Choosing the Right Gear for Audiofusion

The right equipment can save both time and headaches when getting set up. To help you get the most from your Audiofusion system, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need for you and each performing musician.

Laptop and Router

Your System

SoundCaster is the heart of your system, bridging your audio devices into multi-channel streams on your Mac and broadcasting it over Wi-Fi to each musician running Performer. For best results, we recommend a mid-2010 or newer MacBook Pro, iMac Pro, Mac Pro or Mac Mini. Whichever mac you’re running, be sure to connect directly to your router with an ethernet cable using the built-in port. If you don’t have one, ethernet dongles will work too. Don’t forget to bring your charger as well. Your machine could throttle performance and slow things down if you aren’t plugged into AC power.

A Dedicated Wireless Router

As for the wireless side of your system, a 802.11ac capable router operating on the 5 GHz band is essential. You’ll also need one or more ethernet ports so you can hard-wire the router directly to your computer.

Our top router recommendations are:
Netgear Nighthawk AX5400
Linksys AC5400
ASUS RT-AC5300
ASUS AX11000

For a good value when connecting 8 devices or less:
Linksys AC2600
AmpliFi HD WiFi Router by Ubiquiti Labs (without the additional mesh points)

Your Audio Sources

When it comes to connecting your audio sources, SoundCaster can utilize any digital source that the MacOS recognizes as an audio input. Connect to any mixing console with multi-channel digital audio output or audio interface that is compatible with your computer. Use any standard digital connection such as USB, Firewire, Dante, AVB, etc.

Something to Consider

Leave your Mac in the sound booth and free yourself to support the musicians from stage side by adding Director running on iPad. Director acts like a remote control for SoundCaster and Performer and let’s you manage everything on-the-go. Director runs on a wide range of iPads, including: iPad Pro (1st generation or newer), iPad Air (2nd generation or newer), iPad (5th generation or newer), iPad Mini 4 or newer.

Your Musicians…

Each musician needs a basic setup of their own. That means the musician’s preferred earphones or headphones plugged into their phone. For best performance, we recommend a wired connection from the phone, even if that means using an adapter for devices that lack a headphone jack. Performer supports a wide range of devices that includes: iPhone 6 or newer, iPod Touch (6th generation) or newer, iPad Pro (1st generation or newer), iPad Air (2nd generation or newer), iPad (5th generation or newer), and iPad Mini 4 or newer. With that many options, it should be easy to find used devices for sale if the musician’s doesn’t have one already.

Quick Summary

Your System

MacBook Pro, iMac Pro, Mac Pro or Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer.)
macOS 10.12.0 or newer
Plugged into AC power
Gigabit Ethernet dongle (if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in Ethernet port)

Wireless Router

802.11ac capable router operating on the 5 GHz band
At least 1 Gigabit Ethernet port

Audio Sources

Any standard digital connection: USB, Firewire, Dante, AVB, and more…

Director (only one can be used at a time)

One of the following:
- iPad Pro (1st generation or newer)
- iPad Air (2nd generation or newer)
- iPad (5th generation or newer)
- iPad Mini 4 or newer

Musicians (up to 16 at a time, licenses sold separately)

Apple iPhone or iPad compatible earphones or headphones

One of the following each:

iPhone 6 or newer
iPod Touch (6th generation) or newer
iPad Pro (1st generation or newer)
iPad Air (2nd generation or newer)
iPad (5th generation or newer)
iPad Mini 4 or newer