DAD AX64 Base Unit

Product description

Text by DAD
DAD's new, versatile and modular multi-format audio interface with 8 slots for the audio I/O cards known from the AX32 and Penta product family. Up to 8 analogue cards can be installed, providing 64 analogue input or output audio channels with the renowned DAD high-end sonic quality.
With that many channels, a wide palette of digital connectivity, built-in SPQ processing, Eucon control compatibility, internal summing engine and drivers for macOS and Windows 10, it is a pristine digital audio interface by any measure and is suited for just about any application.
In short, AX64 is the ultimate modular multi-format interface, which is ready to take on a wealth of tasks in the Post Production, Studio, Live Music and Installed Audio spheres.

Overview
• 1,744 Input and Output Channels
• Multi-Format Audio A/D, D/A and D/D Converter
• Router and Monitoring Interface Thunderbolt 3 I/O (256 Ch.)
• Dante AoIP I/O (256 Ch.)
• MADI I/O (64 Ch.)
• ADAT I/O (16 Ch.)
• 8 Slots for Optional Multi-Format DAD I/O Cards
• 512x64 Ch. Pro|Mon Summing and Speaker EQ Processing

DAW Interfacing
With Dante, MADI and ADAT ports onboard, native interfaces and versatile and flexible DADman routing control available, it is a stellar A/D, D/A and D/D converter that can grab any digital audio channel – convert it if needed – and route it anywhere.

Another application would be as a dedicated audio interface for your DAW.

Whether you run Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Ableton Live, Digital Performer or any other DAW, AX64 is your super low-latency entrance. With the ADAT, MADI and Dante connectivity, you can easily add analog preamps or insert points to the mix.

Features
The basic I/O configuration for the AX64 multi-format interface is:
• 2 Thunderbolt 3 Ports (each w. 15W power)
• 256 Bidirectional Channels at 48 & 96 kHz
• ASIO / Core Audio Thunderbolt PCIe Drivers
• MADI/BNC-Optional 2 x SFP (LC fiber or HD/BNC coax)
• ADAT /Lightpipe (16 Ch.)
• DANTE: 256 Ch. at 48 kHz, 128 Ch. at 96kHz, 64 Ch. at 192 kHz (IP Core)
• WC I/O • SPQ: 64 Ch. with 16 Filters
• Pro|Mon Support
• Summing Processor 64 Output / 512 Input Busses
• Internal Router: 4096 x 4096
• 32bit Floating Point Processing
• 8 Slots for Any Available Expansion Cards
• Avid Eucon Enabled Devices via DADman
• Apple Silicon M1 and Intel Compatible Software
• Control via Ethernet or Thunderbolt Connection
• Dual 110/240V AC Power Connection as Option

DAD Card Options
You can install up to 8 optional I/O cards in AX64. Here are the cards available for the DAD AX32 and Penta products. These cards are fully inter-changeable between the products - including AX64.
However, future cards developed for the AX64 will not be backwards compatible.

Currently Available Expansion Cards:
• 8 Analogue Inputs (Line Signal)
• 8 Analogue Inputs (Mic Preamps)
• 8 Analogue Outputs (Line Signal)
• Dante Card (128 Ch.)
• Dual MADI Card (2 x 64 Ch.)
• AES Card (16 Ch.)
• Dual MADI Module (2 x 64 Ch.)

Control
The Thunder|Core Audio interface is controlled via the DADman software. DADman can connect to the Thunder|Core interface either via Ethernet or via a communication channel in the Thunderbolt connection. More units can be daisy chained via the Thunderbolt ports, and each unit will appear in DADman control software.
Using control over Ethernet the two RJ45 connectors acts as a switch for connection to more units. The Dante /AES67 audio is also passed on the two RJ45 connectors.

Thunder | Core Technology
Thunderbolt-portsThe DAD Thunder |Core Technology provides a Thunderbolt 3 connection with near-zero latency for interfacing between audio applications on macOS or Windows computers and the Thunder|Core audio hardware. The interface provides a fast Thunderbolt 3/PCIe connection and data transfer with 2 samples latency on the connection and a total of 9 samples in the digital interface, as total also includes EQ and summing processing within the unit. The channel capacity is up to 256 audio channels at 48 and 96 kHz, and the latency at 96kHz is 95 microseconds. The total round-trip latency with an audio software application will depend on the buffer size set for the application. With a buffer size of 32 samples, the latency is 670 microseconds at 96 kHz.

Key Specifications
• 2 x Thunderbolt 3 Ports w. 15W Power Source Each
• 256 Bidirectional Channels at 44.1/48 kHz
• 256 Channels at 88.2/96 kHz
• 128 Channels at 176.4/192 kHz
• 64 Channels at 352.8/384kHz


Control Connection for DADman
• The Core Audio Thunder|Core Audio Driver
• Compatible with Intel and Apple Silicon (M1) processors, as well as Big Sur macOS and forward
• Core Audio Aggregates for More Applications I/O Control Connection for DADman

• ASIO Thunder|Core Audio Driver Compatible with Windows 10 and forward
• One Application Can Connect to the Driver
• Control Connection for DADman

Functionality
The Thunder | Core products have been designed with a unique router core based on 32bit floating point processing and a low-latency and highly reliable FPGA based matrix structure. A timestamp mechanism provides equal latency for all signals routed through the core.
In total, AX64 has a capacity of 4,096x4,096 non-blocking cross points, which provides a capacity of 1,500x1,500 cross points on the I/O and processing level.
The matrix provides fixed latency routing of all inputs to one or more outputs with a latency of only 5 audio samples and supports sample rates from 44.1 to 384 kHz.
The channel processor provides a signal detection logic for all input and output channels, PPM level measurement as well as level control.
All inputs and outputs have processing for level adjustment and in addition, the core has a summing/mixing processer with 64 output busses and 512 inputs, which can be allocated to sets of input and output signals managed by the Pro|Mon monitor control functionality in DADman.
SPQ speaker EQ management is available natively in the core with access to 1,024 filters combined into 64 channels with 16 filters, each with adjustable delay.