Manual

Issue 2, July 2021 Model 5401A User Guide
Page 6 Studio Technologies, Inc.
Applications
Applications for the Model 5401A include
broadcast and post-production facilities,
college and university audio networks, are-
nas, stadiums, corporate installations, and
virtually any application where substantial
numbers of Dante-compatible devices are
utilized. The Model 5401A will serve as a
stable and consistent Leader clock for the
entire Dante “network.” And, as expected,
the Model 5401A is compatible with all
Dante devices, no matter what their function
or manufacturer. Applications that utilize
devices compatible with AES67 will also
benefit from the Model 5401A’s resources.
Why a Dedicated Dante
Leader Clock?
With Dante ubiquitous in fixed and mobile
facilities of all sizes and types, the need
arose for a cost-effective, purpose-
designed, dedicated Leader clock. While
an inherent strength of Dante networking
is its carefully implemented use of the IEEE
1588 standard to ensure that all connected
devices maintain a common timing refer-
ence, the actual performance can vary
widely depending on the specific Dante
devices in use and the overall number of
devices on a network. There are many
Dante-compatible devices that can provide
adequate basic performance as a Leader
clock, but with the Model 5401A networked
audio systems get the benefits of a high-
performance Primary Leader Clock, along
with additional unique capabilities. The
unit’s feature set, along with the associ-
ated internal hardware and software, was
designed to provide optimum performance,
flexibility, and system integrity.
Timing Sources
The Model 5401A can provide excellent
Leader clock performance using its tem-
perature- stabilized internal oscillator, which
exceeds the capability of standard Dante
devices by at least an order of magnitude.
While its standalone performance is excel-
lent, the Model 5401A can also be “locked”
to a variety of external signals for integra-
tion into facilities that include a central or
main timing reference. Compatible signals
include word clock, video reference, and
10 MHz.
Word clock is a square wave signal that is
often used as a timing reference in audio-
only facilities. Several common word clock
rates, including 48, 96 kHz, and the more-
exotic 192 kHz, are compatible with the
Model 5401A’s sync input. Video reference
(“sync”) signals are found in most broadcast
and post-production facilities. The Model
5401A supports the most-common video
format/rate combinations including “black
burst,” bi- and tri-level HD, and several that
are specifically intended for 4K applications.
Industrial and commercial facilities often uti-
lize a GPS-disciplined source of 10 MHz as
a timing reference. This sine wave signal is
typically compatible with the Model 5401A’s
sync input.
Word Clock Output
The Model 5401A generates a precise word
clock output signal that can be used as a
timing reference for related equipment. It’s
specifically intended for “locking” digital
audio devices in applications that use the
Model 5401A to provide timing reference
signals for the associated Dante equipment.
In this way, all devices in an installation will
share a common timing reference.
The word clock output rate can be 44.1, 48,
88.2, 96, 176.4, or 192 kHz. The underlying
timing source for the word clock output is
derived from the Model 5401A’s main timing
source. As previously reviewed, the internal
oscillator, if desired, can be “locked” to an
external source. The main timing source
is divided and processed by the Model