Rane ECS User Manual

ECB 62e Base & Security Cover
ECM 82e Mixer & Security Cover
EC S HAR DWARE MAN UAL ECS
ENGINEERED CONFERENCE SYSTEMS
Quick Start
The ECS Operating Manuals are split into two booklets — one for ECS hardware and one for RaneWare® software. Neither booklet includes service information. Should any unit require repair, contact the Rane factory. Telephone, fax and web info is on the rear of this manual.
Typically, only one ECM 82eA (with AEC) is required per system. If your system requires more than eight mics, you can add up to five ECM 82e Mixers (without AEC) for a total of 48 mics. The QuickAdapt™ algorithm allows a single AEC to operate the entire system. When using a single AEC with multiple mixers, daisy-chain the ECM 82e Mixers together using MIX OUT to MIX IN. The last mixer in the chain and the one that connects to the MIX 1 input on the ECB 62e must be the ECM 82eA. Only the ECM 82eA requires its AEC Reference input to be connected to the Mono output on the ECB 62e. See RW Manual-17.
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) type teleconfer­encing, also know as phone add-on, requires an additional Digital Hybrid. The Rane ECM 64e Conference System with its DH 1e Digital Hybrid module can be added to provide phone add-on support to the ECB 62e. If remote diagnostics is desired, then add a Rane RPD 1 Programming & Diagnostics unit or the Rane Via 10 Ethernet Bridge.
Since ECS is a programmable audio system, it must first be programmed before it can pass audio. When power is first applied to the ECB 62e, memory is set with all outputs muted. For a typical system configuration, recall Memory 1 and inputs will be routed to outputs. To further simplify this process, just recall Memory 16 and you are ready to adjust mic levels. See RW Manual-21 for system setup procedures. For more information there are four system applications in the RaneWare Operators Manual.
Most echo problems are caused by improper microphone placement and gain. To achieve good AEC performance, the microphones must be properly set up, as shown on page RW Manual-19 (in the ECS RaneWare Manual).
WEAR PARTS: This product contains no wear parts.
ECS Hardware Manual
This manual begins by explaining the options and internal settings for each unit, since all optional accessories must be installed and all internal jumpers set before installation of the units into equipment racks. Next are detailed descriptions of the front and rear panel features, followed by detailed block diagrams and discussions, as well as diagrams showing the signal flow making up the critical “offsets,” or thresholds used by ECS. Then comes instructions on Power, Audio & Data Connections, as well as how to set each unit’s Device Address. Complete electronic and mechanical specifications are found in the Data Sheet.
Information on installing and running the control software is found in the second booklet: ECS RaneWare Operators Manual.
Contents
CUSTOMIZING ECS.................................................... 2
ECB 62e BASE ............................................................. 3
ECS 62 STEREO EXPANSION MODULE ............. 6
ECM 82e MIXER .......................................................... 7
ECA 2 ECHO CANCELLER MODULE ...................10
POWER, AUDIO, AND DATA CONNECTIONS ..11
SETTING THE DEVICE ADDRESS ........................13
U.S. Patent 5,848,146 on all Rane ECS products Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation RaneWare is a registered trademark of Rane Corporation
HW Manual-1
CUSTOMIZING ECS
Before installing ECS components, there are a few options
that need to be determined first. All but one of these require
removing the top covers before installation.
ECS 62 STEREO EXPANSION MODULE
See the description and installation diagram of the ECS 62 Stereo Expansion module into the ECB 62e Base on page HW Manual-6. The ECS 62 installs by seating the card onto factory installed standoffs on the motherboard.
ECB 62e BASE WITH BOTH STEREO & MONO PORTS
The ECB 62e Base and ECS 62 Stereo Expansion module are shipped with jumpers in the stereo position. Both mono and stereo sources may be used by changing the Mono Jumper blocks as described on page HW Manual-6.
Mono Input signals must be wired to both the Left and Right Inputs of the Base. Both Left and Right Port Outputs produce the same mono signal. See Figure 1 below, and page HW Manual-12 for mono source cable wiring.
Only the bottom ports (Right Channel) are monitored by the Base. Therefore, threshold detection and metering are not operational from the ECS 62.
ECM 82eA MIXERS WITH AEC
Systems may or may not require an AEC. Systems that do require an AEC are those that require teleconferencing. Although most video codec's have an AEC, their AEC typically cannot operate with auto-mixers. It is always best to use the ECM 82eA with a video codec. Systems not requiring an AEC are those that only require speech reinforcement.
There are times you may wish to install multiple ECM 82eA’s. These are systems with a group of table microphones where the General or Chairperson sits, and a group of ceiling microphones or a gallery area. For these types of systems you may want to set the table's ECM 82eA to soft suppression and the other ECM 82eA to moderate or strong suppression. For these types of systems connect each MIX OUT of the ECM 82eA to its respective MIX # input on the ECB 62e.
