Software-based Dante™ for the Q-SYS Ecosystem

As a part of the Q-SYS Platform, Software-based Dante™ provides network audio integration without the need for additional hardware. As part of a strategic co-development effort with Audinate, Q-SYS leveraged the open architecture and Intel processing headroom of the Q-SYS OS to extend its audio integration capabilities to include Dante. In keeping with the Q-SYS commitment to software-based platform expansion, these optional software licenses will allow integrators to right-size and scale the appropriate Dante channel count into new and existing Q-SYS installations.

Features:

Simple Integration: Add Dante™ network audio to your Q-SYS system without network I/O cards or additional hardware. Dante integrates into the Q-SYS workflow, offering device discovery, synchronization, control and management for Dante audio within the Q-SYS network, alongside native Q-LAN and AES67 and other edge networks like AVB and CobraNet.

Software-based Upgrades and Scalability: The Q-SYS Platform will enable networked Dante integration with a simple software update. This will reduce the need for I/O hardware customization and allow integrators to keep costs down, particularly when upgrading or expanding existing systems. This software-based approach serves to support specific security environment requirements as they change.

Licensing Tier Structure

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: In order to deploy Software-based Dante on a Core 110f, your Q-SYS designs must be installed with Q-SYS Designer Software v8.3.1 or higher. For all other compatible Cores, your Q-SYS designs must be installed with Q-SYS Designer Software v9.0 or higher.

Single Network Infrastructure: Unlike many other Dante solutions, Q-SYS integrates both Dante™ audio and control data on a single switch port. Furthermore, because Q-SYS operates over standard network infrastructure, Dante data can converge with Q-SYS AV&C data, eliminating the need for complicated network bridging or combining to manage your Q-SYS and Dante connected peripherals.

Simplified License Activation: Intuitive activation methods, including online activation for connected Q-SYS Cores, allow for fast integration (offline activation method also available)

License Overview

License Type	Part Number	Applicable Hardware	Type	Supported Q-SYS Designer Software Version	Description
Software-Based Dante	SLDAN-8-P	All Q-SYS Cores	Perpetual, Node Locked	v9.0¹ or higher	8x8-channels. This license is included on all Q-SYS Cores except the NV-32-H. It can be purchased for an NV-32-H, or for a Q-SYS Core 110f sold prior to 30 March, 2020 or Cores 510i and 5200 sold prior to January 1, 2021.
	SLDAN-16-P				16x16-channels
	SLDAN-32-P				32x32-channels
	SLDAN-64-P	Core 24f, 510i, 610, 5200, Server Core X10, Server Core X20r			64×64-channels
	SLDAN-128-P	Core 510i, 610, 5200, Server Core X10, Server Core X20r			128×128-channels
	SLDAN-256-P	Core 610, 5200, Server Core X20r			256×256-channels
	SLDAN-512-P	Core 5200			512×512-channels

1. Core 24F, Server Core X10 and Server Core X20r require v10.0 or higher. For Core 610, Q-SYS Designer v9.9 or later is required to add the SLDAN-256-P license.

2. Core Nano, 8 Flex, 110f, and 510i require a media drive option installed to deploy expanded multi-track playback capacity.

If you have additional questions, visit the Q-SYS Knowledge Base