This article aims to clarify how you might record using a Dante device through the MT 48 running Dante.
A few important distinctions prior to starting:
The MT 48 is connected over USB C, which acts as a Dante bridge into the computer.
An 8x8 IO license plan is used in this example, though the same would apply for any other license plan.
[Over USB, the MT 48 only transmits 32 In / 16 Out]
All Dante devices must be set at matching sampling rates, and should be using the latest available firmware.
After activating your Dante license, the MT 48 will now show in Dante Controller with the amount of channels you purchased.
[Outputs are listed as Transmitters, Inputs are listed as Receivers.]
Within context of Dante Controller, you are therefore patching outputs of one device into the input of another device.
This allows you patch Mixing Console channels, Wireless Microphone Channels, Preamps - anything Dante capable- into (and out of) the MT 48.
From there, we must clarify the USB routing. This will be highly dependent on the incorporated equipment and desired routing, but channel routes established in Dante Controller are a separate layer from the MT 48's USB routing.
This is is done in Menu > Settings > USB Dante IO.
In the above example, Analog inputs 1-4 of the MT 48 are mapped to USB Inputs 1-4;
Post FX (post EQ, post Dynamics) Analog inputs are USB Inputs 5-8;
and anything externally routed in to the MT 48 in Dante Controller are USB Inputs 9-16.
This means if there is external device(s) routed into the MT 48 in Dante Controller, they are getting recorded over Inputs 9-16.
You'll notice that none of the Dante Channel options above are enabled.
Enabling the Dante Channels defines what is (or can be transmitted) over Dante Controller, and into something else.
Outputs are a bit more straight forward-
In the above case, on the Output side USB Outs 1-4 are two DAW busses (mapped to hardware outputs).
Dante Outs 1-8 are mapped to USB Outputs 5-12 -
Any MT 48 Outputs patched within Dante Controller are now accessed through these USB channels in DAW software.
This could be advantageous if a separate DAC/console is used, or for external processing.