Specifications
Digital Snakes and Audio Distribution
Traditionally microphones have been connected to mixing consoles by long multi-core
cables. Over time, as sound systems have grown, the number of cores required and
the number of cables needed to connect all parts of the sound system together (FOH,
Monitors, Remote Truck etc.) have increased. This results in ever higher costs and lower
performance. Midas digital snakes provide a solution to these problems.
Microphones tend to be reactive devices, that is, their sound is altered by load impedance.
Long cable and multiple console connections load microphone outputs such that level is
reduced and especially high frequency content is lost. Digital snakes eliminate the need
for long analogue connections and Midas snakes have especially high input impedance
to minimise losses at all frequencies. As a result microphones develop their full natural
character and typically sound superbly smooth and open.
Midas Snakes have been created using I/O components developed for the Midas digital
console range and as such feature all the sonic benets produced by this latest generation
of Midas mic preampliers. These are real world designs featuring RFI protection, high
common mode rejection, high dynamic range and overload tolerance; and of course they
sound fantastic, as Midas pre-amps always have.
High quality, oversampling A/Ds and D/As are carefully protected from digital overload
(so you can drive them hard without the sound breaking up). They feed multichannel
data streams that conform to the AES50 standard and provide bi-directional connectivity
between I/O boxes. The physical cable connection only requires light weight, but rugged,
CAT-5e cable rather than the bulky multi-core traditionally used in the past. Neutrik
Ethercon connectors provide rugged locking connections. System latency is extremely
low and the connections feature feed forward error correction and recovery systems
plus the option of adding n+1 redundancy to protect from damage to any single cable.
Additionally the digital signals are immune to the crosstalk and noise issues that plague
passive multi-core systems.
All components use a default unity gain structure and analogue inputs readily accept line
level signals with headroom and metering identical to Midas Analogue consoles. The mic
pre’s are controlled by an application on your PC that provides direct access to 24 channels
at a time with all settings automatically stored to the snake hardware boxes (so you can
disconnect or reconnect the controlling PC at any time while the system continues to
operate normally). Full metering is available for inputs (and outputs) so to all intents and
purposes using the digital snake is just like remoting your console mic pre directly to the
stage, except now it’s a Midas mic pre.
Models range from a 16in / 8 out system up to 64 in / 64 out channels with up to 3,000
metres range, and include an inexpensive 48 in / 16 out model. There is a choice of ve
road-rugged hardware options including the DL431 24-channel, 5-way active digital/
analogue input splitter. Each of its 24 inputs features three Midas mic pres, completely
isolated from each other to prevent any audio interaction. The DL351 64 channel and
DL451 24 channel units support a range of ve dierent I/O modules providing huge
conguration exibility. Options include the Midas remote controlled mic pres, line in/
out on various connectors and AES3 digital audio with sample rate conversion and local
synchronisation capability. The DL251 and DL252 provide a xed-format, 48 in / 16 out,
all-analogue remote stage box which feature Midas mic pre’s and dual-redundant power
supplies and snakes. Remote control of mic amp functions is achieved from any Midas
digital system, or via a PC computer running the appropriate Midas software.
All the components are connected using standard CAT-5e cables carrying the AES50
multichannel audio and control protocol and provide a standard 100m range. This can be
extended up to 3,000m with the new Klark Teknik DN9650 network bridge in MADI mode.
A DL351 64 audio inputs / 64 audio outputs depending on card conguration
A DL451 24 audio inputs / 24 audio outputs depending on card conguration
A DL251 48 audio inputs / 16 audio outputs xed conguration
A DL252 48 audio outputs / 16 audio inputs xed conguration
A DL431 24 audio inputs 5 way active split
A Software remote mic amp control
A Up to 3000m range