Clear-Com ProGrid PG16-TP, ProGrid PG8-TP, ProGrid PG16-FX, ProGrid PG8-FX User Manual

PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

PN: 399G092 Rev B 10/22/14

Document Reference

Clear-Com PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide
Part Number: 399G092 Revision: B
Legal Disclaimers

Copyright © 2014 HME Clear-Com Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Clear-Com and the Clear-Com logo are registered trademarks of HM Electronics, Inc.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be

used only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
The product described in this document is distributed under licenses restricting its use, copying,

distribution, and decompilation/reverse engineering. No part of this document may be
reproduced in any form by any means without prior written authorization of Clear-Com, an HME
Company.

Clear-Com Offices are located in California, USA; Cambridge, UK; Dubai, UAE; Montreal,
Canada; and Beijing, China. Specific addresses and contact information can be found on
Clear-Com’s corporate website:

www.clearcom.com
Clear-Com Contacts

Americas and Asia-Pacific Headquarters
California, United States
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Canada Office
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Tel: [phone]

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Beijing Representative Office
Beijing, P.R.China
Tel: [phone]

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

Contents

Document Reference......................................................................................................... 2

1 Important Safety Instructions ....................................................................... 5

1.1 Operating and Storage Temperature ............................................................... 5

1.2 Eye Safety ....................................................................................................... 5

1.3 Safety symbols ................................................................................................ 6

2 Device Description ........................................................................................ 7

3 Card Types .................................................................................................... 9

4 Front Panel .................................................................................................. 10

4.1 PG16-TP ....................................................................................................... 10

4.2 PG8-TP ......................................................................................................... 10

5 Rear Panel ................................................................................................... 12

5.1 PG16-TP with Analogue Input- and Output Cards ......................................... 12

5.2 PG8-TP or PG16-TP with Dual Microphone .................................................. 12

6 Device Details .............................................................................................. 13

6.1 A/D and D/A Converter .................................................................................. 13

6.2 Analog Inputs ................................................................................................ 13

6.3 Analog Outputs ............................................................................................. 13

6.4 SANE Ports ................................................................................................... 13

6.5 AES Ports ..................................................................................................... 13

6.6 Word Clock ................................................................................................... 13

6.7 Power Supply ................................................................................................ 14

7 Control ......................................................................................................... 15

8 Channel Allocation: SANE .......................................................................... 16

8.1 PG16-TP with PG32-AES-FX ........................................................................ 16

8.2 PG16/PG8-TP in SANE Network Applications ............................................... 16

9 Connectors and Cables .............................................................................. 17

9.1 SANE Ports ................................................................................................... 17

9.2 Principal, Auxiliary and AES Ports ................................................................. 17

9.3 RS232-Connection ........................................................................................ 17

9.4 Connector Hood Quality ................................................................................ 17

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

9.5 USB-Connection ........................................................................................... 17

9.6 LAN-Connection ............................................................................................ 17

9.7 Word Clock-Connection ................................................................................ 17

9.8 Mains-Connection ......................................................................................... 17

9.9 Hardware Connection Example ..................................................................... 17

10 Starting Up ................................................................................................... 19

10.1 Software Installation ...................................................................................... 19

10.2 ProGrid Network Setup ................................................................................. 19

11 Connection Tables ...................................................................................... 21

11.1 BI-B Cable ..................................................................................................... 22

12 Technical Specifications ............................................................................ 23

13 Dimensions and Weight .............................................................................. 25

14 Compliance .................................................................................................. 26

15 Warranty and Liability ................................................................................. 28

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

1 Important Safety Instructions

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other

apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has

two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your
safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of
the obsolete outlet.

Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold

with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has

been damaged in any way, such as power-cord supply or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this product to rain or

moisture.

1.1 Operating and Storage Temperature

Operating temperature: -20°C …50°C ≡ -4°F … 122°F; ensure proper ventilation

°

Storage temperature: -20

C …60°C ≡ -4°F … 140°F

1.2 Eye Safety

This product is a Laser Class 1 product. It complies with IEC 60825-1, FDA 21 CFR 1040.10,
and 1040.11.

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

1.3 Safety symbols

Familiarize yourself with the safety symbols in Figure 1: Safety symbols. These symbols are
displayed on the apparatus and warn you of the potential danger of electric shock if the system
is used improperly.

Figure 1-1: Safety symbols

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

2 Device Descrip tion

Optocore TECHNOLOGY

Optocore™ is a technology platform for sending large amounts of audio, with very low latency around a fiber-based
network. This transport (and mana gement system) is of very high quality, suitable for concerts, recording studios,
and broadcast applications. SANE™ is a spin-off technology that adapts this same technique to a smaller network
(Ethernet) and at a lower cost. The SANE connections are used to provide expansion units at any fiber node.
ProGrid interfaces use both Optocore and SANE technologies to provide a high quality low latency media transport
system. ProGrid will interface with all other OEM products utilizing the Optocore technology, for example Yamaha,
DiGiCo and AVID.

