Inputs & Outputs
There are 16 digital inputs and 16 digital outputs, available on 8 x AES connections. There are also 16 analogue inputs and 16 analogue outputs, available in parallel to the digital. The analogue and digital outputs are always available, and the inputs work either on AES input priority or can be selected via the control app.
The AES3 inputs have sample rate converters and can accept input frequencies up to 192kHz. The incoming AES3 circuit is always sample rate converted to match the Dante network frequency. The AES3 outputs are locked to the sample frequency of the Dante network.
Connections
For ease of cabling, audio I/O is presented on D25 sockets to the AES59 standard (Tascam wiring convention) for which there are a number of reasonably priced break out cables available from multiple suppliers.
Remote Mic Amps
The analogue inputs are switchable between mic, line and 48V phantom power. These are controllable across the network via the Dark Controller Windows 10 app. This allows remote control by an engineer of the input selection, gain adjust and input on/off control. A meter is also provided for each input on the app, to monitor the input level and help with setting the gain.
Network Interface
Being designed for resilient broadcast applications the DARK1616M features both redundant power supplies and redundant Dante network links with link status GPOs (general purpose outputs (solid state relays)). Both primary and secondary network links are provided with both magnetic (copper RJ45) and fibre (SFP) interface connections. The Dante system itself provides a completely transparent redundant link system which means that if the DARK1616M lost its primary link circuit the secondary link would automatically take over with no loss of audio.
The primary and secondary network interfaces are routed internally via a network switch. It is possible to set this switch to work as a traditional network switch instead of the default redundant mode. This means that there would be just one link to the Dante network, and the other connections of the switch could have other Dante or network devices connected to them. As with all Dante devices, once set up, DARK1616 units can be directly connected with each other with no external network hardware.
Alarms
On the front panel 4 bright LEDs indicate the status of the 2 power supplies and the primary and secondary local network links. In parallel to these 4 indicating LEDs there are 4 solid state relay outputs for connecting to external alarm systems for failure notification of a power supply or link fault.
