25th Jan 2022

V3.0 PD Dante Firmware released

The new v3.0 PD Dante offers new customer requested features

 

Dunstable, UK. January 20 ^th , 2022 – Nixer Pro Audio, manufacturer of high-quality audio monitoring and diagnostic solutions for Dante® applications releases PD Dante v3.0.

 

“We have been adding and improving features within the PD Dante firmware. We are very pleased that many additions are a direct result of customer requests and feedback from operational use on location.”

 

The PD Dante is often used in a production environment where the Operator or Director is also viewing a separate video feed or multi-viewer where any video processing delay adds latency when compared to the Dante AoIP network audio. The PD Dante main monitoring output can now be delayed via a simple on-screen adjustment for improved Operator experience.

 

“We have added a user-adjustable Burst Tone whereby the user can define the frequency and cycle of the test signal tone. This can be particularly useful in system setup and alignment. Along with the addition of BLITS Test Tones, the PD Dante can be used to easily identify channels, check levels, and ensure channels are time-aligned. We believe this further enhances the PD Dante as a diagnostic and operational tool for Audio Engineers working on Dante networks” commented Nick Fletcher, Nixer CEO.

 

Following use providing audio monitoring on several reality TV shows a new 32 channel display has been added. This provides extended horizontal metering and the clear display of long channel names plus a user adjustable text size for enhanced clarity.

 

The PD Dante has also increased the number of Dante devices it can detect to 128. Each user can now listen, mix, and manage up to 128 devices on the network from a single handheld device!

Fletcher went on to state that “We find customers are increasingly using the ability of the PD Dante to manage Dante ‘subscriptions’ on the wider network from the PD Dante and not via an external computer. We have seen Engineers on a high profile international multi venue sports event remotely routing Dante devices at the main international broadcast centre while still able to make local subscriptions and configurations at the outlying stadia. This latest feature can also be used to make a quick temporary patch should there be any equipment failure on the network.”

 

PD Dante v3.0 is now shipping. Existing customers can also obtain the new v3.0 firmware and manual showing the upgrade instructions from the “Downloads” page on the website.

 

The latest Nixer BLM (Boot Loader Manager) will also be required and available from the “Downloads” page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

V3.0 PD Dante Firmware – Feature Set

·       Time Delay
An audio delay compensation has been added to the main monitoring output. The PD Dante is often used in a production environment where the Operator or Director is also viewing a separate video feed or multi-viewer where any video processing delay adds latency when compared to the Dante AoIP network audio. The PD Dante output can be delayed up to a maximum 400 mS. A simple on-screen adjustment or direct numeric value can be input until the required compensation has been added. Alternatively, simply tap for access to a keyboard for direct keypad entry when the delay in known. Delay adjustments can be made in Metres, Feet or mS.

·       BLITS Test Tones
A broadcast line up tone for use with 5.1 surround sound systems. Each channel can be easily identified, and levels checked, and channels time aligned. When selected via the ‘Route Matrix’ the tones are automatically routed to the unit’s three dedicated stereo Dante outputs.

·       A user-adjustable Burst Tone has been added to the signal generator available from the ‘Test Signal’ input selection. The user can define the frequency and cycle of the tone. This can be particularly useful in system setup and alignment.
Improved impulse response of meter(s)

·       The display meters have an improved response, particularly to fast impulse signals encountered in testing, commissioning, and fault-finding. This is most evident for users testing their network using fast impulse signals waves, but the overall meter responsiveness is readily apparent on all sources.

 

·       Addition of 32 channel display. A screen of 32 channels with extended horizontal metering allows for the clear display of long channel names (up to 32 characters).

·       Variable text size in both 32 channel and 16 channel modes. The text size within each display grid is now also variable for enhanced clarity. The text size can be easily adjusted through 4 steps. We now offer 8, 16, 32 and 64 channel displays to mirror the most popular track counts on many live productions.

·       Locking of Mix/Listen mode. This can now be applied globally to all available sources on the device as well as by individual source selection.

·       Increased number of detectable Dante devices to 128
Each user can now listen, mix, and manage up to 128 devices on the network from a single handheld device!

·       Hide unused channels in 96k mode
When monitoring signals at 96 kHz the total number of channels on the network is halved. The ‘Hide’ function greys out the second unused 32 channels on the main 64 channel display grid for a cleaner, easier to read display.

·       Reset to factory defaults added
Restores unit to original factory shipping settings.
Don’t forget we can save and recall 8 status settings of the PD Dante. Useful when moving between different events and you need to quickly recall the unit’s last routing table.

 

·       Dante ‘Identify’ function added
When using multiple PD Dante units on a network this allows each individual unit to be easily identified. The display and port lights will both flash intermittently when the Identify icon is selected within Dante Controller.

·       Edit Dante channel names

·       Although not a new feature we are finding customers are increasingly using the ability of the PD Dante to manage subscriptions on the wider network from within the PD Dante menu screen and not via an external computer. For example, at a high profile international multi venue sports event, Engineers were able to remotely route devices at the main international broadcast centre while still able to make local subscriptions and configurations at the outlying stadia. This feature can also be used to make a quick temporary patch should there be any equipment failure on the network.