Count the audio sources that need processing and the destinations or zones they need to reach, including any feeds that must operate at the same time. Then choose a digital signal processor with enough input and output channels in the formats your system uses, such as analog or Dante, and allow capacity for planned expansion.

Choose a digital signal processor with Dante audio networking when a project needs to route audio between networked devices across multiple rooms or zones. Check that its channel capacity, inputs, outputs, and processing features fit the system, and confirm connected equipment supports Dante.

For conferencing and distributed audio, compare input and output channel counts, routing and zone-mixing options, and support for networked audio such as Dante to assess how a processor can connect and distribute sound. For conferencing, check whether acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is included and how many channels it covers, since DSP features vary by model.

Digital signal processors connect to existing audio equipment through the audio inputs and outputs supported by the unit, such as analog connections on some models. For networked systems, select a processor with a compatible audio networking option, such as Dante, and confirm that its channel capacity matches the system.