Grace Design m701 8x8 Dante is a modular audio interface and A/D-D/A converter in a 2U chassis, offering 8 analog input channels, 8 analog output channels and a 32x32 Dante network interface up to 192 kHz. The entry configuration of the m701 platform with a Dante card lets you build a compact, reference-quality audio-over-IP front end with full expansion headroom to 32 analog channels and the option to install microphone preamp cards in the six free slots.
A reference Dante starting point with room to grow
A studio or broadcast facility implementing Dante infrastructure needs an interface that grows with the system without replacing the platform. The m701 8x8 Dante delivers 8 channels of A/D and 8 channels of D/A conversion with THD+N of 0.0002% and 0.00055% respectively, with a 32x32 Dante card up to 192 kHz over two Gigabit Ethernet ports. In Sound On Sound testing the m701 outperformed the Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 by over 2 dB in both measurements. Six free slots for ADC, DAC and microphone preamp cards allow scaling the configuration from 8 to 32 analog channels without any quality compromise along the way.
Modularity and GraceNet in a networked environment
The free slots accept any combination of ADC, DAC and 4-channel microphone preamp cards based on the m108 and m801 MkII design, giving configuration flexibility unavailable in monolithic network interfaces. A built-in 32x8 low-latency mixer supports up to 8 independent cue mixes for musicians via GraceNet from a phone or tablet. GraceNet integrates control of up to 12 m108 preamps over Dante, with all settings stored in the m701's memory. Onboard I/O (8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF and word clock) plus a third option slot for an AES3 module or word clock distribution round out the platform's flexibility.
KEY FEATURES
- Modular audio interface and A/D-D/A converter in a 2U chassis
- 8 channels of reference-quality A/D and 8 channels of D/A conversion
- 32x32 Dante card up to 192 kHz, 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC) and 0.00055% (DAC)
- 6 free slots for expansion to 32 analog channels or preamp cards
- Built-in 32x8 low-latency mixer with up to 8 cue mixes
- GraceNet: browser-based control, m108 integration via Dante
- 8 ADC/DAC/preamp card slots, 2x 32-channel digital slots, 1 option slot
- Onboard I/O: 8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Manufacturer: Grace Design
- Type: modular audio interface / A/D-D/A converter, 2U
- 8x8 Dante configuration: 8x ADC, 8x DAC, 32x32 Dante card
- THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC), 0.00055% (DAC)
- A/D-D/A slots: 8x (8-channel ADC, DAC or 4-channel preamp modules), 6 free
- Digital slots: 2x 32-channel (Dante, Digilink, Ravenna/AES67/ST2110, USB2)
- Option slot: 1x (24-channel AES3, word clock distribution)
- Dante card: 32 channels In/Out, 44.1-192 kHz, 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- Onboard I/O: 8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF, word clock
- Mixer: built-in 32x8, low-latency, up to 8 CUE mixes
- Control: front panel (WVGA display), GraceNet (browser), m108 integration
- Sample rates: 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz
- Chassis: 2U rack
