The NTP-DAD AX64 is a modular multiformat digital audio interface and router supporting Thunderbolt 3, Dante, and MADI signals. With massive 1744x1744-channel routing ability and eight I/O module slots for a range of analog and digital I/O expansions, the AX64 is an ideal choice for postproduction, pro studio, large venue, and installed audio applications.
The AX64 sports two RJ45 Dante and two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports for redundancy, with each protocol providing up to 256 channels each. The unit also includes 64 channels of BNC coaxial MADI I/O, 16 channels of optical ADAT I/O via TOSLINK, and BNC wordclock I/O. The AX64 supports native SPQ processing with 16 filters, the Pro | Mon 512x64 summing processor, and sampling rate conversion on every input and output from 44.1 to 384 kHz with 32-bit floating point processing. The internal router can handle an impressive total 4096x4096 nonblocking crosspoints. Along with the eight I/O module slots, the AX64 also features an extra slot for a 128-channel MADI or 256-channel DADlink SFP module.
Whether you run Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Ableton Live, Digital Performer, or any other DAW, AX64 is your super low-latency entrance. With the ADAT, MADI, and Dante connectivity, you can easily add analog preamps or insert points to the mix.
- 8 analog inputs (line signal)
- 8 analog inputs (mic preamps)
- 8 analog outputs (line signal)
- Dante card (128 channels)
- Dual MADI card (2 x 64 channels)
- AES card (16 channels)
- SPQ speaker EQ Processing
- Dual MADI module (2 x 64 channels)
More units can be daisy-chained via the Thunderbolt ports, and each unit will appear in DADman control software. Using control over Ethernet the two RJ45 connectors acts as a switch for connection to more units. The Dante / AES67 audio is also passed on the two RJ45 connectors.
The channel capacity is up to 256 audio channels at 48 and 96 kHz, and the latency at 96 kHz is 95 ms. The total round-trip latency with an audio software application will depend on the buffer size set for the application. With a buffer size of 32 samples, the latency is 670 ms at 96 kHz.
- The Thunder | Core products have been designed with a unique router core based on 32-bit floating point processing and a low-latency and highly reliable FPGA based matrix structure.
- A timestamp mechanism provides equal latency for all signals routed through the core.
- In total, AX64 has a capacity of 4096x4096 nonblocking cross-points, which provide a capacity of 1500x1500 cross-points on the I/O and processing level.
- The matrix provides fixed latency routing of all inputs to one or more outputs with a latency of only 5 audio samples and supports sample rates from 44.1 to 384 kHz.
- The channel processor provides a signal detection logic for all input and output channels, PPM level measurement as well as level control.
- All inputs and outputs have processing for level adjustment and in addition, the core has a summing/mixing processer with 64 output buses and 512 inputs, which can be allocated to sets of input and output signals managed by the Pro | Mon monitor control functionality in DADman.
- SPQ speaker EQ management is available natively in the core with access to 1024 filters combined into 64 channels with 16 filters, each with adjustable delay.