Specifications
Network speed
Dante Via supports Ethernet networks that use 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) infrastructure. Dante generally performs better on Gigabit networks. Quality of Service (QoS) can be used to improve Dante performance on slower networks that are shared with non-Dante applications.
Network Transmit / Receive flows
‘Flows’ are audio streams of up to 4 channels that are used to transport audio across a Dante network (outside the host computer). Grouping channels together into flows conserves bandwidth.
16 flows of up to 4 channels allows the transport of up to 64 bidirectional channels simultaneously across a Dante network.
If you exceed the number of supported flows, you will see an ‘Insufficient Resources’ error dialog.
Latency
Latency is a delay that digital audio devices and applications introduce into an audio stream as a result of (or to allow for) the processing of audio packets. Dante Via’s internal latency is ~10ms. However, auxiliary signal paths (for example, paths to USB-connected devices) will also add latency.
On Windows, adjusting the Performance Optimization slider in the Performance preferences will affect Dante Via’s latency.
Sample Rate
Dante Via’s native sample rate is 48 kHz. Sample rate conversion is performed automatically in both directions for locally-connected devices: Incoming audio is converted to 48 kHz, and outgoing audio is converted from 48 kHz to match the sample rate required by the destination device.
Remote (networked) Dante hardware devices must be set to 48 kHz to be supported by Dante Via.
For software applications, sample rate conversion is performed automatically by the operating system.
Sample Bit Depth
Dante Via’s native bit depth is 24-bit – however, Dante Via converts incoming audio to 24-bit automatically.
Software Channel Support
Dante Via supports 16 x 16 channels for ASIO and Core Audio software applications and 2 x 2 channels for WDM software applications.
Hardware Channel Support
Dante Via natively supports up to 32 x 32 channels for hardware devices (although more channels can be subscribed using Dante Controller).
Total Channel Support
Dante Via supports a total of 48 source channels and 48 destination channels. This means that you could theoretically run 24 stereo sources into 24 stereo destinations simultaneously, on a sufficiently-powerful computer.
However, audio mixes (including the ‘all applications mix’) require their own additional channels, which deduct from the total supported source channel count.
On macOS, the stereo and 16 Channel Application Inputs occupy 2 and 16 source channels respectively.
Individual computer performance and tuning can affect the number of channels that are practically supported.
Application Support
The number of Dante Via interfaces to software applications is limited to 8 (due to the extra processing required for software connections). Similarly, audio mixes (including the all applications mix) are limited to 8 simultaneous mixes.