Sources and Destinations

What is a ‘source’?

In Dante Via, a source is any hardware device or software application that can add audio to the computer / network system.

Sources can be physically in the computer, connected to the computer, or connected to the Dante network.

Hardware sources (devices) include:

  • Internal (built-in) soundcards
  • External (e.g. USB or FireWire) soundcards
  • Internal and external microphones
  • USB headsets
  • Video cameras with built-in microphones
  • Dante audio devices (such as mixing consoles)
  • Hardware synthesizers, and other electronic instruments
  • Any Dante Via-installed computers on the Dante network
  • ‘System audio’ (the internal audio mix that the computer would usually play to the speakers)

Software sources (applications) include:

  • iTunes®
  • Skype®
  • Digital Audio Workstations (Cubase®, Pro Tools®, GarageBand® etc.)
  • Media players (VLC®, Spotify®)
  • Web browsers
  • Any other software applications that produce audio (such as games, PowerPoint®, email clients etc.)

Devices and applications that can add audio to the system and receive audio from the system are both sources and receivers, so they appear in both lists.

Q: Why is a microphone a ‘source’ and not a ‘destination’?
A: Microphones receive audio from the physical environment, but not from the computer / network system; they add audio to the system, which is why they are sources.

What is a ‘destination’?

In Dante Via, a destination is any hardware device or software application that can receive audio from the computer / network system.

Destinations can be physically in the computer, connected to the computer, or connected to the Dante network.

Hardware destinations (devices) include:

  • Loudspeakers
  • Internal (built-in) soundcards
  • External (e.g. USB or FireWire) soundcards
  • Computer monitors with built-in speakers
  • USB headsets
  • Dante audio devices (such as mixing consoles)
  • Any Dante Via-installed computers on the Dante network

Software destinations (applications) include:

  • Digital Audio Workstations (Cubase, Pro Tools, GarageBand etc.)
  • Other audio recording applications
  • Skype

Devices and applications that can receive audio from the system and add audio to the system are both destinations and sources, so they appear in both lists.

Q: Why is a loudspeaker a ‘destination’ and not a ‘source’?
A: Loudspeakers add audio to the physical environment, but not to the computer / network system; they receive audio from the system, which is why they are destinations.