Focusrite ISA ADN2 2-Channel A-D Dante Expansion Card for ISA One

An Optional A-D Card That Networks the ISA One

The Focusrite ISA ADN2 is an optional two-channel analog-to-digital card that installs inside the ISA One microphone preamplifier to give it digital and Dante network outputs. It is not a standalone converter but an expansion card that turns the classic ISA One mic pre and DI into a networked source. Analog-to-digital conversion, or A/D, is the process of sampling the preamp's analog voltage and encoding it as digital audio, and performing it directly at the preamp keeps the pristine ISA signal in the digital domain from the outset. For an engineer already invested in the ISA One, the card upgrades a beloved analog preamp into a modern digital front end.

Dante Audio-over-IP Connectivity

Primary and secondary RJ45 ports carry the two ISA One channels onto a Dante network over standard Cat 5e or better Ethernet cabling. Dante is an audio-over-IP protocol that transports many channels of low-latency digital audio across ordinary network infrastructure, replacing bundles of analog cable with a single switch. Through Dante, the ISA One reaches every Focusrite RedNet device and Red interface, along with Dante-enabled hardware from hundreds of other manufacturers. A facility running a networked backbone can drop a characterful ISA preamp anywhere a network port exists.

AES3, ADAT, and S/PDIF Outputs

Beyond Dante, the card provides a familiar set of professional digital outputs: AES3 on a male XLR, ADAT on a TOSLINK optical connector, and S/PDIF on an RCA phono socket. Offering several formats means the ISA One can feed almost any existing converter, interface, or digital mixer without a format converter in between. An engineer with an older ADAT-equipped interface and a newer AES3 console can connect to either as the session requires. This breadth of connectivity keeps the card useful across changing studio setups.

High-Resolution Conversion up to 192kHz

Sample rates up to 24-bit/192kHz with 121dB of A-weighted dynamic range and a 22dBu reference level define the ADN2's conversion. Higher sample rates and wide dynamic range preserve fine detail and transient accuracy, capturing the full character the ISA transformer front end imparts. Because the conversion happens immediately after the preamp, no additional analog cabling stage can add noise before the signal is digitised. Mastering-minded engineers and detail-focused producers gain conversion that honours the source.

Redundancy, Word Clock, and Synchronisation

Dual Dante Ethernet ports provide network redundancy with automatic switchover should one path fail, while BNC word clock input and output handle synchronisation. Word clock is the timing reference that keeps multiple digital devices sampling in lock-step, preventing the clicks and dropouts that occur when clocks drift apart. The card can slave the Dante network to a house clock or act as a reference for external gear. Live broadcast and installed systems, where a dropped signal is unacceptable, benefit directly from this resilience.

Software Control and Who It Suits

Metering and settings are handled in RedNet Control while signal routing is configured in Dante Controller, both included at no extra cost. Software-based routing means an engineer patches sources to destinations on screen with no physical repatching, a major advantage in a large or frequently reconfigured system. Because it depends on the host ISA One for its analog stage and power, the ADN2 is intended specifically for owners of that preamp who want to join a networked or digital workflow. It is the bridge between a classic analog preamp and a contemporary Dante studio.