Bonus Reading: The DI Box – What is it? Why Do I Need One?

A network switch allows you to connect different devices on the Dante (or any) network together. You will plug Cat5e/Cat6/Ethernet cables into switches from Rio boxes, the QL5, wireless microphone receivers, the Mac, and other Dante supported devices.

Photo Credit: Falcon Technologies

These are the SMURE wireless receivers for the two handheld microphones and the lavalier microphone. We have three wireless microphones which connect to receivers. The receiver model is a QLXD4, so the full name is the "Shure QLXD4 Half-Rack Digital Wireless Receiver." This receiver will transmit information about the microphones over the Dante network such as battery life; however, they will not convert audio to a digital signal. The audio information is instead sent via an XLR cable which runs directly into the QL5, and the QL5 then transmits that audio over the Dante network.

(Note: Photo Credit: Proaudiola)

Dante is a standard which lets you send lots of uncompressed audio channels across network by using switches and Cat5e cables. The QL5, the wireless mics, and the Rio boxes use this standard. The Macbook Pro also interfaces with the Dante network, allowing you to configure patches and other network settings via the Dante Controller. The sub-snake, or the series of inputs and outputs on house right currently run (via XLR) into the house-left rio box where they are put on the Dante network.

You can learn more about the Dante network here and download the Dante controller here.

Our Rio1608-D allows 16 inputs and 8 outputs to be connected to the Dante Network and controlled by the QL5 console. Installing a rio box to the network is simple:

1. Connect an ethernet cable from the "primary" port on the back of the rio to the D-Link Network switch backstage.
2. Turn on the Rio box using the switch on the front.

Skip to 0:45 in the video. See also: The box features and The Owner's Manual

To configure the Shure QLXD4 Receiver:

1. Mount each receiver to the rack, connect power, and connect antennas.
2. Run a Cat5e cable from each receiver into the network switch.
3. Run an XLR cable from the receiver into the QL5.
   • Handheld Wireless #1 => Input #1 (on the QL5 board). 490.200MHz
   • Handheld Wireless #2 => Input #2 (on the QL5 board). 493.500MHz
   • Lavalier Body Mic => Input #3 (on the QL5 board). 491.175MHz

Connect an XLR cable from the talkback microphone into input #16 on the back of the QL5.

This completes the setup of your talkback microphone. (Unless Matt Evans or Ryan or Jack or Willie said "I want the talkback on some other random channel. In which case, please update this webpage and inform me so I may file a complaint).

1. Connect the 1/8" TRS to 2x 1/4" TS Cables into the DI Stereo Injector.
   • The red (right) 1/4" TS cable should be connected in parallel to the outgoing XLR-R cable.
   • The white (left) 1/4" TS cable should be connected in parallel to the outgoing XLR-L cable.
2. Connect the DI box to the board.
   • The left channel goes into input 15.
   • The right channel goes into input 16.

Note to self: Make an illustrated diagram when I have time.

Starting on the home page of the QL5:

1. Select "I/O Device" on the far right section of the screen. (Video: 1:15)
2. Select "Dante Setup" on the top right section of the screen.
3. Select the "Device Mount" tab on the bottom left section of the screen. (Video: 3:50)
4. Select an empty mounting point to open up a dialogue box showing supported devices.
5. Select "Device List" under "Online" and add the appropriate RIO box to the console.

R series devices will be patched to the console automatically based on their unit ID.

Starting on the home page of the QL5:

1. Select "I/O" Device on the far right.
2. Under the "Dante Patch" tab, select "Dante Input Patch" on the right section of the screen.
3. Click the "Dante 1"
4. Click "IN 001"
5. Keep going for a 1-1 patch connection.