The easiest way to connect legacy SDI equipment to the Dante® network, the AVN-DIO10 adds support for from SD-SDI up to 3G-SDI. It performs simultaneous embedding and de-embedding of up to 16 audio channels, providing a simple plug-and-play audio/video interface for connecting 3G/HD/SD-SDI equipment to a Dante® AoIP audio network.

The unit de-embeds up to 16 audio channels from an SDI feed and places them on Dante channels 1–16 (configured via Dante Controller). At the same time, it takes the 16 Dante input channels mapped to the device and re-embeds them onto the SDI output.

Two operating modes are available: Loop-through mode, where the SDI input is passed directly to the output, and Generator mode, where input and output are independent and the SDI output is supplied by an internal SDI video generator. Generator mode allows the unit to act as an embedder without an SDI feed, or as separate de-embedder and embedder with different input/output formats. All settings are configurable through the web UI.

The unit supports embedded audio at 48 kHz and 96 kHz, allowing different sample rates on the de-embed and embed paths. At 96 kHz, SDI channel capacity is halved, with each audio group carrying two channels rather than four at 48 kHz.

The web UI allows Dante channels to be embedded onto the SDI output on a per-channel-pair basis and offers two options: Insert Mode enabled, where embedding selectively overwrites existing SDI audio per channel pair, and Insert Mode disabled, where incoming SDI audio channels are cleared before selective embedding is applied.

Test Tone mode outputs 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 3 kHz and 4 kHz tones on channels 1–4 respectively for any group with embedding enabled. A separate de-embedder test mode places a 1 kHz tone on the transmitting Dante® channels, enabling downstream SDI audio I/O testing without Dante® or SDI sources.

Power is provided via Power over Ethernet (PoE) using Neutrik® EtherCON connectors, with primary and secondary ports for power and data redundancy. Front panel LEDs indicate network clock status, AoIP link activity, and PoE power presence for clear operational monitoring. The unit incorporates Audinate Dante chipsets and is compliant with AES67 and Dante Domain Manager.

Like all Sonifex DIO interfaces, it provides a simple plug-and-play solution for connecting analogue and digital audio equipment to Dante networks, with configuration handled via Dante Controller. It is housed in a rugged aluminium enclosure with provisions for desk mounting, and an optional accessory, AVN-DIORK, allows multiple units to be installed on a 19″ rack-mount shelf.