatically see everything, allowing you to run anything anywhere. Here are the pieces involved:
Dante-enabled mic preamp on stage. Plug your mics into this unit and it outputs a Dante signal which is then run over a single CAT5 cable back to your console. It also handles the return signals for your main mix going to the amps/speakers.
Dante-enabled console. Most digital consoles have a card slot so you can buy and install a Dante card.
Dante Virtual Soundcard for each computer. This is an inexpensive piece of software that puts the computer on the Dante network.
Standard Ethernet switch. Plug everything into this box, just like on your home or office network, and they all see the same signals.
Now download the free Dante Controller from Audinate (where you also get the Dante Virtual Soundcard) and use this to connect any inputs to any outputs. Here’s a sample screenshot from my church showing only the connections between the console and our Aviom stage monitor system, which is also Dante-enabled:
This matrix shows us that the band inputs on the Yamaha console (bass, keys, piano, etc) are connected to channels 1-8 on the stage Aviom monitor mixers. Vocals show up on Aviom channels 9-12; drums are sub-mixed into a mono channel so they don’t take up half the monitor mixer’s channels. Aux 3 on the console comes up channel 16 on the monitors, so you can add anything else as needed to the musician’s mix.
You can see more information at Audinate.com, developers of the Dante protocol. Once you get the hang of how this routing matrix works, you can connect anything. It’s very powerful and extremely high quality; I would recommend this over physical audio interfaces and cable connections (and cheaper, too).
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