Brand:

• BSS

Models:

• Soundweb London
• Audio Architect

Overview:

This article provides an explanation of how Audio Architect handles Dante channel assignments and how it relates to the Object ID of the Dante Input/Rx and Output/Tx objects.  The article also outlines the implications of adding or deleting Dante objects and lists best practices to avoid unexpected changes in Dante channel order. 

Understanding HiQnet Address allocation: 

HiQnet Address and Object ID

Processing Objects are elements which are added into a Soundweb London Configuration.  These objects are uniquely identified by their HiQnet Address.  This is displayed in the Properties. By default, the HiQnet Address is displayed as a six bytes expressed as a hexadecimal number.  

The last three bytes of the HiQnet Address represent the Object ID which is displayed in the Properties as the Address.  By default, this is displayed as three octals expressed as decimal numbers. 

The Address can be displayed in a more readable form by changing the Application Options available in the File menu.  Untick the following options in the General Settings as shown in the image below. Display Addresses in Hex and Display Object Addresses as Octals. 

Object ID allocation

The first Processing Object added into the Configuration will have an Object ID of 256.  The second Processing Object will be allocated with the next available Object ID which is 257.  The Object ID will increment by one as subsequent Processing Objects are added. 

If a Processing Object is deleted, its Object ID will be re-used for the next Processing Object added to the Configuration. 

The Object ID can be modified in the Properties at any time by entering a number in the Address field.  A pop up message will appear if the Object ID entered is already allocated to another Processing Object.  The pop up explains that the Processing Object from which the Object ID has been taken will be allocated with a new Object ID.  

Dante Input and Output Objects: 

Object ID allocation

Dante Input/Rx and Output/Tx objects follow the same Object ID allocation rules as Processing Objects outlined above. 

Dante Channel assignment

Dante channels are assigned based on the order of the Dante Input/Rx and Output/Tx Object IDs. 

The Configuration below has three Dante Input/Rx objects with consecutive Object IDs.

The channels are re-assigned if the object with Object ID 257 is deleted.  The channels in the object with Object ID 258 will move up and take the place of the object with Object ID 257.  

Changing Object ID in Dante objects

The Configuration below has two Dante Input/Rx objects with consecutive Object IDs.

The channels are re-assigned if the object with Object ID 501 is changed to 400.

Best Practices:

Care must be taken when adding or removing Dante objects as the order of the assigned Dante channel may change.  This could disrupt the existing Dante routing in a system. 

• Always ensure that the Venue file is saved before making any changes to Dante objects in case you need to revert to the unchanged version. 
• Always inspect the Properties of each Dante object to gain an understanding of the Object IDs and the impact on Dante channel order. 
• Never assume that newly added Dante objects will have a higher Object ID than the last.  It is possible that a deleted Processing Object will have released its Object ID and will be the next one used for any new Dante objects.  This Object ID may be lower than the Object ID in the existing Dante objects. 
• The Object ID of any new Dante objects can always be changed in the object's Properties but remember that to take effect you must save the file, close Audio Architect, launch Audio Architect and then open the file. 
• To preserver the order of the existing Dante channels, ensure that any newly added Dante objects have a higher Object ID to the other Dante objects. 

Any alternative method is to add two 32-channel Dante objects into the Configuration consecutively.  This ensures that the Object IDs are assigned and that the assigned Dante channel will always be in the same order.  This is not ideal for all Configurations because the flexibility of placing smaller Dante objects in more convenient locations is lost.