xControl GPIO Expander Tech Tips

This tech tip will explain how to properly integrate the External Control Inputs of Symetrix DSP units (Radius NX, Prism, Edge, xControl, Jupiter, Zone Mix 761). Both the physical hardware connections and programming setup will be covered.

 

Each External Control Input, also known as an Analog Control Input or GPIO, can be configured in one of two modes; as a dual switch closure or a potentiometer.

 

Dual Switch Closure mode is most commonly used with PTT/PTM (Push To Talk/Push To Mute) buttons on microphones, for an Emergency System/fire alarm relay connection that will mute or override the audio system, and for Room Combining that use switches on moveable wall partitions. The potentiometer mode is typically used to create an inexpensive, volume control for an input, source, zone, or output.

Zone Mix 761

Note: The Jupiter or the Zone Mix 761 supports a combination of up to 2 potentiometers or 4 switch closures.

Radius NX/Prism/Edge, xControl

Note: Edge, Prism, Radius NX, supports a combination of up to 4 potentiometers or 8 switch closures. xControl supports a combination of up to 8 potentiometers or 16 contact closures.

Using standard shielded twisted pair terminated with a terminal block on one end, External Control Inputs may be freely assigned to parameters in the Symetrix DSP hardware. The operational mode (switch closure vs. potentiometer) must first be configured while on-line or off-line using the Configure External Control Inputs dialog. While on-line with the DSP using the Symetrix software, a potentiometer can be calibrated for maximum travel or scaled as described later in this document.

Typical Control Switch Wiring

Note: +V(OUT)=A, INPUT=B

Typical Control Potentiometer Wiring

Configuring External Control Inputs in a Jupiter or Zone Mix 761:

Example 1: Switch Closure
This example will step through the setup of an Emergency System fire alarm mute in the Zone Mix 761 where the fire alarm relay connects to External Control Input 1A. The process is virtually identical for the Jupiter software/hardware.

First, make the physical connections using the above picture as a guide. Then, once the Zone Mix 761 software is online with the hardware, launch the External Controller Wizard. It should be noted that configuring the External Control Inputs on a Jupiter or Zone Mix 761 is straight forward since the External Controller Wizard simplifies the process.

Choose Add New External Controller, select Switch or Control Voltage and then click Next.

Now give the switch a descriptive name based on where in the venue it is located or based on what function it will provide. For example, the name could be as simple as “Switch” or as descriptive as “Fire Alarm relay”. Select the “Emergency” option for the Switch Function and click Next.

On the next page choose the desired function that will trigger based on the state of the input connection provided by the emergency fire alarm system. The two options are: Mute All Outputs or Route Input 3 to Specified Outputs at a Pre-Determined Volume Level. Select the appropriate function and click Next.

For an Emergency Fire Alarm Mute select the “Mute All Outputs” option and click Next.

On the next page, remember to select the correct physical External Control Input that the emergency system relay will connect to. This example uses Switch Closure 1A.

Once the correct input is selected, click Next.
Now, select the emergency route logic based upon how the Emergency relay functions. For reference, the software presents a few practical examples: Normally Open/Active Low and Normally Closed/Active High. Click Finish to close the External Controller Wizard or Next to return to the first page and setup another ARC remote.

Example 2: Potentiometer
This example will step through the setup of a potentiometer in the Zone Mix 761 where the RC-3 connects to the External Control Input 1. The process is virtually identical for the Jupiter software/hardware. Once connected, you can launch the External Controller Wizard and add it to your configuration.

Choose Add New External Controller, select Potentiometer (RC-3) and then click Next.

The RC-3 can control any of the twelve input volumes, the two program volumes per zone, the six zone volumes, the six output volumes, or sets of linked volumes. The particular gain stage the RC-3 will control is selected with the Parameter drop-down menu.
It may be a good idea to give the RC-3 a descriptive name based on where in the venue it is located or based on what function it will provide, especially if both External Control Inputs have a potentiometer or RC-3 connected. Click Next when done.

Select the appropriate External Control Input and click Next.

On the calibrate page, the range of the controller fader can be restricted or scaled by typing the value in Upper and Lower Limits. When finished, click Next.

