NEXUS – XDIP – Use cases:

Multichannel recording from the NEXUS network More and more often there is already the desire to record many audio channels at the same time, even for smaller productions, be it studio productions or live performances. With the current digital recording technology, this is possible without any problems. Artists and producers want multi-track recordings for a wide variety of purposes: from professional studio recordings to fast live CDs to playback stems or simply for the musician's or sound engineer's own control. Especially popular for recording purposes are digital audio workstations, called DAW, equipped with a Dante Virtual Soundcard, a low-cost driver for the Dante Ethernet protocol that allows a standard PC to send and receive 64 audio channels simultaneously over an Ethernet connection.

The NEXUS XDIP card offers an excellent way to transmit the desired audio channels from the NEXUS network to the Dante Ethernet network, or to receive Dante channels over the same Ethernet port.

Feeding pre-produced audio into NEXUS networks Shows of various sizes have been using complex playback arrangements for a long time, which can be adapted live and universally to the circumstances. Be it virtuoso sound landscapes, multi-track effect or background pre-productions or a complete band or orchestra, where the multi-track feed can be used to react flexibly to changing live line-ups or changing venues.

The NEXUS XDIP card offers a tailor-made solution for transferring up to 64 audio channels simultaneously to the NEXUS network, routing them as desired and integrating them into the show with the mixing consoles on the network.

Virtual soundchecks for live and theatre productions In live or theater productions, it is often not possible to conduct an extensive sound check with all artists at the same time. Therefore, the XDIP card is the ideal interface for a virtual sound check. Usually the recording of the input signals (PreFa- der, PreEQ i.e. Direct Out) of the last show, dress rehearsal or a production made for this purpose, e.g. as an accessory of a recording process, is placed on the inputs of the mixing console in order to create a mix or to refine an existing one or to adapt it to the venue. The great benefit comes from the variety of applications: For large productions it is possible to perform partial rehearsals with full sound, e.g. soloist rehearsals without orchestra or only the band without singers, etc.

Another, otherwise impossible use of the virtual sound check is the sound engineer's own practice, in which a mix can be created and worked out without having to pay attention to the stage and with time for the details. In combination with the time code output of STAGETEC's AURUS mixing console, this is a convenient solution, as it allows the connected playback machine to follow even with dynamic automation. In addition, MIDI messages can be output during static and dynamic automation, e.g. to change presets of effect devices or to give cues for single players.

Connection between any Dante equipment and NEXUS networks The actual application of the XDIP card is of course the connection of Dante-enabled devices or entire Dante networks. Dante is the proprietary audio-over-IP format of the Australian company Audinate and allows the exchange of audio channels using conventional IP networks. Each Dante-enabled device can transmit 64 input and output channels and synchronize the sampling rate using the PTPv1 protocol. A configuration tool for setting up the connections and switching the sources to the sinks is available free of charge. A standard network cable can be used to connect a wide variety of devices to the XDIP card to increase the number of I/Os in the NEXUS system.

Meanwhile, especially in the semi-professional area, many devices with Dante interface are in use due to the better price-performance ratio, so that e.g. musicians need such a connection. If all four RJ45 ports are switched to primary, the connections are combined in one network; up to three Dante-enabled devices can be integrated into the Dante network if the XDIP board is connected to a larger Dante network via the fourth port. Without connection to a network, four Dante-enabled devices or two redundantly connected devices can be connected. With the Pri-Sec-Pri-Pri port configuration, one redundantly connected and two singularly operated Dante connections can be established.