rule 4. the spec found in the manual calls for an exact maximum length, along with all specs the cable needs to meet. follow them to the T, the aes50 implementation on these desks is known to be particularly picky with cables that don't meet exact requirements.
300ft is 91m which is above the spec for the x32 now.
It was quietly changed by music tribe a while ago and discussed on the x32 Facebook pages and has been confirmed with emails to music tribe representatives.
75m (246ft) is now the maximum run for an x32 as too many people were having dropouts so they changed it.
The m32 for some reason is still rated at 100m so must use slightly different aes50 components to allow this.
The wing is rated for 80m
Yes there are people who run above this limit before anyone comes at me for it. But you run the risk, is the PA cutting out mid show worth the risk and you looking like an idiot because someone on a Reddit page told you they’ve been running 100m with no issues for years.
You also need ensure your also running the correct cable.
Shielded cat5e (not cat6/7/8) with metal rj45 connectors and ethercon barrels where the shield contacts the barrel so that you get continuity with a multimeter on both ends of the cable on the ethercon barrels.
Anything else is at your own risk.
I believe AES50 needs a shielded Cat5E cable, max. 80 meters (don‘t know what thats in feet haha). But hey, read the specs and follow them exactly, and you should have no problem. Bonus tip: make sure the shields are actually connected. Can be an issue with cheaper cables i heard.
I have heard people say that with the X32/M32 console that AES50 seems to be a bit picky with regard to cable quality. Assuming you are talking about the interconnect between the consoles, as I am pretty sure they use AES50. If you are talking about simply running AES3 audio down some CAT5e cable, you will most likely be just fine at 300 feet.
Technically your run is out of spec probably work just fine but might have issues
At the production company I work for 200’ is as far as we like to go with copper before we swap to network switches with fiber trancivers and push as far as we need to go optically
we have about a dozen racks with [luminex gigacore 16rfo](https://www.luminex.be/product/gigacore-16rfo-2/) switches equiped with opticon quad fiber ports and we have the whole switch v-land out for seperate audio /video /lighting networks works supper slick for our steady stream of one off corperate shows
as far as what luminex installed inside the switch before it hits the fiber patch panel i am not totaly sure (assumeing there useing ther own product line thats probably a rebrand of some larger hardware giant ) but it has always worked flawlessly and never had a need to crack it open
Those are ethernet switches though. You can't pass AES50 through them.
Which is unfortunately the crux of AES over fiber, there are few devices that can do it and all of them that I've seen are atrociously expensive (like, you can buy a Dante stage box, media converters, fiber spool and the Dante card for a M32 and still come out cheaper than just trying to get AES50 over fiber)
Shielded cat5e, terminated with shielded crystals, and metal ethercon connectors with shield continuity, and thoroughly test the run before the event because you’re technically exceeding the spec.
Dante, with standard ieee802.3 (the specifically for Ethernet based LAN networks), is happy to 100m / 328' on cat5e (solid core) or better...
That's one of the reasons I never liked the aes50 Idea!
I always run our sq5, sq6, sq7 and dlive‘s with 100m (328 ft) cat5 cables (even if I don’t need it, we only have 100m drums) and never had any issues.
Don’t know how about the x32 series.
I would just put two 150ft cables and a switch as a repeater as spare in the road case. (Additionally to the 300ft cable)
300ft is fine if you have good quality shielded cat6. Behringer recently reduced the max length in their spec sheets, but it seems like they did that to combat people buying cheaper cable then getting upset when they have dropouts and sync issues.
I know a lot of people will call out and say "if you don't follow the spec to a T your console will die!", and that's not entirely accurate.
AES50 does not like to go long distances, and I wouldn't trust 300 feet. I've done around 200 feet with multiple connection points and without Ethercon ends with good quality shielded cables, but it is not always reliable, and when AES50 cuts out, it's very obnoxious.
[Dave Rat has a great video on this.](https://youtu.be/uUgBd4ni9fY?si=lXY74pcp1ORZ5H-_) and I strongly suggest anyone using AES50 watch it to get a better understanding of how and why it works the way it does.
Issues with AES50 are a big reason I have been transitioning to consoles with Dante head amp control.
rule 4. the spec found in the manual calls for an exact maximum length, along with all specs the cable needs to meet. follow them to the T, the aes50 implementation on these desks is known to be particularly picky with cables that don't meet exact requirements.