 

In this step, calibrate the potentiometer to the 761’s External Control Input to ensure the full travel of the pot is utilized. The Zone Mix 761 software must be on-line for the calibration function to work. Rotate the pot fully counterclockwise (CCW) and click the Set Minimum Position button. Now, rotate the pot fully clockwise (CW) and click the Set Maximum Position button. Once completed, click Next and the software will return to the External Controller Wizard’s opening screen. Continue to add controllers or edit existing
ones if needed. If finished, click the Finish button to exit the External Controller Wizard.

Configuring External Control Inputs in Radius/Prism/Edge, or xControl:

Example 1: Switch Closure
This example will step through the setup of an Emergency System fire alarm
mute for a system using Composer software, where the fire alarm relay output connects to External Control Input 1A on an xControl. The process is identical for setup and assigning External Control Inputs on an Edge, Radius or Radius AEC.

After making the physical connections, while in Schematic Edit Mode, configure the External Control Inputs by right-clicking on the unit in Design View and select “Configure External Control Inputs…”:

Remember to select “Dual Switch Closure for the input the Fire Alarm relay connects to.

Now that the External Control Inputs are configured, here is one example of control logic programming for an emergency mute/unmute function in Composer 2.0 software.
Note: Alternative logic programming examples are located at the end of this section.

Double click the “1 Button Latched” module to open its user interface. Then assign the selected Analog Control Input to the “On’ button by right-clicking directly on the “On” button and selecting “Set Up Remote Control.”

Click the drop down arrow under Remote control device and select “Remote Analog Input – ‘xControl’” to assign an External Control Input from the xControl. For assigning an External Control Input from an Edge or Radius choose the “Local Analog Input –“Radius12x8-9” or whatever “Remote Analog Input” is appropriate.

Click the drop down arrow under Select Analog Control and choose the switch input that matches the physical wiring on the External Control Input. This example uses Switch 1A. Select OK when finished.

Once the External Control Input is assigned to a fader or button an A1 “Highlighted Assigned Control Indicator” appears super imposed on the “On” button.

 

Note 1: Alt+M or Tools->Super Impose Assigned Controllers must be checked.
Note 2: If the system mute performance is inverted set the Off Level to 100% and On Level to 0.0%.

Double click the “2 Input Logic” module and select “OR”. When the button is triggered, it will set the output signal to True or False when the button is On or Off, respectively.

Double click the “Preset Trigger 1” module and assign Preset #999. Composer 2.0 automatically creates Preset#999 to mute the hardware without affecting the individual output mute states. This will mute all hardware when the latched button is triggered by the fire alarm relay.

Double click the “Preset Trigger 2” module and assign Preset #1000. Composer 2.0 automatically creates Preset#1000 to unmute the hardware without affecting the individual output mutes states. This will unmute all hardware when the fire alarm relay is reset.

Note: In the Preset Manager for Composer 2.0 Preset #999 and #1000 are pre-configured for the emergency mute/unmute function, equivalent to the F2 button in Composer. 999 = Mute All Hardware. #1000 = Unmute All Hardware.

Alternative Methods:

In this example an “Inverter” module is used in place of the “2 Input Logic” module and will perform the same function as the “False” output of the 2 Input Logic (11) module from the previous example.

Here, a Super Module from Tools->Super-Module Library Manager is used for the Emergency System Mute.

Once completed, Push the file to the system.

Example 2: Potentiometer
This example will step through the setup of a potentiometer in the system using Composer 2.0 software, where the RC-3 connects to the External Control Input 1on an xControl. The process is identical for setup and assigning External Control Inputs on an Edge, Prism, or Radius.

Note: In potentiometer mode, A is the +V output and B is the voltage input.

After making the physical connection, configure the External Control Inputs by right-clicking on the unit in Design View and select “Configure External Control Inputs…”:

To configure the input for use with a potentiometer, select the appropriate input tab, and then select the “Pot – Connect a variable voltage input (0-5V)” radio button. Select “OK” when finished.

Pot Calibration:

Note: SymNet Composer must be connected to the DSP hardware with the input configured as a “Pot” in order to calibrate the input. The potentiometer must be physically wired to the External Control Input as well.

