Networked Audio for Avid VENUE: High-Density Dante Comes to S6L

For two decades, Avid VENUE has redefined what’s possible in live sound with revolutionary technologies like onboard plug-ins, Virtual Soundcheck, and a unified ecosystem that brings studio power to the world’s most demanding stages.

To meet the growing demand for larger shows with more complex needs, the new Dante HD Option Card delivers powerful, scalable networked-audio connectivity to any Avid VENUE | S6L system.

A New Era of Connectivity

As live productions grow larger and more complex, engineers face an ever-increasing challenge: connect more sources across more positions while keeping latency low and reliability high. Tours now rival broadcast productions in scale, and houses of worship, corporate AV, and theatrical venues demand the same flexibility and sonic precision.

Audio-over-IP (AoIP) has become the backbone of this shift. By transporting audio over standard network infrastructure, engineers can route signals instantly across campuses, consoles, racks, and rooms, simplifying cabling, expanding routing capacity, and eliminating the constraints of analog or point-to-point digital systems.

Avid VENUE | S6L already supports AVB, Milan, and MADI connectivity. The new Dante HD Option Card adds the industry’s most widely adopted AoIP network protocol to that lineup, bringing greater freedom to design, scale, and integrate complex systems.

Introducing the Dante HD Option Card

Purpose-built for touring, broadcast, and large-scale AV installations, the Dante HD Option Card provides 128 channels of Dante I/O at 96 kHz, enabling audio routing across massive productions and multi-console environments. Systems can support two cards for a total of 256 channels of Dante.

Featuring BNC-based clocking for stable synchronization within Dante domains, the card ensures integration even in mixed-clock networks. Because it’s designed specifically for S6L, no external interfaces or configuration workarounds are required.

Built on Audinate’s IP Core technology to allow the full suite of what Dante has to offer. With Dante HD, the S6L system can be the Dante Clock leader or have the ability to clock from a different clock leader via integrated BNC connector, supporting both Switch and Redundant modes as well as unicast and multicast flows.

Sample rate conversion is planned for a future Dante HD Option Card release.

One Unified Platform

The power of the VENUE | S6L platform lies in its complete interoperability. Every surface, engine, and I/O rack shares the same VENUE software and Show File format, so any mix can travel instantly between systems. With the addition of Dante HD, that unity now extends across the world’s most common audio networks.

Engineers can easily bridge Dante with existing AVB or Milan systems, link front-of-house and monitor consoles, or integrate directly into broadcast infrastructures—all while maintaining VENUE’s renowned sound quality and stability. For productions running multiple S6Ls, Avid True Gain™ technology ensures consistent levels across shared I/O and gain-compensated mixes, eliminating the need for analog splits and reducing setup time and cost.

Built for the Demands of the Road

The Dante HD Option Card joins Avid’s new generation of E6LX engines, each designed for rugged reliability and easier serviceability. These engines provide expanded input/output capacity, support for up to eight option cards and four HDX DSP cards, and complete backward compatibility with existing S6L systems.

For touring engineers and rental houses, that means investment protection: any S6L can be upgraded to meet today’s networking requirements without replacing familiar workflows or hardware. For system integrators, it means future-proof design ready for larger channel counts, immersive environments, and multi-stage setups.

Proven Performance

The value of networked audio is playing out on some of the world’s biggest stages and state-of-the-art venues.

• Madonna’s 2024 Tour leveraged S6L’s power and reliability to deliver arena-scale performances to record-breaking crowds.
• At Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Iceland, VENUE systems ensure rider compliance and broadcast-grade fidelity for visiting global productions.
• And at UPPERROOM Church in Dallas, Texas, integration between Avid VENUE, MLN options, and d&b Soundscape has enabled immersive, spatialized experiences that redefine audience engagement.

By extending this networked versatility through Dante HD, S6L now connects effortlessly to even broader infrastructures. Whether expanding a multi-console festival network, integrating broadcast redundancy, or simplifying complex corporate events, S6L users can now harness Dante’s global ecosystem.

Together with VENUE 8.1 software and the E6LX-series engines, Dante HD reinforces Avid’s commitment to providing engineers with the tools to mix faster, record flawlessly, and deliver unforgettable performances.

Experience Dante HD for VENUE | S6L

The next stage of live sound is connected.

Discover how the Dante HD Option Card brings unmatched flexibility to the unified VENUE | S6L platform.