TL; DR
In the evolving AV-over-IP landscape, integrators demand solutions combining low latency, interoperability, and ease of deployment. This guide presents Dante AV as a unified platform for transmitting audio and video over standard Ethernet, eliminating HDMI/SDI cabling complexity. We compare Dante’s three editions—Ultra, AV-H, and AV-A—and demonstrate how each addresses specific performance and budget requirements. The guide further explores Dante’s single-canvas routing, security via Dante Domain Manager, and scalability to hundreds of streams, underscoring why Dante AV is rapidly becoming the industry standard. Finally, integrators will learn best practices for design, deployment, and collaboration within the Nearity Sonority ecosystem.
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, audio-visual (AV) integrators are constantly confronted with the challenge of delivering synchronized, high-quality audio and video across complex network environments. Traditional cabling systems and outdated protocols often fail to meet the rising demands for flexibility, scalability, and interoperability. Against this backdrop, Dante AV emerges as a groundbreaking solution, offering a unified platform that seamlessly integrates audio and video over standard IP networks. With its unparalleled low latency, ease of configuration, and broad manufacturer support, Dante AV is rapidly becoming the gold standard in the AV-over-IP revolution.
What is Dante AV?
Dante AV is a suite of networked video solutions tailored to meet different OEM design requirements while enabling end customers to choose products that suit their applications and budget. Instead of separate HDMI/SDI runs, Dante AV sends time-aligned audio and video streams over standard 1 GbE switches, managed in the familiar Dante Controller interface.
Key Benefits of Dante Support
- Interoperability: Products using the same Dante AV codec talk to each other effortlessly.
- Dante audio channels: Instantly compatible with thousands of Dante-enabled audio devices.
- Independent routing: Audio, video, and ancillary signals (USB HID, serial, IR) each get their own flexible paths.
- Single-tool configuration: Dante Controller handles all routing; Dante Domain Manager (or Dante Director) simplifies security and maintenance.
- Standard network: Runs on 1 GbE—no exotic infrastructure needed.
The Latest 3 Editions of Dante AV
Audinate has evolved Dante AV into a family of three distinct solutions—each optimized for different OEM design needs, budgets, and performance requirements:
- Dante AV Ultra
Formerly “Dante AV”, now rebranded as Dante AV Ultra. This is the flagship—ideal for live broadcast, image magnification, and any scenario demanding pixel-perfect, ultra-low latency video.
- Codec: FPGA-based, from codec through network
- Video: Visually lossless up to 4Kp60 4:4:4
- Latency: Sub-frame (often under 1 ms)
- Sync: Deterministic A/V alignment via PTP
- Ancillary: USB HID, serial, IR over IP; HDCP v1.x/2.x support
- Management: Fully supported in Dante Controller & Dante Domain Manager
- Dante AV-H
Ideal for conference calls, lecture recordings, campus-wide video sharing, or live event streaming, Dante AV-H offers a dependable and scalable network video solution—delivering high-quality performance with minimal complexity for classrooms, offices, and more.
- Codec: Software-based H.264/AVC & H.265/HEVC
- Video: Up to 4Kp60 4:2:0
- Audio: 2×2 channels of Dante audio
- Latency: A few frames—still low enough for most installations
- Flexibility: Works on SoC-based video endpoints with rapid OEM integration
- Compatibility: Integrates with unified communication & capture apps via Dante Studio software
- Dante AV-A
Built around the ASPEED AST1530 SoC, Dante AV-A broadens the Dante AV lineup to new hardware without necessitating any redesigns. Dante AV-A provides a natural and immersive in-room video distribution experience. Additionally, it is ideally suited for one to many AV distribution or IMAG applications.