Calibrating the External Control Input determines the way the 0-5V potentiometer affects Composer parameters. There are two separate areas that can be altered:

1. Compensation for pots that don’t get all the way down to 0V or all the way up to 5V. This could happen because of characteristics of the pot itself, or resistance in the connection between the pot and the unit, especially with long wire runs. This is referred to as Calibrating Pot
   Range below.
2. Limiting the range of parameters controlled by an analog input. This is referred to as Calibrating Control Range or scaling the range.

This setting should match the control input of the pot being calibrated. If a pot is connected and the settings are correct, turning the pot should move the small indicator along the Current input position line. The value of the pot (0-255) is also updated to show the current level generated by the pot. Zero represents GND or 0V, 255 represents 5V, and the range is linear.

Calibrating Pot Range:
To compensate for a pot that does not cause its assigned fader in software to travel the entire range when the physical pot is turned to is lowest and highest position, make sure the pot is connected to the one of the 8 External Control Inputs and the correct input tab is selected in the Config External Control Inputs Window of Composer 2.0. Turn the pot to its minimum value (usually all the way counterclockwise). Click the “Set Minimum Position” button. Next, turn the pot to its maximum value (usually all the way clockwise). Click the “Set Maximum Position” button.

 

Note: These settings can be used to compensate for a reverse-wired pot. To reset the calibration, click the Reset Min/Max Positions and they will be returned to their defaults.

Calibrating Control Range:
It may be desirable to limit the end user range of a potentiometer connected to an External Control Input and its effect on a gain stage. For example, if a pot is controlling a volume fader, it may be preferred to limit the fader range the end user can access from -30dB to 0dB rather than the full -72dB to +12dB range allowed in the software.

 

To limit the upper range of a control, enter a value less than 100% for the maximum level. To limit the lower range of a control, enter a value greater than 0% for the minimum level. When set to 100% and 0%, the control is allowed to travel the entire range shown in the Composer GUI. Other values reduce this range accordingly. Some experimentation may be required to find the percentage values that limit a range appropriate the current application. As an example, for a fader with ranges -72db to +12db, 84% is equal to 0dB.

Important Notes:
By setting the minimum value to a number larger than the maximum value, it is possible to reverse the operation of the pot or compensate for a reverse-wired pot. To reset the calibration, enter 100% for the maximum level and 0% for the minimum level.

 

If it is desired to reset all analog calibration data for a unit, use the Erase Memory command found under Hardware->Upgrade Firmware. Select only Analog Calibration Settings and hit ERASE.

 

All settings made using this dialog box are stored in the hardware, not in the site file. Changes made take effect immediately without the need to download the entire site.

 

Assigning a Parameter:
Right-click directly on the parameter and select “Set Up Remote Control.”

Click the drop down arrow under Remote control device and select “Remote Analog Input – ‘xControl’” to assign an External Control Input from the xControl. For assigning an External Control Input from an Edge or Radius choose the “Local Analog Input –“Radius12x8-9” or whatever “Remote Analog Input” is
appropriate.

Click the drop down arrow under Select Analog Control and choose the pot that matches the physical wiring on the External Control Input. Select OK when finished.

Once the External Control Input is assigned to a fader a P1 “Highlighted Assigned Control Indicator” appears super imposed on the GUI. Note: Alt+M or Tools->Super Impose Assigned Controllers must be checked.

Once completed, Push the file to the system.

Applies to Radius NX, Edge, Prism xControl, Jupiter, and Zone Mix 761

This tech tip will explain how to properly integrate the Logic Outputs of the above DSP units into your installation. Typically these outputs would be utilized in a couple of ways – driving LEDs in order to give visual feedback to an end user, or controlling an external relay for switching other equipment, such as a projector screen or rack of other equipment. In order to do this is as seamlessly as possible, it is first necessary to know some basic facts.

First, each of these logic outputs is the open collector of a switching transistor that has its emitter tied to ground. What does this mean to you? These are not dry contacts that are simply open or closed. When the transistor is inactive, 5V is present at the logic output. When the transistor is activated, the 5V is shunted to ground through the transistor’s emitter, which results in 0V at the logic output.

