ClearOne BMA CT Quick Start Manual

BMA CT

Beamforming Mic Array - Ceiling-Tile

Quick-Start Guide

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ......................................... 1

THE BMA CT .................................................................................. 2

QUICK-START OVERVIEW ............................................................ 3

CONNECTING THE ARRAYS ........................................................ 4

I/O COnneCtIOns .............................................................................. 4

P-LInk COnneCtIOns .......................................................................... 6

UPDATING ARRAY FIRMWARE .................................................... 8

TESTING THE ARRAYS ................................................................. 8

VOLume & mute ................................................................................ 8

mICrOPhOne ArrAy LeD InDICAtOrs ................................................... 8

mICrOPhOne ArrAy OrIentAtIOn ......................................................... 9

MOUNTING THE ARRAYS ........................................................... 10

PLenum shIeLD wIth seIsmIC CAbLes ................................................. 10

PLenum shIeLD InstALLAtIOn ............................................................. 11

seIsmIC CAbLes ............................................................................... 12

COMPLIANCE .............................................................................. 13

PArt numbers ................................................................................ 13

suPPOrteD COnVerGe PrO 2 ...................................................... 13

ISOMETRIC DIAGRAMS.............................................................. 14

SUPPORTED CONVERGE PRO 2 ............................................... 15

Table of Contents

QUICK-START GUIDE

1

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type
plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A
grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The
wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided
plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of
the obsolete outlet.

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

11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

12. Unplug the array during lightning storms or when unused
for long periods of time.

13. Refer all servicing to qualified service
personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power­supply cord 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.

BMA CT

22

THE BMA CT

The BMA CT is a 2nd-generation Beamforming Microphone Array
solution for ceiling-tile installations, featuring 24 microphones, and
beamforming and adaptive-steering technology (think of it as smart
beam selection) designed specifically for the CONVERGE® Pro 2 (CP2)
products: 128, 128D, 128T, 128TD, 128V, 128VD, 128VT, 128VTD, 120,
, 48T, 48VT, 48VTD, and 48V. The arrays connect with the CONVERGE
Pro 2 through a Peripheral Link (P-Link) port with either Regular (200 ft.)
or Long Distance (650 ft.) P-Link cables. Three arrays are supported per
CP2 via either regular or long-distance P-Link, and up to 6 arrays can be
daisy-chained in one regular P-Link chain with a stack of two CP2 mixers.
Power to the arrays is supplied through a Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE)
or P-Link connection from CP2. The array comes in both a 24-inch and
600mm size. There is also an adapter that converts the 600mm version
to 625mm.

IMPORTANT: The BMA CT arrays can only be used with CP2
systems. It is not compatible with CONVERGE Pro or first­generation Beamforming Mic Array systems.

The latest version of the CP2 firmware and software can be found on the
ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resource-product-line?pid=1029

The latest version of the BMA CT firmware and Installation Guide can be
found on the ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resource-product-line?pid=1030

QUICK-START GUIDE

3

QUICK-START OVERVIEW

Installing and using the BMA CT arrays in your CP2 site is subject to the
following parameters:

1. The arrays can only be used with CP2 systems.

2. You must have a 128, 128D, 128T, 128TD, 128V, 128VD, 128VT,
128VTD, 120, 48T, 48VT, 48VTD, and/or 48V. mixer in the site. The
arrays will not work with standalone 012, 128SR, or 128SRD units.

3. Connect up to 3 arrays (current) per CP2 unit, and up to 6 arrays
per Regular P-Link chain with 2 CP2 unit stack. More CP2 units may
be added to increase the number of arrays per site.

Quick-Start ProcedureS

These steps must be done in the following order to use the BMA CT in
your CONVERGE Pro 2 site:

1. Update the CONVERGE Pro 2 firmware to the latest version using
CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE software.

2. Connect the array to the updated CONVERGE Pro 2 via the P-Link
bus.

3. Update the array firmware using CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE.
(The array firmware can not be upgraded without an updated
CONVERGE Pro 2.)

4. Test the array.

5. Mount the array.

BMA CT

4

Power-source

selection switch

Speakers out

P-Link

In

P-Link

Out

PoE

In

4

CONNECTING THE ARRAYS

Connect the BMA CT units to the CP2 unit via P-Link connections using
CAT6-24AWG solid conductor RJ45 cables.

The arrays must be powered by an external PoE source that supports
Mode B type power delivery. (A PoE Network Switch generally will not
work for this.) A PoE injector can either be connected to P-Link PoE port
on the rack-mounted CP2 unit, or it can be connected directly to the ar­ray’s PoE In port.

When driving 2x10W speakers, each array requires its own PoE injector.

When the PoE injector is connected to the CP2 unit’s P-Link PoE port, the
CP2 unit’s P-Link Out port will provide both power and data communica­tions to the array. If the PoE injector is connected directly to the array PoE
In port, a second cable must be connected from the CP2 unit’s P-Link
Out port to the array P-Link In port. (Note that the CP2 unit itself does not
provide PoE power without an external PoE injector.)

i/o connectionS

QUICK-START GUIDE

5

QUICK-START GUIDE

5

ClearOne PoE power supply part number 910-3200-202 is recom­mended, and will power up to three P-Link devices. Some third-party PoE
injectors will work, but not all. Mode B PoE injectors that meet the PoE
IEEE 802.3at specification should power three devices.

