
Issue Preliminary 4, May 2018 Model 5401 User Guide
Page 6 Studio Technologies, Inc.
Model 5401
DANTE MASTER CLOCK
consistent master clock for the entire Dante
“network.” And, as expected, the Model 5401
is compatible with all Dante devices, no
matter what their primary function or manu-
facturer. Applications that utilize devices
compatible with AES67 will also benefit from
the Model 5401’s resources.
Why a Dedicated Dante Master
Clock?
With Dante ubiquitous in fixed and mobile
facilities of all sizes and types, the need
arose for a cost-effective, purpose-designed,
dedicated master clock. While an inherent
strength of Dante networking is its carefully
implemented use of IEEE 1588 to ensure
that all connected devices maintain a com-
mon timing reference, the actual perfor-
mance 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
master clock, but with the Model 5401 net-
worked audio systems get the benefits of a
high-performance “grandmaster” PTP server,
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 5401 can provide excellent
master clock performance using its accurate
and stable internal oscillator, which is tem-
perature-controlled and exceeds the perfor-
mance of standard Dante devices by at least
an order of magnitude. While its standalone
performance is excellent, the Model 5401
can also be “locked” to a variety of exter-
nal signals for integration into facilities that
include a master timing reference. Compat-
ible signals include word clock, video refer-
ence, and 10 MHz.
A word clock signal is often used as a tim-
ing reference in audio-only facilities. Sev-
eral word clock rates, including 48 and 96
kHz, are compatible with the Model 5401’s
sync input. Video reference (“sync”) signals
are found in most broadcast and post-pro-
duction facilities. The Model 5401 supports
the most-common video format/rate com-
binations including “black burst,” bi- and
tri-level HD, and several that are specifically
intended for 4K applications. Industrial and
commercial facilities often utilize a GPS-
disciplined source of 10 MHz as a timing
reference. This sine-wave signal is directly
compatible with the unit’s sync input.
Word Clock Output
The Model 5401 generates a precise word
clock output signal that can be used as
a timing reference for related equipment.
It’s specifically intended for “locking” audio
equipment in applications that have Dante
equipment whose timing reference signals
are provided by a Model 5401. In this way
all devices will share a common timing
reference.
The word clock output rate can be selected
to be 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz. The under-
lying timing source for the word clock out-
put is derived from the Model 5401’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 5401’s logic circuitry to create
the highly stable word clock output. This
ensures that the word clock output is
synchronized with the unit’s PTP server
functionality.