Here are the specs for the logic outputs that we’ll be referring to in this tech tip:

• The logic output is pulled high (5V) when inactive.
• The logic output goes low (0V) when active.
• The maximum logic output source current is 10mA.
• The maximum external power supply voltage is 24 VDC.
• The maximum external power supply current sinking is 50mA.

How to Drive an LED

With a max output current of 10mA, it is possible to drive an LED directly from the logic output without needing a current-limiting resistor (there is an internal 500 ohm resistor). This of course depends on the forward voltage and forward current of the LED you choose (check the datasheet for your LED). In this case, simply connect as below:

If you have an LED that requires a higher voltage/current demand, an external power supply will be needed. As stated above, the max external power supply voltage is 24 VDC with 50 mA sinking current. Hook it up as below:

You can calculate the resistor’s value by using Ohm’s law:

Vs = Supply Voltage
Vf = LED forward voltage drop
I = LED forward current (in Amps)

Round up your value to the nearest standard resistor value.

Note: Various styles of LEDs (from standard through-hole to panel-mounted) in a seemingly endless variety of values are readily available. The best approach would be to identify your needs in terms of LED type, then use the extensive search functions of sites like Digikey.com or Mouser.com to see what is available.

Driving Relays

There are two types of relays we’ll work with to control external devices, the most common being a non latching mechanical relay. Taking into consideration the 10 mA output current of the logic outputs, this type of relay will typically need to have its coil driven by an external power supply. As noted earlier, the external supply should not exceed 24 VDC, while the relay coil current should not exceed 50 mA. A relay such as the Omron G5LE-1A4 DC12 should do nicely.

Take note of the flyback diode placed in parallel across the relay coil. This provides a path for discharge current to flow when the coil is switched off. Without this diode, there is the risk of damaging or destroying the internal transistor of the Symetrix device. Think of a flyback diode as the cheapest equipment insurance policy you’ll find anywhere. Use a 1N4004 or equivalent.

Another relay option would be to use a Solid State Relay (SSR), which typically has a lower current requirement for activation. Most installers use mechanical relays, but some of the advantages of SSRs are worth noting:

• Low turn-on requirements. There is no inductive coil to drive in an SSR. Instead there is an internal LED that toggles the relay, which typically requires very little current to turn on. If you choose one that requires less than 10 mA to activate, there is no need for the external power supply that you might need to power a mechanical relay coil.
• No mechanical wear-and-tear, arcing, or contact bouncing.

For a general use SSR, try a Panasonic AQV252G (max load voltage 60 VDC/VAC, max current of 2.5 A).

Triggering the Logic Outputs in SymNet Composer (Radius, Edge and xControl)

As a basic example, we’ll set up a logic output to be toggled on and off by an external device such as a Crestron or AMX controller.

1 In Composer’s Design View, drag in a single Latched Button from the Toolkit.

2. Drag in a “Local Logic Output #1” Module from the Toolkit. To use an xControl’s logic outputs, select the “Remote Logic Output” module instead.

3. Wire the output of the latched button module to the input of the logic output module.

4. Right-click the “On” Button in the latched button module and click “Set Up to Remote Control.”

5. Select “Generic Controller Number Assignment” from the drop-down menu. Either keep the “Auto-assign controller number” checkbox selected, or un-check to type in your own controller number. Click OK, then push the site file to hardware.

6. You will now be able to control the button with your external controller.

• To enable the button, send this command to the DSP: CS <CONTROLLER NUMBER> 65535 <CR>
• To disable the button: CS <CONTROLLER NUMBER> 0 <CR>

Be sure to download the Composer Control Protocol from our website for full command details.

Triggering Logic Outputs for Jupiter and Zone Mix 761

Use the “External Controller Wizard” in the software to walk through programming your logic outputs.

• Setting up analog volume knobs and switches.
• LED clipping indicators for visual feedback.
• Triggering a power sequencer at 6AM every day.

These are just a few of the many things that can be accomplished with Symetrix hardware. All of our DSP units provide some degree of General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) via the External Control Inputs and Logic Outputs.

This document provides a side-by-side comparison of the GPIO counts for each piece of current Symetrix hardware, so you can spec the right gear for the job. Keep in mind that each individual External Control Input can either be configured to use a 10K potentiometer as its input, or two switches.