- Codec: Software-based on ASPEED AST1530 SoC
- Video: Visually lossless up to 4Kp60 4:4:4
- Audio: Two independently routable Dante channels
- Latency: Sub-frame for video, plus low audio delay
- Security: HDCP 2.x for protected content
- Integration: Instant compatibility with many Dante audio devices
Edition Features Comparison
| Edition Features | Dante AV Ultra | Dante AV-A | Dante AV-H |
| Resolution Support | Up to 4Kp60 4:4:4 | Up to 4Kp60 4:4:4 | Up to 4Kp60 4:2:0 |
| Latency | Sub Frame | Sub Frame | A Few Frames |
| Interoperability of products using the same codec | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dante Controller Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dante Domain Manager and Dante Director Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dante Studio Software Support | ✔ |
| ✔ |
| HDCP Support | ✔(1.x/2.x) | ✔(1.x) |
|
| Common AV Clock | ✔ |
|
|
| Encode/Decode from SDI | ✔ |
|
|
Why Choose Dante AV?
Whether you’re an OEM designing new hardware or an AV integrator wiring up the next corporate headquarters, Dante support brings tangible benefits:
- Seamless Interoperability All Dante AV editions — and their audio-only counterparts — show up in one Dante Controller canvas. No separate video matrices or protocol converters are needed.
- Unbeatable Low Latency
- Dante Ultra/A: Sub-millisecond video sync, sub-millisecond audio latency.
- H: A few frames—well under 100 ms—good for most teaching, streaming, and conferencing.
- Rock-Solid Scalability
- From small huddle spaces to stadium video walls, Dante AV supports point-to-point and multicast deployment.
- Hundreds of concurrent streams over standard gigabit switches—no proprietary hardware lock-in.
- IT-Grade Security & Monitoring Dante Domain Manager (or Dante Director) adds user access control, audit logs, and health dashboards for both audio and video streams.
- Future-Proof Infrastructure Over 550+ OEM licensees, 1 million+ Dante nodes shipped, and growing device ecosystems mean your investment pays off for years.
- Cost-Effective Deployment
- Replace bulky HDMI/SDI matrices with off-the-shelf managed switches.
- Fewer cables, lower rack space, and simplified maintenance.
- ODM & OEM Collaboration
- Manufacturers: Tap into ODM partnerships for camera endpoints, encoders, and decoders—fully customizable under your brand.
- Design Firms: As a Dante AV authorized implementer, you unlock new revenue streams and accelerate product roadmaps.
Dante-powered Network Audio Revolution: Nearity Sonority Audio Ecosystem
The Nearity Sonority Audio Ecosystem is built around Audinate’s Dante protocol, a high-performance audio networking solution. Often paired with PoE for simplified cabling, Dante also interoperates with a variety of other technologies to streamline audio capture, processing, and distribution—delivering seamless hybrid collaboration experiences. It elevates the audio experience with an integrated suite of networked endpoints— A21S speakerphone, A31S microphones, DSPs (AMix100s) and Speaker (ASP200) — so integrators can deliver a true end-to-end solution.
🚀Want to dig deeper? Learn how Sonority redefines the audio layer of your AV network in our detailed guide: → Explore the Nearity Sonority Audio Ecosystem
Conclusion
Dante AV transforms standard IP networks into unified audio-video backbones—every edition (Ultra, A, H) tailored for distinct performance needs and budgets. Combined with Dante support and the power of Nearity’s Sonority audio ecosystem, you get a future-ready, secure, and easily managed AV infrastructure.
No more cable spaghetti! No more black-box video islands! Just intuitive configuration, rock-solid sync, and endless scalability.
People often Ask
How does Dante AV work?
Dante AV encapsulates video in IP packets alongside Dante audio, using Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for sub-frame video sync and sub-millisecond audio latency. All streams route via Dante Controller.
What is the difference between Dante and Ethernet?
Ethernet is the physical/data-link network standard (e.g., 1 GbE switch). Dante is an audio/video-over-IP protocol suite that runs on Ethernet, adding precise timing, discovery, and routing layers.
How many video channels are in Dante AV Ultra?
Each Dante AV Ultra device supports a single 4Kp60 4:4:4 stream. Dante AV Ultra supports up to 8 video channels and 128 audio channels, with capabilities for encoding/decoding and low-latency IP network transmission in UHF range.
Do all Dante devices support AES67?
Most Dante audio devices offer AES67 interoperability—provided they’re running Dante firmware v4.0 or later and AES67 is enabled in Dante Controller. For Dante AV series products, AES67 support is limited to the audio channels; video transport remains Dante’s proprietary protocol.
