User Manual

5
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for investing in the Focusrite RedNet system.
RedNet is a powerful, low latency, digital audio networking system designed specifically for music,
recording studio, live and broadcast applications. It is based on Audinate’s Dante™, a well-established
audio networking technology known for its extreme robustness. Dante - and the RedNet system -
is capable of transporting up to 512 channels of bidirectional audio (at 48 kHz sample rate) over a
single Ethernet link. The number of channels available in your DAW will depend on the host method
being used.
RedNet brings Dante technology into the studio and live industries as the basis of a complete system.
RedNet is a range of extremely high quality analogue and digital audio interfaces and components
that do a great deal more than simply allow you to connect your digital studio through an Ethernet
network: they will revolutionise the way you work in other ways too. Importantly, Dante is non-
proprietary; this means it will work with any ASIO- or Core Audio-compliant DAW software, including
Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and Nuendo.
If you are a musician or an engineer currently using USB or FireWire-based interfaces, RedNet will
give you a more reliable, powerful and professional system infrastructure. RedNet is a great solution
in facilities where long cable runs are involved and/or there is a requirement to routinely reconfigure
the various rooms making up a facility. It also has the advantage of only needing a standard network
cable to interconnect all the I/O throughout the system, minimising installation time and impact on
a building.
ABOUT THIS USER GUIDE
The Guide provides a detailed explanation of the RedNet system to help you achieve a thorough
understanding of its capabilities; this includes the installation and use of the RedNet PCIe/ PCIeR
card, which will be a central component in many RedNet systems. We recommend that all users,
including those already experienced in digital audio networking, take the time to read through this
Guide so that you are fully aware of all the possibilities that RedNet and its software has to offer. If
the Guide does not provide the information you need, be sure to consult www.focusrite.com/rednet,
which contains a comprehensive collection of common technical support queries.
Note that this System User Guide does not include a detailed description of the various interfaces; a
separate User Guide specific to each interface is supplied with every unit, in addition to the System
User Guide. Much of the installation and operation of a RedNet system revolves around setting up and
configuring the system itself – these are factors which are common to all RedNet components. The
examples used in this System User Guide necessarily use particular RedNet units, but you should
not be concerned if your system does not include the same units – the principles of operation as far
as the overall system concept is concerned is applicable to all RedNet hardware.