For full details and walkthroughs on integrating GPIO, see the below Tech Tips:

• How to Integrate External Control Inputs on Symetrix DSP Hardware
• Integrating Logic Output Circuits into your Installation

This is a general-purpose step-by-step guide for connecting to Symetrix digital signal processors and related hardware with a PC. Please note that Symetrix only recommends using Windows 10 and above. Other operating systems are not officially supported at this time.

Step 1 – Install the right software for the device

Symetrix site design software is used to connect to Symetrix devices and is available to download, install, and run for free. The required software will depend on the devices that needs to be accessed:

Composer:

Current Symetrix open-architecture DSPs all use Composer, which can be downloaded here. These include:

• D100
• Radius
• Prism
• Edge
• Solus NX

Other Symetrix hardware that can be accessed through Composer will include:

• Endpoints and expanders (xIn, xOut, and xIO devices)
• T Series touch panels
• W Series wall remotes
• Control expanders (xControl, Control Server)

Important: To avoid errors when going online with the hardware, please download the version of Composer that matches the DSP’s firmware revision number as closely as possible. This number can be found by cycling through the system pages on the front LCD panel of the DSP.

Integrator Series:

Software for Symetrix’s current Integrator Series (closed-architecture) DSPs can be downloaded here. These include:

• Jupiter
• Zone Mix 761

Legacy Hardware:

Legacy open-architecture DSPs such as 8×8 DSP, Express CobraLink, and original Solus (non-NX) require SymNet Designer. This software has been discontinued and is no longer supported by Symetrix, but the final version (10.7) can be downloaded here. Software for all other legacy products, such as Zone Mix 760, AirTools-series, and Lucid-series, is no longer available for download.

Step 2 – Make sure the PC is on the right network

Once the correct software has been downloaded, the next step is to connect the PC to the device’s control network. If a DSP is Dante-enabled, make sure not to confuse the Dante ethernet port for the control ethernet port. Configuration of these devices through the Symetrix software is always done through the control port.

By default, Symetrix devices will obtain an IP address automatically, either from a DHCP server or, if a DHCP server is not available, by obtaining a link-local (169.254.x.x) IP address. Most Composer-enabled devices will display their IP address on the front LCD panel. Cycling through the system pages on the front LCD will additionally display the subnet mask. If a device has previously been configured with a static IP address, it can be reset to DHCP by briefly pressing the device’s reset button, which is usually recessed in the housing on the back of the device.

ncpa

It is important that the PC’s network settings match those of the devices being used in the system. To check this, enter ‘ncpa.cpl’ in the Windows search bar to open the list of network adapters on the PC:

Right click the network adapter that will be used to connect to the device, select ‘Properties.

version

Then double click ‘Internet Protocol Version 4’:

address

The network settings of the PC’s network adapter will display. If the Symetrix device is set to DHCP, select ‘Obtain an IP address automatically.’ Alternatively, a static IP address and custom subnet mask can be set here:

Important: Ensure that both the IP subnet and subnet mask of the network adapter match that of the device. If setting the PC to a static IP address, it must be a different/unused IP address on the network. If connected directly to the DSP with a static IP address, setting the PC to an address “right next to” the DSP usually safe. Example; if the DSP IP address is 192.168.100.50, set the PC to 192.168.100.51.

Step 3 – Locate the Symetrix hardware on the network

Once the PC is on the correct network, open the appropriate Symetrix software. The next steps will depend on the software being used.

Composer:

site

If a copy of the site file is available on the PC: Select the ‘File’ menu > Open and select it from File Explorer. In Site View, all located devices will have a checkmark in the lower left corner. If there is no checkmark present, click the empty box in the lower left corner of the device to open the Locate Hardware menu:

In the Locate Hardware menu, a list of available devices will appear. If necessary, click ‘Select Network to Search…’ to ensure that the correct network adapter is being used to scan for devices. Either double click the device in the list or highlight it and select ‘Locate to Selected Hardware’ to finish locating the device:

Repeat the above process for all devices in the Site View.

