High-quality stereo D/A converter with pristine signal path and uninterrupted monitor switching.
The DAC-ST is a stereo D/A converter that provides pristine monitoring and switching between any one of the five digital sources without interruption. The source is selected from the Dangerous ST Remote (required) and simultaneously routed to the Selected Digital and balanced Analog Outputs. Only instantaneous switching between sources through the same D/A allows truly accurate comparisons. (“Am I A/B-ing the mix to the CD, or to the CD Player’s Converters?”) The DAC-ST solves this conundrum elegantly, while delivering the mastering quality conversion that you’ve come to expect from Dangerous Music.
THE DANGEROUS MUSIC LEGACY:
“Audio Integrity: non-negotiable.” This is the credo upon which Dangerous Music is founded. Conceived and designed by end users—not by engineers in lab coats--the results are products that resurrect dynamic range, punch, intelligibility and emotion. These high-fidelity, uncompromised signal paths are achieved by harnessing over 20 years of Chris Muth’s design wizardry; creator of infamous custom black boxes for world class facilities like Hit Factory, Masterdisk, Absolute Audio and Sterling Sound Mastering. Then the critical listening skills of golden-eared luminaries are applied, with the result being musical tools that fulfill the actual needs of today’s flexible computer based studio.
WHY DAC-ST?
Instantly expand your Monitor ST with zero audio sacrifice. (Additional Switching System Rack, Monitor ST and remote required.) Remember: The monitor path is the most critical component in any studio. Every decision from mic placement to reverb tail is based on what level of detail this device reveals.
IS YOUR AUDIO A HOSTAGE?
Monitoring is the most crucial stage in the audio chain. An inferior system facilitates poor mix decisions by forcing you to compensate for it’s shortcomings. For example, if transients are choked by cheap components and off the shelf designs, the high end you added to the mix will spike like Mount Everest in the real world. When evaluating a new microphone, preamp or eq- how can you judge their performance without honest monitoring? The DAC-ST is the outcome of real world experience combined with mastering grade components. Don’t let a lesser monitor rig hold your audio hostage.
S/PDIF Input:
• Feature: Quick digital access for external S/PDIF devices such as a field recorder, CD player, synth, or laptop.
• Benefit: Avoid rack diving with a flashlight duct taped about the head.
S/PDIF to Input 1 Switch:
• Feature: Press the switch to route S/PDIF Digital Input from the RCA jack on the faceplate to input one.
• Benefit: No patchbay required! Like a 5th input.
• Tip: The rear digital inputs may be utilized for AES or S/PDIF in any combination. No transformer is required. Simply purchase the appropriate Mogami snake.
AES Input LEDs:
• Feature: Visual confirmation that a specific digital source has been selected by the monitor st remote. Yellow LED on = source selected. Yellow LED off = source not selected.
• Benefit: Avoid putting post-its on all your gear to remember the combinations-- what? I already forgot...
• Operation: The input source is selected from the monitor st remote using the additional switching buttons.
Digital Lock Indicator:
• Feature: LED illuminates to confirm D/A lock with the selected digital input. The D/A has an instantaneous lock range of 32kHz-192kHz.
• Benefit: Get an hour of your life back and save face in front of clients by confirming that the audible “snat” is not a sync issue from the DAC-ST.
• Operation: The input source is selected from the monitor st remote using the additional switching buttons.
• Tip: green LED on = active source plugged in. Red LED on = nothing plugged in or source inactive (i.e. off).
Signal Indicator:
• Feature: Visual confirmation that analog audio is present on the left and right rear XLR(M) outputs.
• Benefit: Avoid an hour of troubleshooting to determine whether signal is present. “Holy Smokes, is the source bad? The cable shorted? The input jack sour? Is that where I put my beer?”
Bank Indicator:
• Feature: Visual confirmation of which bus the module is occupying.
• Benefit: Instantly determine which module is being controlled from the Monitor ST remote.
Operation: On the Monitor ST Remote, first use the “UP” and “DOWN” buttons to select the appropriate bank.
Digital In/Thru:
• Feature: The rear panel of dac-st sports a DB25 wired to the Tascam™ / Digidesign™ AES digital standard. Remember, this connector can be wired for S/PDIF or AES or any combination of the two.
• Benefit: This is a 4 channel digital input and through. Now you can (A) switch between sources while monitoring with the same converter and (B) pass the signal forward to it’s next destination.
• Tip: The DAC-ST will actually clean up jitter from squalid incoming sources and pass it through with defined edges. The instantaneous lock range is 32kHz to 192kHz.
Selected Digital Out:
• Feature: Connect a digital meter here.
• Benefit: Every time you change dac-st sources, the digital meter will follow.
• Tip: Connect to an external recorder to create multiple versions for comparative listening.
Analog Out and Level Trim:
• Feature: Connect to an input on the monitor st. Level calibration is made with the level trims controls. The DAC-ST comes aligned from the factory with an output level of +22dBfs.
• Benefit: Expansion and digital source monitoring for your monitor st rig. Don’t worry about outgrowing it!
Remote:
• Feature: Connect the remote via Ethernet CAT 5e shielded cable. Thru goes to the next unit (i.e. another a.s.s. rack or monitor st.)
• Benefit: Replacement or extension cable is easy to find.
• Tip: Run up to 100 feet!
DC In:
• Feature: External Power Supply
• Benefit: Spec’d specifically to increase headroom and lower the noise floor.
• Tip: Plug in here first and then into the wall (always good PSU etiquette).