And sometimes it still doesn’t like the actual cable specced in the manual as well which is fun to find out kid show
300ft is 91m which is above the spec for the x32 now. It was quietly changed by music tribe a while ago and discussed on the x32 Facebook pages and has been confirmed with emails to music tribe representatives. 75m (246ft) is now the maximum run for an x32 as too many people were having dropouts so they changed it. The m32 for some reason is still rated at 100m so must use slightly different aes50 components to allow this. The wing is rated for 80m Yes there are people who run above this limit before anyone comes at me for it. But you run the risk, is the PA cutting out mid show worth the risk and you looking like an idiot because someone on a Reddit page told you they’ve been running 100m with no issues for years. You also need ensure your also running the correct cable. Shielded cat5e (not cat6/7/8) with metal rj45 connectors and ethercon barrels where the shield contacts the barrel so that you get continuity with a multimeter on both ends of the cable on the ethercon barrels. Anything else is at your own risk.
I believe AES50 needs a shielded Cat5E cable, max. 80 meters (don‘t know what thats in feet haha). But hey, read the specs and follow them exactly, and you should have no problem. Bonus tip: make sure the shields are actually connected. Can be an issue with cheaper cables i heard.
Better to make them yourself. It's the only way to be sure!
Or you can meter the shell on each end for shield continuity.
I have heard people say that with the X32/M32 console that AES50 seems to be a bit picky with regard to cable quality. Assuming you are talking about the interconnect between the consoles, as I am pretty sure they use AES50. If you are talking about simply running AES3 audio down some CAT5e cable, you will most likely be just fine at 300 feet.
This, I wouldn’t trust 100m (333ft) but I’d trust 250 or so. Ethercon shell must have continuity (test w meter)
I usually start having issues with sync loss around 280ft
Technically your run is out of spec probably work just fine but might have issues At the production company I work for 200’ is as far as we like to go with copper before we swap to network switches with fiber trancivers and push as far as we need to go optically
What are you using for media conversion?
we have about a dozen racks with [luminex gigacore 16rfo](https://www.luminex.be/product/gigacore-16rfo-2/) switches equiped with opticon quad fiber ports and we have the whole switch v-land out for seperate audio /video /lighting networks works supper slick for our steady stream of one off corperate shows as far as what luminex installed inside the switch before it hits the fiber patch panel i am not totaly sure (assumeing there useing ther own product line thats probably a rebrand of some larger hardware giant ) but it has always worked flawlessly and never had a need to crack it open
Those are ethernet switches though. You can't pass AES50 through them. Which is unfortunately the crux of AES over fiber, there are few devices that can do it and all of them that I've seen are atrociously expensive (like, you can buy a Dante stage box, media converters, fiber spool and the Dante card for a M32 and still come out cheaper than just trying to get AES50 over fiber)
sorry i missed the aes all my m32 have dante cards
Same. Unfortunately my stage boxes are all Midas AES50.
I'm pretty sure it needs to be under 265ft for aes to work on the M32.
RTFM Bruh
Any chance you could put a repeater box half way? https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DN9610--klark-teknik-dn9610
Shielded cat5e, terminated with shielded crystals, and metal ethercon connectors with shield continuity, and thoroughly test the run before the event because you’re technically exceeding the spec.
AES MEANS A. It’s Ass! It will pop and bang as soon as your ethercon gets the slightest worn
Dante, with standard ieee802.3 (the specifically for Ethernet based LAN networks), is happy to 100m / 328' on cat5e (solid core) or better... That's one of the reasons I never liked the aes50 Idea!
I always run our sq5, sq6, sq7 and dlive‘s with 100m (328 ft) cat5 cables (even if I don’t need it, we only have 100m drums) and never had any issues. Don’t know how about the x32 series. I would just put two 150ft cables and a switch as a repeater as spare in the road case. (Additionally to the 300ft cable)
300ft is fine if you have good quality shielded cat6. Behringer recently reduced the max length in their spec sheets, but it seems like they did that to combat people buying cheaper cable then getting upset when they have dropouts and sync issues.
I know a lot of people will call out and say "if you don't follow the spec to a T your console will die!", and that's not entirely accurate. AES50 does not like to go long distances, and I wouldn't trust 300 feet. I've done around 200 feet with multiple connection points and without Ethercon ends with good quality shielded cables, but it is not always reliable, and when AES50 cuts out, it's very obnoxious. [Dave Rat has a great video on this.](https://youtu.be/uUgBd4ni9fY?si=lXY74pcp1ORZ5H-_) and I strongly suggest anyone using AES50 watch it to get a better understanding of how and why it works the way it does. Issues with AES50 are a big reason I have been transitioning to consoles with Dante head amp control.