After installing the Dante firmware for your MT 48, and selecting an IO channel configuration option, (either 8x8 or 64x64, available through Audinate), you are likely looking forward to patching/ setting up flows and establishing your set up! This article aims to give a brief overview and perhaps clarify some points.
As the MT 48 comes available with two separate missions, the Music Mission and Monitor Mission, it's first important to determine which workflow might suit your set up.
The Music Mission is the default workflow and is geared towards creating music in a DAW right away. It is structured similar to an analog mixer, with four physical bussed stereo outputs. Channel EQ, Compression, and Bus Reverb are available at your disposal.
However the Monitor Mission has the capability to monitor any immersive/multichannel monitor formats, and can function like a monitoring controller for more elaborate monitoring setups (and can still route USB input in to the computer to record.). You can establish individual speaker EQ, delay, link groups, individually control your monitors, establish performance cues, and more.
Below are some specs pertaining to both missions.
It's important to make clear that with either mission you have USB IO bridging.
With an 8x8 license, you have 8 channels in and out over Dante (via USB.). Each analog output pair can be mapped and inputs can be a mix of analog, Analog Post FX, Optical, Optical Post FX (all routed internally) or some other Dante source on hand using Dante Controller.
WIth a 64x64 license, while you can transmit 64 channels technically, it strictly functions as 32 In/16 Out Bridge over USB C.
In other words, for full 64 channel transmission you either would sum down to 32 in/16 out for native USB, or you might consider Dante Virtual Soundcard as an alternative.
Also keep in mind to actually transmit 64 channels, other Dante equipment is necessary as the MT 48 doesn't have 64 physical inputs available. Such equipment might be Dante capable external preamps, console mixer channels, returns from external processors, wireless microphone channels, and so on. This would all be routed through Dante Controller, and into a session from Dante Virtual Soundcard.
Use Cases
Music Mission:
Inputs and Outputs are physically connected.
These can be routed via Dante, and also using Dante, expansion is flexible to accommodate additional input (and output) sources.
Routing over USB can be done internally, and also through Dante Controller for expansion channels.
Input channels can be controlled using the onscreen mixer, and outputs routed to busses accordingly.
Monitoring Mission:
You can define Input Sources (physical or Dante, or both) and can be mapped to monitors, headphones, or a combination thereof. Fully immersive surround sound monitoring can be acheived; up to 8 monitors with 8x8, or any immersive format with 64x64.
Audinate Virtual Soundcard is recommended for connecting AoIP Streams.
For more information and details, please refer to the attached Neumann MT 48 Dante Apendix document.