HC Bridge SRC

As a standalone device providing conversion, or control and discovery separation between two networks. The serial audio on the rear of the unit is looped by a fibre cable (or cables) between HC Link 1 and HC Link 2. Four fibre SFPs and two duplex fibre cables will provide connection redundancy. As a standalone device the unit can be used with or without an SSL console.

With the increased use of Dante on both OB trucks and festival/event infrastructure, taking a ‘network split’ from the stage is an attractive prospect for a broadcast mix. A Dante or network split is similar to a MADI split, offering space and cost efficiencies above deploying additional analogue stage-racks and mic splitters. Sample rate conversion allows both systems to use independent clock sources. Physically separating the networks across the HC Bridge allows each team to safely share audio signals without exposing their network to the other side, preventing accidental or malicious changes on the other network.

If a system requires the use of both sample rates on the same network, a looped back unit on the network provides a bulk method to share audio between the different devices. Dante can support multiple sample rates on the same network but only devices of the same sample rate can have audio connected between them. There are examples of this requirement across live touring, fixed installation and music broadcast, using both SSL consoles and other manufacturers’ consoles.

SSL System T, SSL Live consoles and Network I/O support Dante and ST 2110 or AES67 on the same hardware at the same time. Standalone conversion between Dante and ST 2110 is not required. However, for some installations it is useful to separate the audio (Dante) and the video centric (ST 2110) infrastructure, keeping access to these signals separate.This provides the benefits of ST 2110 when working with audio alongside video, in conjunction with the advantages of automatic stream creation using the Dante API for audio centric work-flows, particularly where mono audio routing is required.

Used as a Dante ST 2110-30 converter an HC bridge is analogous to an SDI or MADI connection between an audio and video router in a baseband system. As with many infrastructure design choices, the total number of simultaneously used channels and the intended ability to make changes – or not – factor into connectivity choices. An HC Bridge SRC or an HC Bridge can be used as a Dante and ST 2110-30 (level A, B and C) converter.