The MicNet Control application enables users to monitor and adjust the output settings of Spatial Mic Dante from a computer connected to the same network as the microphone. MicNet Control does not process audio itself – it controls the audio processing within connected Spatial Mic Dante microphones. MicNet Control communicates with the microphone through the same Ethernet cable used to supply PoE and stream audio data over the network. After configuring Spatial Mic Dante with MicNet Control you can stream or record over a Dante™ audio network or AES67 RTP network. In the sections below we will learn about all of the features and controls found in MicNet Control.
The installer for the MicNet Control software can be downloaded at https://voyage.audio/downloads/
Features
- Adjust multiple Spatial Mics from a single application
- Configure the internal microphone DSP to transform the array output for streaming or recording directly from the mic
- Output formats:
- Unprocessed (raw audio signals that will later be transformed with the Spatial Mic Converter plugin)
- 1st order Ambisonics in ambiX format
- 5.1, 5.1.2, or 7.1 surround
- First order virtual mic pattern decoding: cardioid through figure-8 (mono) and stereo X/Y to Blumlein (crossed fig-8)
- Mic gain control, orientation correction and mute controls
- Level meters with clip indication of audio on the Dante network
- Network status indication
- ID Spatial Mic visually (flashes the gigabit and network active LEDs on bottom of mic)
- Lock the output selection to guard against unwanted changes during a performance
Using MicNet Control
Launch MicNet Control from a computer connected to the same Dante™ audio network as the microphone you want to control.
1. Devices
Each Spatial Mic Dante on the network will be displayed in the device list. Click on the device name to view and make changes to the Spatial Mic output settings. The device name can be changed in the Dante Controller app. Learn more about using Spatial Mic Dante with Dante Controller in this tutorial.
2. Menu
File
- Refresh Devices – Refreshes the list of devices available on the network.
- Save settings to the device – saves the current settings to the selected Spatial Mic Dante device. These setting will be automatically loaded the next time the device is powered on.
- Reset the device to default settings.
- Log of events.
- Quit the application.
Dante
- This link launches the Dante Controller application. Additional settings such as changing the device name, sample rate, bit depth, etc. are made within Dante Controller.
Help
- About MicNet.
- Link to the manual.
3. Output
Here you can select one of the four different output options for the audio streaming directly from the mic. When Spatial Mic’s sample rate is set above 48kHz the output can only be uncompressed audio and will be switched automatically. The other output options will not be visible in the MicNet Control GUI until the sample rate is adjusted back to 48kHz or below. The sample rate for Spatial Mic can be adjusted using the Dante Controller app.
Unprocessed Audio
- Outputs each of the eight individual microphone capsule signals on its own channel to be processed later using the Spatial Mic Converter Plugin.
Ambix 1st Order
- Output 1st Order Ambisonics in Ambix format for use in live spatial sound mixing, broadcast or streaming applications.
Surround Sound
- Output 5.1, 5.1.2, or 7.1 surround sound for live spatial sound mixing, broadcast or streaming applications.
Pattern
- Decode the mic array into configurable polar patterns for mono and stereo output.
4. ID
Clicking on the ID button will flash the LEDs on the bottom of Spatial Mic Dante selected to help identify the physical location of the mic.
5. Info
Selecting info will display the device Name, Model #, IP address, Mac address, Clock info and more. The info displayed is not editable in MicNet Control but it can be adjusted in the Dante Controller application.
6. Network Status
The network status icon will be green if there is a network connection present and synced.
The icon will be red if there is a network and there is a connection issue or if there is no network detected.
7. Sample Rate and Bit Depth
Displays the device’s sample rate and bit depth. These settings can be changed in the Dante Controller application. Learn more about Dante Controller in this tutorial.
- Sample rates available: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
- Bit depths available: 16bit, 24bit, 32bit
8. Lock
Locks the output buttons to avoid accidentally switching the output type during a recording or live broadcast. Note: The controls for the selected output setting are still adjustable.
9. Output Controls
Each output option has its own set of controls that appear when the out type is changed.
Unprocessed Audio
- There are no additional controls for this setting, only output meters with clip indicators.
Ambix 1st Order
- The orientation of the microphone can be selected for correcting endfire and upside down mounting.
- Output meters with clip indicators.
- The channel names are indicated above the meters to help with routing.
Surround
- Mode options for 5.1, 5.1.2, and 7.1 surround sound.
- The orientation of the microphone can be selected for correcting endfire and upside down mounting.
- Output meters with clip indicators.
- The channel names are indicated above the meters to help with routing. These names change based on the surround mode selected.
Note: The LFE channel is derived from a low pass of the W channel and is attenuated to conform with LFE level standards.
Pattern
- The pattern control section outputs two channels of audio. If the width is set to 0° the output is two mono channels of the selected polar pattern. As the width is increased the angle between the two polar patterns is increased creating a stereo output.
- The orientation of the microphone can be selected for correcting endfire and upside down mounting.
- Make up gain control to optimize the signal output after the polar pattern decoding process.
- Continuously variable polar patterns from Omni to Cardioid to Figure Eight.
- Adjustable width of the stereo image and allows for common stereo mic techniques such as X/Y coincident pair or Blumlein.
- Output meters with clip indicators.
10. Mic
The mic gain and mic mute simultaneously controls all eight analog microphone preamps inside of Spatial Mic Dante prior to the Analog to Digital Conversion.
Going Further
Now that you know what MicNet Control can do, take a listen to Spatial Mic Dante in action in a recording studio session.
If you are ready to try Spatial Mic Dante and MicNet Control for yourself, it is available for purchase now.
