Revolutionizing Audio Production: The Power of System T Cloud and Dante Connect
By Janmeja Heir, Lead Cloud Engineer, Advanced Systems Group, LLC
In the ever-evolving world of audio production, professionals want tools that afford the most flexibility, efficiency, and pristine output. Two groundbreaking technologies making waves in this arena today are System T Cloud by Solid State Logic (SSL) and Dante Connect by Audinate. Together, they provide a revolutionary approach to audio production that dramatically impacts the workflow and capabilities of audio engineers.
Introduced at NAB this year, System T Cloud is a cloud-based platform developed by Solid State Logic (SSL) – a company with a storied history in audio production. System T Cloud allows audio engineers to access and use SSL’s powerful System T platform from anywhere in Cloud based production workflows. It brings the entire mixing and production studio into the cloud, offering full System T functionality with remote access and control for any audio project.
Dante Connect, adds the ability to deliver multiple channels of synchronized audio directly from on-site Dante networks to cloud audio environments. Dante has been the standard for audio-over-IP networking within facilities for years, but was not capable of extending workflows to the Cloud. Until now.
What is The Synergy of System T Cloud and Dante Connect?
Dante Connect adds the ability to move Dante over public Wide Area Networks (WAN), taking signals from remote production facilities and making them available as local sources within a cloud environment. This creates a network of the same high quality Dante audio that is used on the ground. SSL has incorporated Dante Connect into System T Cloud and is now available as a cloud solution.
The Convergence of AV-IP-Broadcast – An Engineer’s Take | NAB 2024 Panel on Dante with JanMeja Heir
When combined, System T Cloud and Dante Connect create a powerful audio production ecosystem. For recording, it allows a completely decentralized workflow, where artists can be located anywhere in the world and have Dante audio going right into the System T from their location. It creates an end-to-end solution for sound engineers and artists, with high-quality audio and effects thanks to SSL’s powerful Tempest processing engine.
Realtime recording and collaboration can be done from one unified platform. An audio engineer in New York can control the mix of musicians at their home studio in London. Dante Connect ensures that audio sources are synchronized and managed seamlessly within the platform.
NAB 2024 ASG’s Dave Van Hoy and JanMeja Heir with Tom Knowles of SSL discuss Lessons Learned on Advances in Cloud Production Tech from an Systems Integrators Perspective. Photo Credit: ASG
Aside from the ability for recording and collaboration to be done with a geographically spread-out team of artists and engineers, it also means that a company with multiple locations could share the same System T. With the flexibility gained from cloud computing, a recording session could be managed by an engineer in New York in the morning, followed by another engineer in Los Angeles that evening – both using the same System T. It’s another great tool to add to your cloud stack.
And as projects grow in complexity, so do demands on the production environment. Dante Connect supports large-scale audio networks, allowing expansion to accommodate more audio channels and devices. New facilities can be seamlessly connected to shared resources. System T Cloud’s scalable processing power adapts to the needs of any production size. Small and large projects can be managed efficiently without significant physical infrastructure.
As Projects Grow in Complexity, So Do Demands on the Production Environment
Traditional audio production setups require substantial investment in hardware. System T Cloud reduces these costs by eliminating the need for extensive physical equipment. By using existing IP networks, Dante Connect further minimizes the need for specialized infrastructure. This results in significant cost savings without compromising on the quality of the production.
System T Cloud and Dante Connect are both designed to continually adapt to new technologies and standards as they emerge. This ensures that audio producers’ investments in these technologies remain valuable and relevant in the long run.
Image courtesy – Solid State Logic
As a combined solution, System T Cloud and Dante Connect provide the most advanced audio processing and transport available in the cloud. They have the potential to create new workflows and revolutionize audio production.
For audio producers looking to enhance their workflow and output quality, embracing System T Cloud and Dante Connect could be the key to unlocking new levels of productivity and creativity. As the industry continues to evolve, these technologies ensure that producers are well-equipped to handle whatever comes next, making them indispensable tools in the modern audio production landscape.
