The CasaTunes Virtual Matrix Switch driver for Dante is currently in Beta. Please make sure to download the latest beta version prior to performing your testing. To download the latest version, please follow these steps:
The CasaTunes Virtual Matrix Switch driver for Dante allows CasaTunes to automatically discover all the Dante devices on the network and automatically configure the receiving channels on these discovered devices into stereo zones, with each zone consisting of 2 receiving channels.
CasaTunes automatically configures the 4-8 streams on the CasaTunes Dante Music Server as 4-8 Dante stereo sources.
You can use the CasaTunesX App to switch any source to any combination of zones on the Dante network.
You can configure any Dante device with transmitting channels as one or more mono or stereo sources in CasaTunes. So, for example, you can add a TV source using an eARC to Dante converter, or any other source component, even a non-Dante source component (for example, a microphone or SONOS Port) by using an analog or digital Dante adapter (like Audinates’ AVIO 2 channel Analog Output Adapter).
The current version of the driver is limited to switching sources and zones. We are working on an updated version of the driver that will allow CasaTunes to automatically control the volume on individual Dante speakers and amplifiers, if these devices support external volume control.
The CasaTunes Virtual Matrix Switch driver for Dante utilizes the Dante Managed APIs that are included with Audindate’s Dante Director product.
Before you can set up the CasaTunes Virtual Matrix Switch driver for Dante, you will need to install and set up a Dante Director account.
For more information on how to setup your Dante network and configure Dante Director, please refer to the https://www.getdante.com/products/network-management/dante-director/
Make sure to create a Dante site and add all your Dante devices you want CasaTunes to control, to this site.
You will also need a Dante Managed API Key. This key is available from the Dante Director portal.
Figure 1: Dante Managed Virtual Matrix Setup
Figure 2: View discovered Dante devices and the device details
The CasaTunes Dante Music Server does not use the receiving channels, so the visibility of these are always disabled
Once CasaTunes detects a device on the Dante network, it assumes the device will be available until you remove the device from the list of devices using the CasaTunesX App. This way, if a device fails to get discovered (because the device is powered off or temporarily unavailable), CasaTunes will maintain the settings information for this device. The next time this device is powered on or is brought online, CasaTunes remembers its settings.
To permanently remove a device from CasaTunes, the device must be removed from the network, and when the device is no longer discovered on the network, you can delete the device from the list of devices in CasaTunes.
If you simply want to “hide” a device that is on the network, simply disable the visibility of the RxChannels and TxChannels, and CasaTunes will ignore the device.
Whenever you add or remove a Dante device to your Dante Site, select the refresh button in the Dante Devices screen header in order for CasaTunes to re-discover the network, and set up the CasaTunes Zones (and Sources).
Figure 3: Configuring Dante Rooms in CasaTunes
The current version of the beta driver does not include support for externally controlling the volume on individual speakers and amplifiers.
By default, we have enabled the volume control for a room to control the volume for the stream. Beware this changes the volume on all speakers and amplifiers that are currently using this source.
A future version of the driver will allow individual control of speakers and amplifiers, if these devices include support for external volume control. If you prefer to disable linking the room volume to the source volume please contact [email protected] and we can change this setting.
Figure 4: Editing Dante Sources
To add another Dante source to CasaTunes, or delete a previously added source:
