[wushuliu]

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RedNet3
https://us.focusrite.com/ethernet-audio-interfaces/rednet-3


Haven't seen any mention yet here at AC about the RedNet products so thought I'd start a thread and share my thoughts on my experience with it so far. The buzz about RedNet started at Head-fi as part of member rb2013's Singxer F-1/USB to SPDIF main thread (see my 'Amazing converter' Cheap and Cheerful thread for more about the F-1/XMOS 208 converters'). Initial reviews were enthusiastic and not long after I caved in and got a RedNet 3 myself.

I do not regret my decision. Which is a big deal for me because I am severely budget constrained. The RedNet is the single most expensive audio component I have purchased (okay, I've probably spent more doing diy projects).

So what is the RedNet? I'll let the promotional material explain:

RedNet is Focusrite’s flagship range of modular Ethernet-networked audio interfaces that harnesses the power of Audinate’s tried and tested Dante digital audio networking system to bring studio quality sound to any modern audio application. Fundamentally RedNet is an extremely scalable, near zero latency audio distribution system

RedNet 3 can be used simply as a means of converting 32 channels of audio and delivering it somewhere else on the network at near-zero latency...
    Directly to your computer’s Ethernet port using a standard Ethernet cable (and “Dante Virtual Soundcard”)

IOW, Ethernet--->RedNet(SPDIF/AES)--->DAC

How do you control it? You install several programs: Dante Contoller, Dante Virtual Soundcard, and RedNet Control. All downloadable from Focusrite

Ok, so what's so great about that? What's great about it is that whether it be due to using ethernet or the reclocking or software or all of the above, the RedNet provides playback quality that is stunning. Just stunning. I've extolled the Singxer F-1 USB2spdif converter as presenting an impressive analog, low noise presentation. The RedNet goes beyond that and then some. Ok, still kind of vague, right? Well, we're getting into the realm beyond words here, where the best I can do is provide context rather than adjectives.

For example: While I was setting up the RedNet 3 (RN3), my diy Soekris DAC had some input issues I needed to resolve. So I ordered a cheap@zz $25 FiiO dac from Amazon as a backup so I could keep the installation going. After some frustration with the RN3 - which I'll explain later - I got it up and running.

With the RN3, to my ears, the $30 dac outperformed any of the $500 and under USB DACs I have heard to date, and I've heard a lot. In fact, I made sure to listen to the FiiO *w/o* the RN3 before hand, using optical out of my PC. It didn't sound all that bad - terrific midrange in fact - but the highs were harsh and overall it was kind of flat and eventually fatigue set in. No such thing happened with the RN3. A bargain for $30? Definitely. Anywhere near as good as an IFI usb dac? No way. Feed it with the RN though… whole different story.

The RN brought out the BEST in the FiiO, the midrange was intoxicating, the highs ameliorated.  The RN3 is like an extreme makeover for your audio signal, with said signal emerging from the other side in its Sunday best. I tested the RN3 with a Micromega MyDAC with the same results.

What are the downsides?
It’s pro audio gear. 
The setup was a bit cumbersome, at least for me. I’ll try to outline the steps in another post.
You have to switch sample rate manually
It’s a large brightly colored piece of kit.
$1000 (good luck finding one on the bay, they never show up)

Bonus upsides?
Focusrite customer service is EXCELLENT
Can be mated with external reclockers, etc. (Mutec, Antelope OCX, etc)
No usb gizmos/cleaners/power supply added costs
Responds well to Fuse replacement
Good resale value (these have been on the market for years already)

More to come...
For more indepth info I recommend the AOIP thread at Head-fi.

[wushuliu]

I guess I'm kind of slow because setting up the RN was kind of a PITA - mainly because there isn't the centralized handholding typical of audiophile, so here are some basic steps to set up the RedNet 3. This is for direct connection. Note: You cannot use wireless to the unit, it must be a wired connection.



1. In RedNet shipping box there should be a paper card with a STOP sign on it. Hold on to it. It will have codes and information for registering.
2. Go to the www.focusrite.com/register page to register your unit. You have to do this before you can download the software and drivers.
3. Once registered go to My Account/My Products, Select the Downloads & Activation Codes Box.
4. There you will a list of stuff to download:

Download and Install Dante Virtual Soundcard (You get a free copy. Use Redeem Token option lower right on Audinate website)
Download and Install  RedNet Control

Okay, open up another window tab and go here:
https://www.audinate.com/products/software/dante-controller

Download Dante Controller on the right, the controller is what you use
to route channels to the RN unit.

Now go back to the Focusrite Download page
As of this post date, if you are using a PC and have a RN3:
Fifth or sixth down, Download RedNet 3.4 to 3.7 Firmware Update - Rednet 1-5 Only 
make sure to read before downloading:



Now, below is what the instructions are in that download:

—Important information—

RedNet 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 devices which are currently running Dante software version 3.4.x are not discovered
in RedNet Control 1.8 or 1.9. These devices must be updated to Dante software version 3.7 first.

Your devices will be running Dante
 software 3.4.x if you have not updated beyond RedNet Control 1.4 (released Q1 2015). To verify this, open Dante Controller, double
 click on a device to open device view, then select “Status”. In the Dante Information box there will be a number beside “Software Version”.
 If this reads 3.4.x you will need to proceed with the update procedure below.

Now download the Update Manager software:

https://www.audinate.com/products/firmware-update-manager

then do the following (included in the firmware download)

—Update Instructions—

1. Download Dante Firmware Update Manager
: https://www.audinate.com/products/firmware-update-manager
2. Install and run Dante Firmware Update Manager
3. Select the network interface
used for Dante connections and press next
4. Ensure all relevant Dante devices are powered up. We recommend powering down all devices that do
not require this update.
5. Click “Update Dante Firmware”
6. Click “Browse” and navigate to “RedNet-3.4-to-3.7.dnt” supplied in the zip
7. Select “Override Device Matching” and click Next. Dante Controller will then search for the relevant devices.
8. Tick the box(es) on the left for the device(s) you need to update and click “Start”
9. The firmware update(s) will now be performed. When the update(s) are complete, a message
 will be displayed. Click “OK” and power cycle the devices.
10. The devices will now be discoverable in RedNet Control 1.8 and 1.9. RedNet Control
will then perform another firmware update ensuring the latest firmware is on the device.

Note that last part. A few minutes after the firmware update, software will automatically update again.

Okay, now you should see the virtual RedNet panel in your Rednet Control:



Select Network Interface, make sure the correct Ethernet is selected (if only one port, there'll be just one option)
Select Sample Rate
Select the small wrench bar on the RN panel, you'll see more options. If you are adding external clocks, etc. go here.
Make sure AES/SPDIF virtual toggle is selected

Now go to Dante Controller. Select Routing tab.
Select channels 1 and 2 (select + to expand):



If you double click the main Rednet tab under 'Dante Receivers', another window will open:



Make sure the speaker icons are there under Signal. Make sure green check marks
are lit for both channels.

Go to Device Config tab to select sample rate. Make sure Dante Virtual Soundcard also has
sameple sample rate set.

Now play some music. The speaker icons in Receive window should be lit up when signal is transmitting.

You should be good to go.

[this_is_vv]

subscribed

[wushuliu]

basic instructions added above. Hope they help. Also, Focusrite customer service is top-notch. They guided me through set up when I got stumped. The set up is not that complicated at all, just not what I'm used to.

[jaywills]

Good morning.  Thank you very much for the how-to.  Got a Rednet 3 Wednesday and have done all the software installations and flash upgrades.  Only using a single ethernet connection from my music dedicated mac mini i7 (Mavericks), but get orange triangles in the speaker/output settings in the Dante Controller and can't get sound .  I'll call Focusrite later, but in the interim, if you wouldn't mind, a quick question, please.

What are your settings in the Rednet Control under the little wrench pull-down menu on the front of the Rednet GI ?  Leaving aside the sample rate setting, I'm particularly interested in the other settings, including the rednet/off selections in one of the drop-down menus.

 Thanks for your time.  Cordially,

[jaywills]

Sorry for the second post, but your MIDI settings in the Rednet Control would be helpful.  I have the DVS selected as my source in both the Apple MIDI control and in Audirvana.  Thanks again.

[wushuliu]

Good morning.  Thank you very much for the how-to.  Got a Rednet 3 Wednesday and have done all the software installations and flash upgrades.  Only using a single ethernet connection from my music dedicated mac mini i7 (Mavericks), but get orange triangles in the speaker/output settings in the Dante Controller and can't get sound .  I'll call Focusrite later, but in the interim, if you wouldn't mind, a quick question, please.

What are your settings in the Rednet Control under the little wrench pull-down menu on the front of the Rednet GI ?  Leaving aside the sample rate setting, I'm particularly interested in the other settings, including the rednet/off selections in one of the drop-down menus.

 Thanks for your time.  Cordially,

Hi, that selection should be Internal unless you are using an external clock. Internal should be default.

Since we are not using any of the midi functions, nothing needs to be selected. The Rednet virtual panel for our purposes should not need much attention aside from selecting the network and maybe the spdif switch (although I'm not sure that makes a difference either).

Yeah, just call Focusrite. They walk through it with you. Once they explain it, it's pretty simple, just not something we're used to. At least I wasn't.

Make sure to check your device configurations for both the pc and the rednet unit in the Dante Controller. Make sure same sample rate is selected.

[jaywills]

Thanks very much. Your response and one email to Focusrite has things working and playing well together. Replaces a fairly complicated usb chain and sounds quite a bit better. Appreciate the help. Cordially,

[wushuliu]

Thanks very much. Your response and one email to Focusrite has things working and playing well together. Replaces a fairly complicated usb chain and sounds quite a bit better. Appreciate the help. Cordially,

Glad to hear it. Be sure to play around with the bit rate options on the sound card. I found that 24 and 32 sounded different than 16 (when using 16/44). And the latency on the controller.

What was your usb chain?

[jaywills]

Good morning.  My USB setup was music dedicated mac mini i7>>wireworld starlight usb (sometimes with audioquest jitterbug, sometimes without)>>Regen Amber>>F-1 XMOS USB digital interface>>s/pdif>>TacT 2.2x (DAC/room correction)>>aes/ebu>>TacT 2170 (digital amp)>>Spatial Hologram M2 Turbos.

Now it's music dedicated mac mini i7>>CAT 6 ethernet>>Focusrite Rednet 3>>S/pdif>>Tact, etc.

In my former USB setup, the USB chain improvements ranked as follows, in my system.  The Regen made a noticeable improvement.  The F-1 XMOS was a much bigger improvement than just the Regen (~2x, if I was forced to quantify).  The Rednet 3 jumped way up over the F-1 (almost an order of magnitude seeming progression).  Never could make up my mind about the jitterbugs (used two at times).  If I had to pick two adjectives to describe the music I'm hearing through the Rednet, I'd say "liquid" and "organic."

Again, very much appreciate your help and I heartily suggest others give it a try.  Now I have to figure out what to do with all of my old usb stuff.  Cordially,

[martinr]

Good morning.  My USB setup was music dedicated mac mini i7>>wireworld starlight usb (sometimes with audioquest jitterbug, sometimes without)>>Regen Amber>>F-1 XMOS USB digital interface>>s/pdif>>TacT 2.2x (DAC/room correction)>>aes/ebu>>TacT 2170 (digital amp)>>Spatial Hologram M2 Turbos.

Now it's music dedicated mac mini i7>>CAT 6 ethernet>>Focusrite Rednet 3>>S/pdif>>Tact, etc.

In my former USB setup, the USB chain improvements ranked as follows, in my system.  The Regen made a noticeable improvement.  The F-1 XMOS was a much bigger improvement than just the Regen (~2x, if I was forced to quantify).  The Rednet 3 jumped way up over the F-1 (almost an order of magnitude seeming progression).  Never could make up my mind about the jitterbugs (used two at times).  If I had to pick two adjectives to describe the music I'm hearing through the Rednet, I'd say "liquid" and "organic."

Again, very much appreciate your help and I heartily suggest others give it a try.  Now I have to figure out what to do with all of my old usb stuff.  Cordially,

Thank you for the description of your impressions of the improvement chain in your digital set-up Jay 
- Martin