AJA: Decoding the importance of Dante AV support in live production

By AV Magazine in Broadcast and media, Live Events, Sponsored story October 23, 2023 0

Audinate’s Dante audio networking transformed the way AV professionals connect devices, replacing many specialised, single-purpose cables with a single Ethernet cable. The commercial release of Dante AV further upped the ante, adding low latency and completely synchronised audio and video transport over IP into the mix.

More venues are installing IP networks prompting pro AV to use Dante AV Ultra

Since all devices in a connected Dante AV workflow share a network, they can be easily managed and signals can be sent to any on-site device, without having to change wiring.

As more pro AV hardware and software providers add support for Dante AV and venues install IP networks, it’s prompted a new era of connectivity in live production workflows. Dante AV Ultra is the latest flavor of Dante AV, providing visually lossless video at up to 4K 60p 4:4:4 quality with sub-frame latency.

For touring productions, Dante AV Ultra-enabled solutions are becoming key components to fast and efficient load in and out, as well as top notch performance display and recording. While each venue’s infrastructure varies, 1 GigE networks are increasingly standard, enabling AV pros to harness the benefits of video-over-IP workflows. However, with so many different potential signal types and codecs, conversion technology is essential for bridging gaps. For example, video production company Zeros in Ones recently took AJA’s new Dante AV 4K-T encoders and Dante AV 4K-R decoders on a global concert tour. Zeros in Ones founder, Jason Harvey says: “Dante AV 4K-T and 4K-R are very well suited for live music productions. They’re going to make a lot of people’s lives much easier, especially as more venues install IP networks.”

Released earlier this year, AJA’s Dante AV 4K-T and 4K-R enable the transport and control of low latency, professional quality 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD/VESA Dante video and audio to/from 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 devices over a 1 GigE Dante AV network.

Both devices offer perfect lip sync to in-venue screens and for external broadcasts and streams. The new devices also broaden AJA’s support for Dante networking, building on AJA’s OG-DANTE-12GAM 12G-SDI/Dante 64-channel audio embedder/disembedder in the openGear form factor.

The new devices support growing demand for technology that supports Dante AV Ultra, as it gains traction for its ability to deliver high image quality with minimal cabling.

With the right gear, AV teams, professionals who manage video distribution in a networked facility, and systems integrators can seamlessly incorporate high-quality, visually lossless video into AV-over-IP environments spanning stadiums, arenas, theatres, churches, schools, office complexes, hotels, conference rooms, and more. Existing IP infrastructure and digital AV equipment can be leveraged across multiple physical locations, while devices with networked control and flexibility make it easy to deploy and manage video walls and digital signage at a lower cost, with end-user routing to screens or speakers supported in-venue.

As pro AV standards and formats continue to evolve, it’s important to keep an eye on gear that’s keeping pace with the latest developments.

It may not be practical to do a complete workflow overhaul for every new advancement, but with the right pieces, AV professionals can harness the benefits of the latest technology, including Dante AV Ultra, within existing setups.

Keep up to date, learn more about AJA’s latest Dante AV Ultra devices: https://www.aja.com/products/dante-av-ultra

AJA Video Systems Inc.
Tel: +1 530 274 2048
Email: sales@aja.com
Web: https://www.aja.com/products/dante-av-ultra