If the site file needs to be pulled from the unit:Go to the ‘Hardware’ menu > ‘System Manager’ > ‘Hardware’ tab. A list of all available units on the network will display. If needed, click “Select Network to Search…” to change the network being scanned for devices. Highlight the desired unit, then select ‘Go Online (Pull from Unit…)’:

The Pull Site File From Hardware Wizard will appear. Select a location on the PC where the site file will be saved, then click ‘Next’:

Next, select either ‘Yes – Synchronize to All Changes’ to keep any changes made to the configuration while last online with this site file, or ‘No – Abandon Changes’ to revert to the archived version of the site file. ‘Show Advanced Options’ allows for more granular control over which changes are kept when synchronizing:

Select ‘Next’, then either select ‘Finish’ to go online with the site file as-is or select ‘Cancel’ to make changes to the site file before going online:

A note about Dante devices– Any Dante devices in the design must be located through a Symetrix DSP that has already been located:

As of Composer 8.5, an xIO Updater/Configurator module may be added to the site view to configure Symetrix xIO Dante devices if a Symetrix DSP is not available. Symetrix recommends using separate networks for Dante and control.

Integrator Series:

Locating an Integrator Series DSP is done in the Connection Wizard of the Jupiter or Zone Mix 761 software. This can be done either by selecting ‘Existing File on Device’ > ‘Open Connection Wizard’ from the startup menu, or by selecting the Connection Wizard icon in the top ribbon:

Once the Connection Wizard opens, select the option that best fits the connection type, then select ‘Next’. A list of the PC’s network adapters will appear. Select the one that is connected to the ethernet port of the device, then select ‘Next’. Select ‘Open Network Connections’ to show these network adapters in Windows Control Panel if any settings need to be changed:

A list of devices will appear. Any devices not compatible with the current site file will be grayed out. Select the device, then select ‘Next’. Selecting the ‘Properties…’ button will allow a static IP address to be set for the device if desired:

On the final screen, select ‘Finish’ to close the Connection wizard. To go online immediately, ensure the ‘Go online now’ box is checked:

Step 4 – Go online with the system

Composer:

online

Once all devices in the site file have been located, select ‘Go online (push site file to hardware)’:

Note: The icon with the yellow arrow is for pulling the site file from the located hardware. Please see the passage entitled “If the site file needs to be pulled from the unit” in the previous section for more information on pulling the site file from the hardware.

Next, the Site Preferences window will appear. These are generally advanced options that can be left alone, however if Dante routing is being managed in Dante Controller rather than in Composer, uncheck the box next to ‘Configure Network Audio.’ Click ‘OK’ to proceed:

dialogue

At this point, if the site file has not yet been saved to the PC, the File Explorer will appear and prompt for a filename and location to save the file to. If any ARC remotes are present in the design, a dialogue will appear and ask if all remotes should be programmed now. Regardless of whether ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ is selected here, the system will continue to push and go online:

success

Once the site file has been successfully pushed, a success dialogue will appear. After clicking ‘OK’, the system volume will gradually ramp up unless the system mute is engaged:

Now that the system is online, parameters can be changed in real time, and signal meters will display their data. However, if any modules are moved, added, or deleted, or if any wires are changed, the system will automatically go offline. The site file must be re-pushed in order to go back online.

Important: The firmware versions of all devices in a Composer site file must match the version of Composer being used before going online with the system. If this is not the case, a message will appear prompting a firmware upgrade before the system can go online. Please refer to the Updating Firmware with Composer Tech Tip for further assistance.

Integrator Series:

After finishing the Connection Wizard, select the orange ‘Off-line’ button in the top ribbon. The drop-down arrow can be selected to choose which previously located device to go online with:

A prompt will then appear allowing the user to select whether to push the currently open configuration file to the device, or to pull the configuration file off of the device and save it to the PC.

Once the system is online, parameters can be changed in real time, and signal meters will display their data.

Integrator Series devices will operate normally with the factory firmware and should not require firmware updates to go online.

FAQs and Troubleshooting

“My device does not appear in the Locate Hardware menu.”

