Analog In, Dante Out
For live sound rigs that are neither fully analog nor fully digital, Sweetwater live sound engineers recommend integrating Digital Audio Labs’ Livemix Pro AD-16 analog-to-Dante converter into your workflow. It takes your existing line-level analog gear, such as mixing consoles, preamps, and other outboard gear, and connects them to a Dante network without requiring you to rebuild your signal chain. Set up the Livemix Pro AD-16 in Dante Controller to create a clean bridge between your analog rig and the digital world, whether that's an existing Dante network or a direct connection to a Livemix Pro-16 or Pro-32 for personal monitoring. Altogether, the Livemix Pro AD-16 is a straightforward way to extend the life of analog gear in a digital workflow without a full console swap. It’s ideal for studios and venues making the shift gradually or for anyone who needs dependable analog-to-Dante conversion.
Note: Digital Audio Labs Livemix Pro hardware is not backward compatible with non-Pro Livemix systems. Please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer if you have any questions.
Related Videos: Livemix Pro AD-16 Analog to Dante Converter
Keep your signal chain intact
Thanks to the AD-16's two DB-25 Thru connectors (TASCAM format), which send an unaltered mirror of your analog line-level input directly to your existing mixer, interface, or console, your current signal chain doesn't need to change. Drop the AD-16 between your source and its normal destination, and it simply adds a Dante feed. Your board still receives its usual analog inputs, while Dante now receives the same signal simultaneously. As a transmitting device, the AD-16 sends that signal onto Dante in one direction; it doesn't pull Dante audio back out as analog. That said, the AD-16 is a simple way to integrate an analog rig into a Dante network or a Livemix Pro personal monitoring system, without repatching or committing to a full digital changeover.
Packed with thoughtful features
The AD-16's dual Dante ports default to Switched mode, functioning as a built-in 2-port network switch, but they can be reconfigured to Redundant mode in Dante Controller for setups that need network failover protection. It also supports sample rates up to 96kHz to keep pace with modern Dante networks. Additionally, per-channel LED VU metering and a dedicated sample-rate indicator on the front panel let you instantly see signal status. When it's time to update your AD-16, the front-panel USB port makes loading new firmware from a FAT32-formatted USB flash drive quick and easy. These thoughtful features make the AD-16 efficient and dependable from day one.
Livemix Pro: intuitive, scalable, and feature-rich monitoring
Livemix Pro systems build on the groundbreaking Livemix series, offering up to 64 channels of premium personal monitoring. This intuitive system minimizes visual clutter by displaying only the channels you need and conveniently routes both audio and power through Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables. Livemix Pro features Group Mix and Channel Mix modes for maximum flexibility, while MirrorMix ensures rock-solid remote mixing. It also provides you with advanced channel and master effects, including reverb on each channel. Additionally, this Dante-capable system supports channel name importing and allows effortless publishing of stereo mixes back to your AoIP network. At Sweetwater, we confidently recommend Digital Audio Labs' Livemix Pro systems to anyone seeking scalable personal monitoring with intuitive operability, even at higher channel counts.
Digital Audio Labs Livemix Pro AD-16 Features:
- Studio-grade 16-ch. analog-to-Dante converter for consoles, preamps, and other line-level sources
- 16 analog inputs and 16 analog passthrough channels across 4 DB-25 (TASCAM) connectors let it sit between source and destination without affecting signal integrity
- 16 Dante digital output channels transmit audio to your network for routing in Dante Controller
- Primary and Secondary Dante ports run in Switched mode by default, acting as a built-in network switch, or can be set to Redundant mode for network failover protection
- Supports sample rates up to 96kHz for modern Dante networks
- Front-panel per-channel LED VU metering and a sample-rate indicator provide at-a-glance signal status
- Front-panel USB port loads firmware updates from a FAT32-formatted USB flash drive
