The past few years have seen an incredible increase in demand for digital connectivity, routing flexibility, and a vast array of I/O requirements in broadcast, post-production, live, and studio spaces. It’s no surprise that the leading manufacturers of AD/DA converters are working hard to develop new and exciting products to meet these massive audio demands. And as the rapid rise and expansion of immersive audio continues to knock on the door, everything seems to be scaling up significantly!
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Digital Audio Denmark (DAD) is a leader in the field of high-end AD/DA conversion, with a special emphasis on AoIP (Audio over Internet Protocol) integration built into each product line, as well as general issues of digital audio protocols. I’ve always been at the forefront. of course. The release of our latest product family, Thunder|Core, has proven how passionate DAD is about creating innovative and flexible solutions in bridging all types of digital audio. A good example of this is the company’s “Tiny Immersive Audio Hero.” Core 256.
core 256
An extremely powerful digital router and monitoring computer interface, the Core 256 truly earns its title as the ultimate digital bridge. 256 bidirectional channels of Thunderbolt 3 I/O (48kHz and 96kHz), 256 Dante AoIP channels (48kHz), 64 channels of MADI I/O via BNC and 16 channels of ADAT (4-channel SPDIF), and world clock In and out.
An optional expansion slot provides an additional 128 channels of MADI I/O via an SFP option card in case you need even more connectivity. Incredible 512×64 channels of processing power with Pro | Monsumming and speaker EQ processing provides unparalleled processing power for entire speaker systems, involving various areas of immersive audio, including but not limited to Dolby Atmos specifications. Provides a level of control complexity. All of these are accessible and packed via a 1500 x 1500 matrix. Uses 32-bit floating point processing.
Core 256 is built with flexibility in mind, based solely on physical connectivity. As expected in large-scale installations, post-production, broadcast, recording studios, and live sound environments, there are typically many digital protocols implemented at many stages in a given signal chain, all of which require connection and routing. , processing is required, so the Core 256 has a wealth of digital capabilities. Connectivity in these domains is very attractive. When it comes to expansion and connectivity with other devices, this is made easy with the ability to daisy chain up to 6 of his DAD devices via Thunderbolt 3. This is a simple matter of integrating the Core 256 into your existing system. Therefore, users of existing DAD AD/DA converters who require a simple digital I/O bridging solution need not look further.
Despite its tiny half-rack footprint, the Core 256 spares no expense when it comes to AD/DA and is as transparent as you’d expect from a DAD converter. What you put in is what you get out, and these converters are veiled in invisibility, with few others truly comparable. The increased clarity and apparent lack of sonic influence may be a little surprising, especially if you’re used to other converters affecting the source material, whether intentionally or not.
Like all DAD AD/DA converters, control of the Core 256 is via DAD’s proprietary control software, DADman. For Core 256, connection to DADman can be made via Ethernet or Thunderbolt 3 port communication channels. System-wide setup and routing couldn’t be simpler through an intuitive interface that is a comfortable and familiar crosspoint-style matrix, making complex routing configurations and patching inputs and outputs to multiple destinations extremely easy. It gets easier. Patching between various digital crosspoints is very easy, and DADman’s minimalist aesthetic means you never wonder where patches are placed in relation to I/O numbers. This is especially useful if, for example, Dante’s 256 channel matrix is deep in his layout. All of this collectively makes patching potentially very complex tasks across the Core 256 digital I/O and other DAD products in your system a breeze. Aside from its ease of use and intuitive layout, the simplicity and somewhat uninspiring aesthetics of the DADman software means that DAD resources are placed where they need to be, in the converter itself, rather than in the typical user interface of fancy control software. It shows that That’s exactly right.
Being a Pro | With support for Mon, speaker and system-wide calibration of the Core 256 can be achieved through this controller and software, with up to 128 channels of speaker EQ and delay, from mono to fully You can fine-tune your entire system, right down to the perfect Dolby Atmos configuration. It’s ideal for a variety of installation, broadcast, live, and recording studio scenarios, especially when you want to handle control and tuning of an entire complex system from one central hub.
As for Thunder’s overall performance, the core interface has incredibly low latency, reported at an impressive 670 microseconds at 96kHz with a buffer size of 32 samples. The fixed-latency design provides incredibly reliable performance in critical environments, especially when all inputs are routed to one or more outputs. This level of design sophistication and reliability gives DAD converters a leading edge in mission-critical audio environments where stability, reliability, and accuracy in every connection are critical.
Renowned for their neutrality, openness, and seemingly invisible sonic fingerprint, DAD’s converters have earned their place (and acclaim) among top engineers, producers, and mixers around the world, including: There’s a good reason. These do what high-end converters should do for the audio that passes through them. Does nothing. The Core 256 is no exception to this solid reputation, offering high-end digital connectivity, routing and monitoring solutions tailored to the most demanding professional digital audio environments.
For local inquiries, please visit CDA Pro Audio.