CEA Audio Networking and Dante Protocol

Question 1

What is the Dante audio networking protocol primarily used for in professional audio environments?

Accepted Answer

A Layer 3 IP-based protocol for transporting uncompressed, low-latency multi-channel digital audio over standard Ethernet networks

Answer

Wireless microphone frequency coordination over Bluetooth

Answer

A fiber-optic audio transport system for touring concert applications

Answer

A coaxial cable standard for distributing audio in broadcast master control facilities

Question 2

In a Dante network, what is the function of the 'Dante Controller' software?

Accepted Answer

A software application used to route audio channels between Dante-enabled devices on the network and configure device settings

Answer

A hardware controller that converts analog signals to Dante format

Answer

A dedicated server that stores audio routing presets for live events

Answer

An iPad app for remotely controlling the gain on Dante-enabled microphone preamps

Question 3

What Ethernet cable standard is recommended for professional Dante audio networks to ensure reliable operation?

Accepted Answer

CAT5e or higher, with CAT6 or CAT6A preferred for gigabit speeds and reduced crosstalk

Answer

CAT3 telephone cable with shielded connectors

Answer

Fiber multimode cable for all distances above 10 meters

Answer

CAT5 unshielded twisted pair at speeds not exceeding 100 Mbps

Question 4

What is 'PTP' (Precision Time Protocol, IEEE 1588) and why is it critical to Dante?

Accepted Answer

A protocol that synchronizes clocks across all devices on the network to sub-microsecond precision, enabling sample-accurate audio alignment

Answer

A network security protocol used to authenticate Dante devices on the network

Answer

A traffic shaping protocol that prioritizes audio packets over video packets in a shared network

Answer

A redundancy protocol that automatically switches to a backup network path if the primary fails

Question 5

What is the difference between a 'unicast' and 'multicast' flow in Dante networking?

Accepted Answer

Unicast sends audio to a single receiver; multicast distributes one audio stream to multiple receivers simultaneously, reducing network bandwidth compared to multiple unicast flows

Answer

Unicast uses fiber connections; multicast uses copper Ethernet

Answer

Unicast is used for control data; multicast carries all audio streams

Answer

Multicast requires a dedicated server; unicast flows are peer-to-peer

Question 6

What does 'Dante Domain Manager' (DDM) add to a standard Dante network?

Accepted Answer

Centralized access control, user authentication, audit logging, and the ability to manage Dante devices across multiple network subnets

Answer

Real-time spectrum analysis and loudness metering for all Dante audio channels

Answer

A hardware router that separates Dante audio traffic from IT data traffic using VLAN tagging

Answer

An automatic gain control system that normalizes levels across all connected Dante devices