• Double check that the PC’s NIC and the Symetrix device are on the same network.
• Double check that the selected network in the Locate Hardware menu corresponds to the intended NIC.
• Change all octets of the IP address and subnet mask being searched for to ‘255’, uncheck the box next to ‘Don’t show located and enabled units’, and check the box next to ‘Show incompatible hardware’ in order to broaden the search as widely as possible.
• If a USB to ethernet adapter is being used with the PC, connect using a standard ethernet port instead if possible.
• Power cycle both the PC and the device.
• Re-seat the ethernet cable in both the PC and the device.
• Try a different ethernet cable.
• If the device is connected to the PC through a network switch, try a different switch port, or connect directly to the PC instead.
• If all else fails, disconnect the device from the network, reset its network settings by tapping the reset button once, then directly connect it to the PC (ensuring the PC is set to automatically obtain an IP address).

“I’m getting a ‘Failed to go online’ error message.”

• Disable Windows Defender Firewall and any third-party antivirus/firewall programs that may be blocking network traffic.
• Double check that the device firmware versions for all devices in the site file match the version of Composer being used (the first two numbers are most important).
• Power cycle both the PC and the device.
• If the device is connected to the PC through a network switch, try connecting directly instead.
• If a device cannot be located and is not needed in the site file, right click it and select ‘Disable Unit’.

“I can’t locate my Dante device.”

• Double check that the DSP is Dante-enabled by going to the ‘Tools’ menu > ‘Launch Remote Terminal’ > ‘Options’ menu > enable ‘Debug Mode’, then send the command info cards to the IP address of the DSP. If ‘Non-Dante Clock Card’ is displayed in the output under ‘Audio Network Card’, then the device does not have a Dante card installed. Please contact sales@symetrix.co to purchase one. If ‘No Card Present’ is displayed instead, there may be a problem with the Dante card.
• Double check that the Dante device is connected to the Dante port of the DSP.
• Connect the Device directly to the DSP’s Dante port, bypassing any network switches. If it can be located using this method, there may be a problem with the network.
• If all else fails, connect the PC to the Dante network, or directly to the Dante device, and verify that it appears in Dante Controller. If not, then there may be a problem with the Dante device, or it may be set to a static IP address outside of the Dante network.

“What does the yellow checkmark next to a device in Composer mean?”

A yellow checkmark means that the device is muted, while a green checkmark means that the device is unmuted.

This article contains information and guidelines related to controlling Symetrix and third-party products using IP, Dante, serial, and other technologies.

IP Control Network Guidelines

• The maximum number of connected IP devices is 128. This includes DSPs, W Series, and T Series controllers.
• Up to six TCP sessions can be active at one time.
  • If a seventh TCP/IP connection is initiated, the least recently used session will be automatically closed. Control systems should avoid closing and re-opening TCP connections if possible.  Keeping a single TCP session open to send multiple commands through will result in much better performance than opening and closing a session for each command.
• To control Symetrix DSPs with Ethernet:
  • Command strings are sent as the payload of a UDP/IP or a TCP packet. The following rules should be observed in sending commands:
    • Commands should be sent to UDP or TCP port number 48631 to the unit’s IP address. The IP address may be found using the Connection Wizard or on some units’ front panel displays.
    • Commands should be formatted exactly as defined in the Composer help file and include a carriage return that terminates the command.
    • Command strings may or may not include a zero-termination character.
    • Commands should not be broken up across multiple packets.
    • If high-reliability communications are required, responses to commands should be analyzed for success.

Control of Third-Party Devices via the Dante Control Network

Supported Third-Party Dante Device Limitations

• The number of Dante devices (except Shure – see below) that can be located by or referenced by (switch input and LED output use) from a single DSP unit is limited to 24.
• The number of Shure devices that can be located by or referenced by (switch input and LED output use) a single DSP unit is limited to 4.

Control Methods

TCP/UDP/HTTP Control

Third-party devices that are controlled by TCP or UDP strings or binary code can be controlled from a Symetrix DSP either by using a Network String Module available in the Composer toolkit or by the use of an Intelligent module. If bidirectional communications or control using HTTP is needed, then an Intelligent module is required.

IR Control

Symetrix has tested and verified that the Global Cache IP2IP/IP2IR and their other IR interfaces work with Symetrix products. Communicate using binary Mode to Global Cache units. Text does not work.

