In Dante Via, audio flows from sources to destinations. This article explains what each one is, why some devices appear where they do, and how to send audio between them.
What is a source?
A source is any device or application that adds audio to your computer or Dante network. A microphone is a typical example. It picks up sound from the room and adds it to the system, so it’s a source and not a destination.
What is a destination?
A destination is any hardware device or software application that can receive audio from your computer or Dante network. A destination can be inside your computer, connected to it, or connected to the Dante network.
Hardware destinations include:
- Loudspeakers
- Internal (built-in) soundcards
- External soundcards, such as USB or FireWire
- Computer monitors with built-in speakers
- USB headsets
- Dante audio devices, such as mixing consoles
- Other computers on the Dante network with Dante Via installed
Software destinations include:
- Digital audio workstations (DAWs), such as Cubase, Pro Tools and GarageBand
- Video calling and conferencing apps, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom
Why is a loudspeaker a destination and not a source?
A loudspeaker plays sound into the room, but it doesn’t add any audio to your computer or network. It only receives audio from the system, so it’s a destination.
Why is my computer monitor showing up as a destination?
Your monitor probably has built-in speakers and its own soundcard, so Dante Via can send audio to it like any other speaker.
Can something be both a source and a destination?
Yes. A device or application that can both receive audio and add audio, such as a USB headset with a microphone or a conferencing app, appears in both the Sources and Destinations lists.
How do I send a source to a destination?
Drag the source onto the destination. If audio is already playing to that destination, you can choose to:
- Replace the current source with the new one
- Add the new source to the current one to create a mix