See also this app note:

http://www.clearone.com/sites/default/files/PoE_and_CP2_P-link_Periph­eral_Products.pdf

The power-source-selection switch should be set towards PoE if the array
is powered by PoE, or set towards P-Link if powered by P-Link.

SPeaker uSage

When driving 2x10W speakers, each array requires its own PoE injector.
Set the “Power Select” switch to “PoE In” when the speaker outputs will
be used.

BMA CT

6

PoE

P-Link

P-Link

Connecting 3 BMA CT units to one CP2 Unit.

P-Link cables can vary in length up to 200 ft

BMA CT requires its own PoE (IEEE 802.3at-compliant)
if speakers are driven

P-Link

(Power, Audio, Control)

CONVERGE Pro 2

PoE

PoE

PoE

2 x 10W

speakers

2 x 10W

speakers

2 x 10W

speakers

P-Link connectionS

QUICK-START GUIDE

7

PoE

PoE

Connecting 3 BMA CT units and 3 P-Link
compatible devices to one CP2 unit.

P-Link

(Power, Audio, Control)

CONVERGE Pro 2

Up to 200 ft.

P-Link

Up to 200 ft.

P-Link

Up to 200 ft.

P-Link

Up to 200 ft.

P-Link

Up to 200 ft.

BMA CT

88

UPDATING ARRAY FIRMWARE

1. Connect the P-Link cable between the CP2 units and the arrays.

2. Connect the CP2 units with CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE.

3. Open the Firmware Loader screen.

4. Browse for the BMA_CT_vx.x.x.x.mdo file.

5. Download the array firmware.

6. The array(s) will default and reboot after the download of firmware.

7. Units are fully upgraded. (All array units connected via the P-Link on
the site are simultaneously updated.)

TESTING THE ARRAYS

The array must be added to the site using the CONVERGE Pro 2
CONSOLE software. This software also provides the capability of
configuring the beams (enable/disable) and other characteristics
available in Configuration mode. Refer to the online help available with
the CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE software.

VoLume & mute

These controls are available through the controller configured for your
CONVERGE Pro 2 site.

microPhone array Led indicatorS

The illuminated LED indicators on the face of the array change color
when the microphone array is active/muted. You can choose colors to
indicate either state, or even set the indicators to remain off by using
CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE to change Unit Properties for the array.

QUICK-START GUIDE

9

QUICK-START GUIDE

9

microPhone array orientation

The LED indicators should be oriented in the room according to the
beam selection needs for optimal coverage. The diagrams below show
the orientation of the LED indicators toward the head of the conference
table with the resulting room coverage and beam mapping shown below.
Please be certain to remove the orientation label from the perforated
room panel before use.

BMA CT

10

MOUNTING THE ARRAYS

PLenum ShieLd with SeiSmic cabLeS

If installing both the plenum shield and seismic cables, four slots of
approximately 1” length should be cut diagonally in the plenum shielding
to match the points of seismic cable attachment. Otherwise, skip this step
and go to page 11 for installation of plenum shield only or page 12 for
isntallation of seismic cables only.

QUICK-START GUIDE

11

PLenum ShieLd inStaLLation

Remove the liner from adhesive in four places on underside of shielding,
and thread cables through cut slots before attaching to ceiling.

BMA CT

12

SeiSmic cabLeS inStaLLation

The array can be ceiling-mounted in a suspended ceiling, held in place
by the standard T-BAR grid, with additional 1/8” safety (seismic) cables
(not included). Four attachment points are recommended for stability. If
installing with the plenum shield, feed cables thru slots cut in earlier step
(see Pg 10).

Detailed instructions are included in the BMA CT Installation Guide

available on the ClearOne website:

http://www.clearone.com/resource-product-line?pid=1030

QUICK-START GUIDE

13

Part Numbers

Item Part No.

White BMA CT 24” 910-3200-205

White BMA CT 600mm 910-3200-205-I

PoE Power Supply Kit 910-3200-202

50 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-50

100 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-100

150 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-150

200 Ft RJ45 CAT6 Cable 910-3200-204-200

COMPLIANCE

Details on compliance can be found on the ClearOne website under
“Resource Library”.

BMA CT

14

ISOMETRIC DIAGRAMS

Side ViewS

back View

QUICK-START GUIDE

15

© 2019 ClearOne, Inc. All rights reserved.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. QSG-0074-001 Rev 2.4 Mar 2019

Headquarters:

5225 Wiley Post Way
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Tel: [phone]
Sales: 800.707.6994

US & Canada

Tel: [phone]
Toll Free: 800.945.7730
Fax: [phone]

International

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

Sales

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

TechSupport

Tel: [phone]
e-mail: tech.support@clearone.

com

CLEARONE LOCATIONS

Supported CONVERGE Pro 2

Item Part No.

CONVERGE Pro 2 128 910-3200-001

CONVERGE Pro 2 128D 910-3200-001-D

CONVERGE Pro 2 128T 910-3200-002

CONVERGE Pro 2 128TD 910-3200-002-D

CONVERGE Pro 2 128V 910-3200-003

CONVERGE Pro 2 128VD 910-3200-003-D

CONVERGE Pro 2 128VT 910-3200-009

CONVERGE Pro 2 128VTD 910-3200-009-D

CONVERGE Pro 2 48T 910-3200-005

CONVERGE Pro 2 48V 910-3200-006

CONVERGE Pro 2 48VT 910-3200-008

CONVERGE Pro 2 48VTD 910-3200-008-D

CONVERGE Pro 2 120 910-3200-004