Using network audio for Dante devices

The network audio feature allows you to use Dante-enabled devices when they are connected to the same network as your Zoom Rooms.

Requirements for using network audio for Dante devices

• Zoom Rooms
  • PC: 6.3.0 or higher
  • macOS: 6.3.0 or higher
• Zoom Rooms Controller
  • Android: 6.3.0 or higher
  • iOS: 6.3.0 or higher
• Dante enabled device
  • Microphones (for example Shure MXA920 or Sennheiser TCC2, etc)
  • Loudspeakers (for example, Shure MXN5-C)
  • Input/Output device
• Audinate Dante Controller software (required for output channels)
• Zoom Room license
• (Optional) Zoom Room Custom AV Controller (required for advanced output configuration)
• (Optional) For advanced Dante audio configuration to use with Custom AV for Zoom Rooms, you must contact Zoom Support to enable Zoom Room Multi-Channel Dante Audio for Custom AV

Limitations

• Input & Output
  
  • third party meetings are not supported (ex: Microsoft Teams web client, Google Meet web client)
  • Emergency alerts are not supported
• Output only
  • Personal Zoom Room voicemail is not supported
  • Digital Signage is not supported
• Input only
  • Voice command (capture) is not supported on MacOS

How to prepare your network

Review the following, as necessary:

• Audio Over IP for IT Managers
• Dante Domain Manager

Make sure the Zoom Rooms are on the same wired network (no wi-fi) as the Dante devices. Consider isolating your AV network with a local network switch and a USB-to-ethernet converter to allow the Zoom Rooms to be on both local and building networks. If an isolated AV network is not possible, consider setting up VLANs or Dante Domain Manager as needed to allow or restrict network access to your microphones.

You can assign separate Network Interface Cards (NICs) on computers in Zoom Rooms with multiple NICs, or with USB-to-ethernet adapters. NICs can be independently selected for network audio devices connected to alternate networks, which are connected to the Zoom Rooms-enabled computer. This configuration can keep your audio traffic off of the primary network. After you have enabled network audio, you can select a NIC from the drop down under Select local Network.

Zoom Rooms for Windows and macOS will be the software-based Dante connection point, so you don't need to add a third-party Dante hardware in-between the device, switch, and the computer for the Dante input/output.

The customer is always responsible for the security of the network when using this feature.

Note: Take every precaution possible, as we do not have built-in encryption between Dante devices and Zoom Rooms devices. For an example of full encrypted audio designs with networked audio, see:

• ProAV Conference (9-19 People) - MXA910

How to enable network audio

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Room Management then Zoom Rooms.
3. You can use the Zoom Rooms location hierarchy to set this as default for the account, location, or room. For this example, click Account Settings.
4. Under Devices, click the Enable network audio devices toggle.

How to connect the Dante devices

Using Dante Controller

1. Connect your device to the network you use for your Zoom Room.
2. Tap Settings, then tap Microphone or Speaker, depending on the device you are using. 
3. Select Network Audio Device as the (input or output) source. 
   • Microphone: Tap the toggle next to Use Dante Controller.
   • Speaker: The Dante Controller toggle will be selected by default. 
4. Use Dante Controller to route audio to or from Zoom Rooms.

Using a Zoom Rooms controller (microphone only)

1. Connect your device to the network you use for your Zoom Room.
2. Tap Settings on your Zoom Rooms Controller, then tap Microphone. 
3. Select Network Audio Device as the  source. 
4. Ensure that the Use Dante Controller toggle is disabled.
5. Select the devices and channels you would like to use.

Notes: 

• • Routing microphone channels from Dante Controller can only be done when the Use Dante Controller setting is enabled on your Zoom Rooms controller. 
  • Zoom Rooms Dante output has two channels. When Spatial Audio is enabled, audio is played out Dante channel 1 (L) and channel 2 (R). When Spatial Audio is disabled, mono audio is played out of both channels.
  • Zoom Rooms Controller volume control is disabled when using a Dante output device. Please note that the Default Speaker Volume setting in the Zoom web portal does not apply to Dante devices.

Using the Custom AV Controller for Zoom Rooms

1. Connect your device to the network you use for your Zoom Room.
2. Open the Custom AV Settings in the CAVZRC app.
3. Configure the transmit and receive channels up to 8 RX and 32 TX.
4. Use the Dante configuration table to assign participants or content to the audio outputs.