7 in 1, the PG16/PG8-TP is a converter unit with the highest degree of flexibility with regards to the I/O configuration.
Four different card types enabl e the complet e custom is ation of the I/O card, whether for the conversion of analogue
signals - 16 inputs, 16 outputs, 8 inputs and 8 outputs, dual microphone inputs with dual independent adjustable
gains – to AES/EBU, 8 AES/EBU channels switchable to IN or OUT in groups of four or a sample rate converter for
AES/EBU input signals as required. The PG16/PG8-TP is designed for sample rates up to 192 kHz. Seven different
versions are available:

• 16 microphone inputs (PG16) resp. 8 microphone inputs (PG8)

• 16 line inputs (PG16) resp. 8 line inputs (PG8)

• 16 line outputs (PG16) resp. 8 line outputs (PG8)

• 8 microphone and 8 line inputs (only PG16)

• 8 microphone inputs and 8 line outputs (only PG16)

• 8 line inputs and 8 line outputs (only PG16)

• 8 microphone inputs with two independent preamps each (only PG16)

The PG16/PG8-TP units can be used together to create SANE CAT5 Network (64 audio channels + Ethernet).
Combinations of SANE and Optocore can be done by PG16/PG8-FX and other Revolution FX devices to exchange
audio channels and Ethernet. All parameters on the converters can be controlled and monitored with the same
software application as all other ProGrid devices, OPTOCORE CONTROL software. They allow for the distribution of
various channels of I/O at the different locations throughout your digital ProGrid and/or SANE network.

The PG16/PG8-TP is especially designed for rack mounted applications and permanent installation. All cards are
equipped with Euroblock / Phoenix connectors. These common installation interfaces provide a simple and cost­efficient connection with other audio equipment.

The PG16-TP with the dual microphone input card removes the problem where only one of the FOH or Monitor
engineers can have full gain control of a single microphone input channel. Every microphone input incorporates two
independent microphone preamps meaning both can be adjusted individually. Therefore, analogue split boxes with
two stage racks to give FOH and monitor engineers the freedom to adjust their mic preamps directly at their own
console can be a thing of the past.

The PG16/PG8-TP with analogue mic input, line input and line output cards allow customised I/O configuration per
device. Two/one card slots can be equipped with different cards, so six combinations with 16 inputs, 16 outputs or 8
inputs and 8 outputs can be assembled for the PG16 according to the customer’s requirements.

The microphone inputs include a high quality microphone preamp, phantom power and selectable gains in 1 dB
steps from -4 dB to +66 dB at a maximum input level of 22 dBu. The line inputs are equipped with selectable
maximum channel levels of 27 dBu, 22 dBu, 18 dBu, 8 dBu and the line output with a selectable maximum channel
level of 22 dBu, 18 dBu, 12 dBu, 8 dBu. The high quality preamps, A/D- and D/A converters make the PG16 units
ideal for the incorporation into audio systems even if no ProGrid network is present. They provide a wide dynamic
range with negligible distortion and extremely low noise.

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

When using the PG16/PG8-TP as a SANE Network device the two AES/EBU ports can be changed to inputs or
outputs in groups of four and the AES/EBU channels can be exchanged between SANE and the I/O cards.

When using it as standard PG16/PG8 converter the digital signals are split as well. The second port allows the re­transmission of the analogue inputs together with any incoming AES/EBU signals to other devices with digital
interfaces.

The Word Clock IN and OUT connections enable the synchronisation of the units to an external source and are used
to pass the word clock from one unit to the next. For stand-alone applications, the devices are equipped with an
internal word clock.

Up to 24 TP devices can be used in one SANE CAT5 Network transmitting 64 audio inputs to unlimited outputs +
100MBit Ethernet. It is possible to connect PG16/PG8-TP via FX devices to an OPTOCORE fibre network to
exchange audio, Ethernet and Gain control from different consoles.

Up to four PG16-TP can be connected to the four principle ports of one PG32-AES-FX enabling the exchange of 32
AES/EBU signals (64 channels) and control data. The ports include two control data channels. The PG16/PG8-TP
units can be operated and controlled via the ProGrid network with OPTOCORE CONTROL software without the
need for any external data cable. For control in stand-alone applications, USB, RS232 or LAN ports on the front /
rear panels can be used.

The FPGA (field programmable gate array) based concept of the internal logic circuitry allows updating of the
firmware ensuring a continual state-of-the-art device. OPTOCORE CONTROL software provides all conf ig urati on
and control tools including naming, gain setting, and phantom power activation for attached devices, storage and
recall of configurations on the computer, off- and online operational modes, as well as real-time level display of the
individual channels when in online mode.

The LEDs on the front panel of the PG16/PG8-TP units allow an instant overview regarding the status of each
channel. They indicate if audio is present on a channel, if a user defined or peak level is reached and the activation
of the phantom power per channel.

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide

3 Card Types

Four types of cards with Euroblock / Phoenix connectors can be incorporate d into the card s lots

• 8 microphone inputs

• 8 line inputs

• 8 line outputs

• 8 microphone inputs with two independent preamps each

The PG16/PG8-TP is shipped preconfigured with I/O cards according to the order placed with ProGrid.

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PG16-TP and PG8-TP User Guide