Grace Design m701 Production Dante is a modular audio interface and A/D-D/A converter in a 2U chassis, combining 16 analog input channels, 16 analog output channels, 8 channels of m108-class microphone preamps and a 32x32 Dante network interface in one ready-to-track configuration for modern audio-over-IP environments. Grace Design's first complete interface platform, built on the same foundations as the company's preamps and converters: precise analog stages, careful power supply engineering and fourth-generation s-Lock PLL clocking.
Reference preamps and conversion on a Dante network
An engineer working in an audio-over-IP system needs a preamp, converter and network interface in one signal path, without degradation at the connections between devices. The m701 Production Dante consolidates this into one unit: 8 preamp channels based on the same design as the m108 and m801 MkII, 16 channels of A/D and 16 channels of D/A conversion with THD+N of 0.0002% and 0.00055% respectively, and 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, placing it between the Merging Hapi and the Lynx Hilo 2.
Modularity and GraceNet in a networked environment
Eight slots for ADC, DAC and preamp cards allow the configuration to be expanded without replacing the whole system. A built-in 32x8 low-latency mixer supports up to 8 independent cue mixes, accessible to musicians via GraceNet from a phone or tablet. GraceNet runs in any browser without drivers and integrates control of up to 12 m108 preamps connected over Dante, with all settings stored in the m701's memory. Onboard digital I/O (8-channel AES3, 8-channel ADAT, 2-channel S/PDIF and word clock) plus a third option slot for an additional 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
- 16 channels of reference-quality A/D and 16 channels of D/A conversion
- 8 microphone preamp channels based on the m108/m801 MkII design
- 32x32 Dante card up to 192 kHz, 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC) and 0.00055% (DAC)
- 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
- Production Dante configuration: 16x ADC, 16x DAC, 8x mic preamp, 32x32 Dante card
- THD+N: 0.0002% (ADC), 0.00055% (DAC)
- Preamps: 8 channels, m108/m801 MkII-based design, AES59 connector
- A/D-D/A slots: 8x (8-channel ADC, DAC or 4-channel preamp modules)
- 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
