Clear-Com ProGrid PG32-AES-FX User Manual

PG32-AES-FX User Guide

PN: 399G088 Rev B 10/22/14

Document Reference

Clear-Com PG32-AES-FX User Guide
Part Number: 399G088 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]

Europe, Middle East, and Africa Headquarters
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Canada Office
Quebec , Canada
Tel: [phone]

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

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PG32-AES-FX 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 Front Panel .................................................................................................... 9

4 Rear Panel ................................................................................................... 11

5 Device Details .............................................................................................. 12

5.1 Fiber Optic Connection .................................................................................. 12

5.2 Principal Ports for AES/EBU .......................................................................... 12

5.3 SANE Ports ................................................................................................... 12

5.4 RS485 Auxiliary Ports ................................................................................... 12

5.5 Word Clock ................................................................................................... 12

5.6 Transmission Delay ....................................................................................... 13

5.7 Power Supply ................................................................................................ 13

6 Control ......................................................................................................... 14

6.1 Third party control ......................................................................................... 14

7 Channel Allocation: FX ............................................................................... 15

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

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

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

9.2 Optical Connection ........................................................................................ 17

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

9.4 RS232 Connection ........................................................................................ 17

9.5 RS485 Connection ........................................................................................ 17

9.6 Connector Hood Quality ................................................................................ 17

9.7 USB Connection ............................................................................................ 17

9.8 LAN-Connection ............................................................................................ 17

9.9 Word Clock-Connection ................................................................................ 17

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PG32-AES-FX User Guide

9.10 Video-Connection .......................................................................................... 18

9.11 Mains-Connection ......................................................................................... 18

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

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

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

11 Hardware Connection ................................................................................. 21

11.1 Word Clock Distribution in Stand-Alone Applications ..................................... 21

12 Connection Tables ...................................................................................... 22

13 Technical Specifications ............................................................................ 24

14 Dimensions and Weight .............................................................................. 25

15 Compliance .................................................................................................. 26

16 Warranty and Liability ................................................................................. 28

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PG32-AES-FX 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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PG32-AES-FX 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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PG32-AES-FX User Guide

2 Device Description

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 management 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.

The DIGI TAL I /O UN IT PG32-AES-FX is a digital interface device of the ProGrid Signal Transport Solution. It offers
four principal ports for connection and transport of a total of 32 AES/EBU digital audio channels i.e. 64 mono
channels. Sample rates up to 192 kHz are possible. These channels are user defined as input or output in groups of
four. Redundant fiber and/or SANE connections can be established using both of the two provided optical and CAT5
LINK-interfaces. The dual redundant ring structure provides maximum safety in a comprehensible network with an
outstanding low latency. It facilitates the use of the advantages of fiber optical transmission in all sorts of temporary
and permanent applications, especially when long distance connections and high-quality audio are required.

The PG32-AES-FX is equipped with SANE Links, Ethernet Ports and the 2 GBit optical duplex-LC Links. The device
also incl udes a word clock in- and output and bi-directional composite video interfaces. Four RS485 ports allow the
transport of a wide range of standards such as RS422, DMX, MIDI, and CAN. In addition to the audio signals a
100MBit Ethernet is transmitted by the fiber and SANE connection. The dual power supply unit, with automatic
switchover, permits a redundant power supply and safeguards against malfunctions of the unit if one power supply
fails to run.

In combination with the other ProGrid devices, the PG32-AES-FX offers a great flexibility to build the network exactly
suiting an applications need. For example, in combination with a PG16-AUDIO-FX device on stage it is the perfect
interface to a digital console at FOH. A PG32-AES-FX on stage can be used as an interface to all microphone
preamps with AES/EBU outputs. With Yamaha and ProGrid microphone preamps the PG32-AES-FX enables the
gain control of the preamps on stage from a Yamaha digital console at FOH. The PG32-AES-FX is not only an audio
interface, but also a video and data interface for a broad range of control data standards. If analogue inputs and
outputs are needed the PG32-AES-FX serves as the I/O unit for the converter units of the PG16/PG8-series.
Networks with several PG32-AES-FX and other ProGrid or SANE devices allow the transport of a huge amount of
digital data, e.g. 256 audio channels with a sample rate of 48 kHz, 32 RS485 channels and three video channels,
100MBit Ethernet (double in 2GBit fiber network). Depending on the fiber optic transceivers, distances from 700 m
up to 70 km can be covered (100m by SANE).

Redundant fiber connections can be established using the two provided LC multimode or singlemode 2 GBit optical
LINK-interfaces. The dual redundant ring structure provides maximum safety in a network with an outstanding low
latency. It facilitates the use of the advantages of fiber optical transmission in all sorts of temporary and permanent
applications, especially when long distance connections and high-quality audio are required.

The PG32-AES-FX and PG16-AUDIO-TP/PG8-AUDIO-TP devices can be used together in a SANE CAT5 Network
(64 audio channels + Ethernet). Combinations of SANE and OPTOCORE (up to 1024 channels) can be made with
the PG32-AES-FX and other Revolution FX devices to exchange audio channels, Ethernet and Gain Control. All
parameters on the I/O Module 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 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.

The PG32-AES-FX without the need for any external data cable. For control the USB, RS232 or LAN ports on the

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PG32-AES-FX User Guide

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 configuration
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 PG32-AES-FX allow an instant overview regarding the status of each channel.

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PG32-AES-FX User Guide

3 Front Panel

Word Clock LED: Indicates the selected word clock source:

INT: Internal word clock
BNC: External via BNC Input
NET: Word clock received from network

AES status LED: Indicates that the entire port (exit on the rear panel) is ready for data

transmission of:
LED ON: AES/EBU digital audio
LED OFF: Data
Out LED: Configuration of channels 1-4 or 5-8:
LED ON: Outputs
LED OFF: Inputs
ACT LED Signal status of channels 1-4 or 5-8:
LED ON: At least one signal is present
LED OFF: No signal is present

AUDIO LINK: Indicates the audio link status

SL1: Communication is established via SANE 1 (rear panel)
SL2: Communication is established via SANE 2 (rear panel)
OL1: Communication is established via ProGrid LINK 1 (rear panel)

OL2: Communication is established via ProGrid LINK 2 (rear panel)

System status

Master LED: Indicates the master unit
OPTO LED: OPTOCORE communication is established
SANE LED: SANE communication is established

Device ID Display: Indicates the identification number of the device

HEALTH LED: Green: Power supply is correctly working, temperature is below the limit

PWR 1 LED: Power supply 1 is working correctly
PWR 2 LED: Power supply 2 is working correctly

USB plug and LED: USB connection for remote control via PC

Green: Indicates data activity

RS232 plug: D-Sub-9 RS232 connection for remote control and update via PC

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PG32-AES-FX User Guide