Midas DN4816-I Stagebox

Midas DN4816-I StageConnect Stagebox — 16 Analog Inputs Over One XLR Cable

This model is a 1U rack-mount StageConnect interface that converts 16 balanced analog line signals into a 32-channel digital audio stream and delivers it down a single XLR cable. Designed as part of the Midas DN48XX Series, this stagebox is the right choice for live engineers who need to expand the input count of a Behringer WING or any StageConnect-equipped console without running a multi-pair analog snake. The unit is bus-powered through the StageConnect cable itself, so a single XLR run can carry audio, control data, and 18 W of remote power to the box on stage.

StageConnect: Audio, Data, and Power on a Single XLR

The StageConnect interface standard was developed by Music Tribe to transmit up to 32 channels of uncompressed 24-bit PCM audio, bi-directionally, alongside control data and DC power, all over a standard 110 Ohm DMX or balanced microphone cable. Midas DN4816-I exposes one XLR male (master) and one XLR female (slave) port for daisy-chaining devices, while two RJ45 Ultranet outputs translate StageConnect channels into the long-established Ultranet format used by P16 personal monitoring mixers, AIR-series digital mixers, and Turbosound iQ speakers.

Audio Performance and Conversion Quality

Inside the chassis, 24-bit A/D converters running at 44.1 or 48 kHz capture every input with a measured dynamic range of 106 dB and total harmonic distortion of just 0.004% at 1 kHz. The analog front end is built for line-level sources only — there is no preamp gain stage and no phantom power — so the box is optimized for wireless microphone receivers, playback devices, and outboard hardware that already output a healthy line signal.

• A/D Conversion: 24-bit, 44.1/48 kHz, 114 dB — captures line-level sources with wide headroom and clean transient response.
• Dynamic Range: 106 dB — preserves the full detail of wireless receiver and playback outputs
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.2 dB — flat enough for critical monitoring and broadcast-style signal chains
• THD: 0.004% at 1 kHz, 0 dBu in — keeps the analog-to-digital transfer audibly transparent

StageConnect Bus and Cable Specs

The StageConnect bus carries 32 channels of 24-bit PCM audio with an I/O latency below 0.05 ms, which is well within the range needed for in-ear monitoring and FOH cue mixes. For optimum performance over long runs, a shielded 110 Ohm DMX cable is recommended, with a maximum length of 40 m between StageConnect devices. The two Ultranet RJ45 outputs support shielded CAT5e cable runs up to 75 m, giving the box plenty of reach into side racks and monitor world.

• StageConnect Bus: 32 channels, 24-bit PCM, <0.05 ms latency — fast enough for live monitoring without audible delay
• Max DMX Cable Length: 40 m (110 Ohm) — covers typical stage-to-FOH distances
• Max Ultranet CAT5e Length: 75 m — reaches deep into side racks and personal monitor rigs
• StageConnect ports use 1 XLR male (master) and 1 XLR female (slave) connector for bidirectional audio and daisy-chaining capabilities.

Power, Connectivity, and Physical Form Factor

Power can come from the included 12 VDC / 2.5 A adapter or be drawn directly from the StageConnect bus, with the master port supplying 18 W to downstream devices. The unit draws only 8.5 W itself, leaving headroom for a second DN4816-I in the chain. A USB Type-B port on the rear panel handles firmware updates via the Midas SimplyPut utility, and a front-panel status LED confirms a healthy StageConnect lock.

• Power Supply: 12 VDC / 2.5 A adapter included, or remote 12 VDC / 1.5 A (18 W) via StageConnect — flexible powering for permanent installs and touring rigs
• Power Consumption: 8.5 W — leaves budget on the StageConnect bus for a second unit
• Analog Inputs: 16 balanced XLR female, line-level, max +21 dBu — accepts hot line signals from wireless receivers and playback rigs
• Impedance: 20 kΩ unbalanced / 40 kΩ balanced — high enough to play nicely with most pro line-level sources
• Dimensions: 483 x 169 x 49 mm (1U) — drops into any standard 19" rack or fly rack
• Weight: 2.2 kg — light enough for one-person load-in

Targeting the Right Users

This model is the right choice for live sound engineers, houses of worship, and touring bands who need to add 16 line-level inputs to a Behringer WING, HUB4, or any StageConnect-equipped console without pulling a heavy analog multi-core. It is also a strong fit for synthesizer-heavy studios and playback rigs where the existing console inputs are full of microphones and the player needs dedicated returns for hardware synths, samplers, or video-sync audio. Two units can be daisy-chained to deliver 32 line inputs over a single StageConnect run, and the dual Ultranet outputs feed personal monitoring systems without extra converters.

Brand Heritage and the Ecosystem

Midas has been a recognized name in professional live audio consoles for decades, and the DN48XX Series represents the first generation of I/O interfaces built around the StageConnect standard. StageConnect itself was developed by Music Tribe over two years and was introduced alongside the Behringer WING digital mixing console, with the goal of turning any standard XLR or DMX cable into a multi-channel audio, data, and power link. The Midas DN4816-I sits at the input end of that ecosystem, designed to bring wireless receivers, playback devices, and external line-level hardware into the StageConnect network with a single cable run.