Application Notes: Dante in Corporate AV Installations
Boardrooms, conference rooms, campuses, lobbies — real-world deployment scenarios Corporate AV is among the most practical deployment target for…
Overview
The FLEX Matrix is a modular system — the chassis determines maximum slot capacity, and the cards you install determine actual I/O count. This guide walks through how to size the chassis and card mix for any deployment.
Understanding Inputs and Outputs
- Each FLEX-HDMI8IN card adds 8 HDMI inputs
- Each FLEX-HDMI12OUT card adds 12 HDMI outputs (for nearby displays)
- Each FLEX-CAT12OUT card adds 12 CATx outputs (for remote displays via FLEX-CATRX, up to 100m)
- HDMI12OUT and CAT12OUT cards are interchangeable in output slots — mix them freely
Chassis Capacity
| Chassis | Max Inputs | Max Outputs | Max Input Cards | Max Output Cards | Rack Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLEX-MF8X10 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2U |
| FLEX-MF16X20 | 16 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2U |
| FLEX-MF24X36 | 24 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 4U |
| FLEX-MF24X60 | 24 | 60 | 3 | 5 | 4U |
Choosing the Right Chassis
- Up to 8 sources, 10 displays: FLEX-MF8X10
- Sports bar, up to 16 sources, 20 displays: FLEX-MF16X20
- Large venue, up to 24 sources, 36 displays: FLEX-MF24X36
- Maximum density, up to 24 sources, 60 displays: FLEX-MF24X60
Growth tip: Start with the FLEX-MF8X10 at minimum card count and add cards as the install grows. You never need to replace the chassis.
Card Mix Planning
Example 1: Sports Bar — 16 inputs, 8 HDMI + 12 CATx outputs
- Chassis: FLEX-MF16X20
- Input cards: 2× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 16 inputs
- Output cards: 1× FLEX-HDMI12OUT (8 nearby TVs, 4 ports unused) + 1× FLEX-CAT12OUT (12 remote displays via FLEX-CATRX)
- Total: 16 in / 20 out
Example 2: University Campus — 12 inputs, 36 CATx outputs
- Chassis: FLEX-MF24X36
- Input cards: 2× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 16 inputs (12 used, 4 spare)
- Output cards: 3× FLEX-CAT12OUT = 36 CATx outputs, all with FLEX-CATRX receivers
- PoC on all CAT outputs eliminates local power at each display
Example 3: Maximum Deployment — 24 inputs, 60 CATx outputs
- Chassis: FLEX-MF24X60
- Input cards: 3× FLEX-HDMI8IN = 24 inputs
- Output cards: 5× FLEX-CAT12OUT = 60 CATx outputs
- FLEX-CATRX receivers at all 60 display locations, PoC-powered
Output Port Counting
When mixing card types: the total usable outputs = sum of all installed output card ports. Unused card slots do not count. A FLEX-MF24X60 with 3 FLEX-CAT12OUT cards installed has 36 usable outputs, not 60 — add more cards to reach the chassis maximum.
Video Wall and Multiview Planning
- Each video wall zone consumes the number of outputs equal to the number of displays in the wall (e.g., a 3×3 wall uses 9 outputs)
- Multiview (Quad View) consumes one output but shows four inputs — no extra output ports needed
- Plan output allocation: normal routing + video wall outputs + multiview outputs must not exceed total installed output card capacity