Serial Control

Radius and Edge have a single serial port. If using a DSP without a serial port or if additional serial ports are needed, use an xControl or Global Cache IP2LS/IP2SL-P/WF2SL.

Contact Closure or Voltage Control

Included natively in Symetrix DSPs. If more connections are needed than provided with the DSP add xControl Control Expanders. In addition to analog/logic control inputs/logic outputs, the xControl also adds two additional serial ports.

Control Server

The Wi-Fi access point built into the Control Server only passes data to the Symetrix control network. It cannot be used to access another network.

ARC Controls

Power Limitations

The total number of ARCs that can be daisy-chained and fed power from an ARC port may be limited depending on ARC type and cable distances. An ARC-PSe Rack Mount Power Supply may be used to accommodate a larger number of ARC Wall Panels.

Introduction

The Symetrix xControl serves a similar purpose for Edge, Radius NX, and Prism as the Control I/O did for legacy SymNet SymLink and Express Cobra hardware. Its primary purpose is to bring the overall cost of logic I/O heavy systems down.

xControl Rear Panel

1. Ethernet: 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port for network connection to the system over IP. Features auto-crossover sensing for direct device-to-device connections. Accepts PoE IEEE 802.3af Class 1.
    
2. RS-232: Two serial communications interface for sending strings to 3rd party devices or accepting 3rd party control commands. Port Settings: 57.6 kbaud (default), 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.
    
3. External Control Inputs: Eight (8) analog control inputs. Each analog control input can be configured to support 1 potentiometer or 2 closures (+3.3 VDC reference voltage supplied).
    
4. Logic Outputs: Sixteen (16) logic outputs with eight (8) paired common ground pins. Logic Outputs go low (0V) when active, and are internally pulled high (5V) when inactive and can drive external LED indicators directly.
    

Examples of Common Use Cases

Conferencing Push To Talk and LED Muted/Active Indications

In conferencing applications the logic outputs are typically used to either light LEDs directly or interface with something expecting a control voltage that controls the LEDs itself. Typically, they are following mutes somewhere in the Symetrix design which are linked to push-to-talk (push-to-unmute) logic.

External Relay Trigger

External relays are often driven by logic outputs for the purpose of controlling a power sequencer or controlling a “conference in session” lamp/sign.

Camera Control

Logic outputs are sometimes use to interface with the GPIO inputs of a camera PTZ control unit which essentially expects contact closures to trigger it to preset camera positions. These may be driven in our system by presets, the Gating Automixer channel “ON” LEDs, or the PTT logic detailed above. Most often this type of setup is used during video conferencing or in court room applications.

Projector Control

The dual RS-232 ports on the xControl can be configured to send any custom RS-232 string in ASCII or Binary allowing Symetrix to control 3rd party hardware. Often times a projector is used in a conference room or class room application, and must work in tandem with the audio system. Using an ARC remote or SymVue control screen as the user interface, when prompted by the host DSP the xControl can send 3rd party protocol commands to a projector, controlling common parameters such as On/Off and the selected input source.

Powering and Hookup to the Network
 

Warning: The xControl is a true PoE (power over Ethernet) device and must be connected to the host DSP through the data network. It is not an ARC network device. Do not under any circumstance plug the xControl Ethernet port into the ARC port on a Edge, Prism, Radius NX, or ARC-PSe. The ARC DC voltage may damage the xControl, which may cause a failure not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Configuring IP Parameters

x 1

Locating Hardware

x 2

OR

x 3

OR

Discovery of, and connection to, xControl hardware is done with the Locate Hardware dialog found under the Hardware menu or by clicking the Connection Status box in the bottom left corner of the xControl icon.

1. IP Configuration with Composer
2. The Locate Hardware dialog will scan the network and list available units with DHCP IP addresses.
3. Select the xControl unit to assign a static IP address and click the Properties button.
4. To assign the xControl a static IP address, select “Use the following IP address” and enter the appropriate IP Address, Subnet mask and Gateway.
5. Click OK when finished.
6. Next, back in the locate hardware dialog, ensure the xControl device is highlighted and click “Select Hardware Unit” to connect the selected xControl on the network to the xControl in the Composer Site File.
7. Close the Locate Hardware dialog.