All you need to know about Digital Stage Boxes

In this video we are going to take a look at digital stage boxes, what they are, how they work and should you buy one? With many churches now looking at adding a digital mixing desk, It's important to also consider a digital stage box too as these things often go hand-in-hand.
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[@curtdewolff5152]

Excellent video. I'm pretty old and came up using 50-100 ft snakes. Your explanation of Digital Stage Boxes was great and truly appreciate your style.

[@PluggedinAV]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@XIIMonkeysMusicGroup]

I don't miss analog! I went from an Allen & Heath QU-16 to a PreSonus 32R, after using analog Yamaha, Allen & Heath, and Stagecraft mixers.

[@malletdevoted]

Your content is extremely helpful and easy to understand, thanks a lot, and I’ve also subscribed to you

[@PluggedinAV]

Thanks, that’s nice to hear 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@tigeraudio]

Man, those stage boxes are HEAVY! I think mine are under 20 pounds.

[@Jumpy66]

It is better to work with higher Quality Network cable. Cat 6 better 7. you have a better Schild protection. The maximal length of LAN Cable without repeater is normally about 180m. If you have lower quality cable, the max. length is reducing. And you are better protect against other Signals. For example DMX. Normally you should not make the same Way of power Cable and LAN cable. All this Faktors are reducing your cable length, or you have bit faults. As a result you have drop outs. And handle LAN Cable with care. Not knicking the cable. All that can make Problems.

[@MozzieSquad]

My salesman told me Dante stage boxes made by one brand don't work with other branded Dante stage boxes, because the preamps are controlled via their proprietary systems, it just uses the Dante audio protocol. But you seem to say different?

[@sarhtaq]

He was partially correct: On Dante you can patch audio between all systems, only issue is the sample rate (48KHz vs 96KHz etc), they have to be the same. Controldata like HeadAmp control etc. is Vendor specific, and 90% no usable between brands. There are a few like some Wireless brands can be monitored and partly controlled from some brands of consoles. Most however have a remote for their stageboxes you can use on the computer used to make the Dante patch anyway.

[@PeterMossUkulele]

Thank you for this very informative video. As you said, gone are the days of the old analogue stage boxes and multicore cables run to the front of house and a bunch of XLR's at the other end. One CAT 5 cable does it all which is quite remarkable. The only bit it don't understand is why does it have mic pre's built in? - I understand there has to be some sort of analogue to digital converter for each input, but aren't the mic pre's in your mixing desk? I would really appreciate your feedback. Thanks, Peter.

[@Jumpy66]

The explanation is simple, in your mixer the Digtal Signal went directly to the Channels, you alternately can trim the Signal on the mixer. An digital Signals need a headroom for 0 and 1 Signal which is in the Bit Deep. In the Analog Input Signal you need headroom and you don’t want to get ground noises into your digital Signal if in the input signal stage box is 25% ground noise. It is the same reason like long lengt Cable like Multicore. You have not so much Signal Quality reduction.

[@danielstartek9729]

What is the advantage of a conditioner shampoo?

[@kakoozachristopher9906]

How much is it?

[@davidkeller8084]

This is very interesting to me, but I have many questions. #1- Can a "stage box" be used as an audio interface and a DAW as the "mixer of the pre-amps", or do I need a digital console? What I am doing is what some refer to as a "hybrid" mixing system. Basically, my DAW is just a multi-track tape machine. These recorded multi-tracks are then sent to my analog board for mixing and processing through outboard gear and then printed back to the DAW as a stereo file for mastering. As I am usually "recording" 1, 2, 3 or 4 tracks at a time my "4-channel in interface" works fine, but as these tracks build into 12, 24, 36 tracks, my "4-channel out interface" doesn't cut it. As a FOH mixer in the 80's, I completely understand the concept of a "snake", 32 sends 16 returns. My problem is I don't need the sends, I need the returns and I haven't found an interface with 4 in and 16 out. Chaining 4 interfaces together VIA "ADAT" so my DAW can see 16 outputs is never going to happen. I know there are interfaces that have more than 4x4 I/O, but I will be spending money on inputs (PRE's) I don't need, and inevitably having to connect at least two VIA "ADAT". My Delima is, I need more OUT than I need IN. Is there a solution and could you give me some ideas?

[@PluggedinAV]

Hi David, thanks for the comment. In answer to your question, no this can’t just be connected to a computer. These boxes need to connect to a mixer which acts as a ‘brain’ for the stage box. In your case it sounds like a small digital rack mixer might be the way to go. Take a look at the Allen & Heath QuPAC or the Behringer X-rack. Those will give you 16 inputs but 8 outputs. I know it’s not exactly what you want but it’s the closest thing I can think of. You also then have the option to add additional stage boxes to them for further outputs if you want. Allen & Heather do a box with 12 outputs only that I think will work with the QuPAC so you could have 16 inputs and 20 outputs all on a single USB.

[@davidkeller8084]

@@PluggedinAV Thank you for your response. Yea A&H Qu series, awesome. Kinda defeats my purpose though. What I am envisioning with a stage box is, could I connect VIA cat5, through my computers network card and have my DAW some how be the "Brain", or the digital mixer? I am not computer literate enough to even know if DAW software would recognize a network card as I|O. In my little brain I think that it could. Again, thank you for your response

[@PluggedinAV]

No, stage boxes will only work with their relevant mixers👍🏻

[@davidkeller8084]

@@PluggedinAV Actually I think I have found a way to do this with any stage box over a Dante network with "Dante virtual sound card" I will let you know if it works. Again thank you.

[@jabbajawz]

@@davidkeller8084 Curious to know if this worked

[@elwinceria8266]

One question please, I have analog mixer,can i use digital stage box?

[@PluggedinAV]

Hi, no digital stage boxes only work with digital mixers. I will be putting out a new video in the next few days though about another solution that could work for you. Subscribe to the channel and keep an eye out.

[@elwinceria8266]

@@PluggedinAV thank you I hope i can find other option my analog mixer to digital stage box

[@marcelruja]

Did i got this right? U.re saying SQ series doese not have dante card already installed? Wich means ai have to buy it separately? Thanks

[@PluggedinAV]

Yes that’s right. The Dante card is an extra that needs adding

[@marin082164]

0% of technical information an 100% of BLA-BLA-BLA

[@PluggedinAV]

Ha, thanks buddy. Glad you found the video helpful. If you have a specific question feel free to fire it over and I will see what I can do. Have an amazing day 👍🏻

[@xMRxCARNAGE]

we have a presonus 32 rack, could we buy another rack like a Midas 32dl for example and connect them together? @Plugged-in AV

[@PluggedinAV]

Hi, it depends on which protocol they are using. If both stage boxes work using Dante for example then yes you could however I think with the ones you mentioned above they wouldn't work together as they don't use the same protocol. Normally it's safest not to mix and match but stick with the same ones.

[@asilva_media]

no, you can't. prosonus unfortunately doesn't have dante nor does a DL32