Allen & Heath 128 x 128 gigaACE option card

This gigaACE networking card from Allen & Heath is the M-DL-GACE-A and is one of several audio networking options that can be fitted to an Allen & Heath dLive I/O Port. It provides a 128x128ch 96kHz gigaACE point-to-point link on Cat5e cable to another dLive mixing system. The CAT5e (or higher) copper links allows a connection up to 109 yards (100m).

gigaACE is Allen & Heath’s proprietary protocol for transporting Audio and Control over Ethernet, using standard CAT cables. It allows very low latency and cable redundancy without any audio dropout. gigaACE can also tunnel the dLive TCP/IP control network over the same connection, for example to enable control of either of the two systems by a single laptop.

The gigaACE card offers a cost-effective and simple solution for digital split applications, replacing the copper multicore / analogue splitters of the past. In a typical FoH / Monitor configuration, the inputs of a dLive system are sent to a second system where independent trim, processing and mixing is applied. gigaACE is a truly plug ‘n play protocol: no computer is required for the setup of gigaACE connections. Simply plug the cable between any two dLive systems and set the patch and clock settings directly on the mixer.

Features

128 in, 128 out
96kHz sample rate
Ultra-low transport latency – 5 samples (52 us)
Dual redundancy
Switchable Control Network Bridge