ECM 82e MIXER POST-GATE/PRE-GATE SWITCH
When installing a sound system with zones, it’s best to use a Post-Gate mix of the Mics to create a Zone from the AUX Output. This maintains the NOMM level for the Mixer. See Applications - System 4 in the RaneWare Operators
Manual.
RaneWare note: the AUX Output is not turned On or Off from the Mixer Output control.
This switch is set to Post-Gate at the factory. For installa-
tions requiring recording, place this switch in the Pre-Gate position. This provides a more natural sounding recording.
This switch is located inside the ECM 82e Mixer. See the diagram on page HW Manual-10.
ECM 82 MIXER PRE-AEC/POST-AEC SWITCH
Under normal circumstances a single AEC is used for the entire system. When using a single AEC with multiple mixers, daisy-chain the ECM 82e Mixers together using MIX OUT to MIX IN. The last mixer in the chain and the one that connects to the MIX 1 input on the ECB 62e must be the ECM 82eA. For this type of configuration the MIX IN switch on the ECM 82eA must be placed in its PRE-AEC position. Rane ships the MIX IN switch on the ECM 82e in PRE-AEC position.
The ECM 82e Mixer is shipped with the MIX IN (on the rear panel) being mixed with the microphones before the Echo Canceller. The internal MIX INPUT switch allows the MIX IN to be combined with the microphone signals before the Echo Canceller, thus providing echo cancellation to the microphones of the upstream Mixer. To change to the Mix Input to the pre-Echo Canceller setting, set the internal MIX INPUT switch to the POST-AEC position. See the diagram on page HW Manual-10 to locate the switch.
HW Manual-2
Figure 1. ECB 62e Base with both Stereo and Mono Ports
ECB 62e BAS E
PORT 2 PORT 3 PORT 4 PORT 5 PORT 6
PORT 1 PORT 2 PORT 3 PORT 5 PORT 6
THE BASE
82e Mixers. The Base consists of a six port audio bridge, with an optional internal ECS 62 Stereo Expansion module. The Base can be used by itself as a six-by-six Port line-level audio mixer and router. Bridging bases together creates more Ports.
ware controls are printed in bold san-serif type like this. See the RaneWare Operators Manual for complete details.
AUDIO BRIDGE
audio devices—thus the term six Port audio bridge. See Figure 2 above. Each Input Port has both a hardware 10 dB PAD switch on the front panel and software programmable Input Attenuation controls. Each Output Port, except Port 5, consists of a program selectable five input Audio Mixer/ Router and programmable Output Attenuation controls, as shown in Figure 3. Port 5 has a program selectable six input
Audio Mixer/Router. This type of configuration for Ports 1-4 and 6 prevents the connection of an Input to its Output, avoiding a possible feedback condition.
PORT 1
contains a six input line summer, connecting up to six Mixers. All mics in the room are connected to this Port through the ECM 82e Mixers. This Port contains a six input line mixer, connecting up to six ECM 82e Mixers. See Figure 3.
It is designated as the Program Port, delivering audio to the room sound system. It has both a balanced Right channel and a summed Mono Output of Right and Left. An installed ECS 62 Stereo Expansion Module delivers the balanced Left channel. The Mono Output connects to the Echo Canceller Reference on all ECM 82e Mixers.
STATUS SIGNALS
62e front panel) contains the following Status indicators – all of which can be obtained via RS-232 based room control devices. (In the ECB 62e Device Control Language of the
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
PORT 1
PORT 3 PORT 4
PORT 1
OUT OUT OUT
PORT 5 PORT 6
PORT 1
PORT 2 PORT 3
PORT 4
OUT OUT OUT
PORT 4 PORT 6 PORT 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 6
PORT 2
PORT 5
PORT 1 PORT 2 PORT 4 PORT 5 PORT 6
PORT 1 PORT 2 PORT 3 PORT 4 PORT 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Figure 2. ECB 62e Audio Bridge Figure 3. Port 1 Selection and Control
The ECB 62e Base is the master controller of the ECM
All functionality is controlled through RaneWare. Soft-
The audio bridge allows the connection of six full-duplex
The Port 1 Input is different from all other Ports. This Port
The Output of Port 1 is also different from all other Ports.
The top center of the ECS software screen (and the ECB
INPUT
PORT 3
PORT 6
PORT 2 (CODEC) PORT 3 (AUX 1) PORT 4 (AUX 2) PORT 5 (VCR) PORT 6 (PHONE)
SELECTS
PORT 1
OUTPUT
LEVEL
data
OUTPUT
ATTENUATION &
OUTPUT BUTTON
OFF = MUTE
RaneWare Operators Manual-29 refer to the RW 232 Com­mand Get OPSTAT.)
The three Signal indicators – Program, Port and Mic – are used within ECS to identify the current audio state of the system, i.e., where audio is present or absent. The patented performance advantages and much of ECS’s automatic functionality is derived from the system being aware of these indicators’ current state.
Program Signal indicator (PGS LED on the ECB 62e)
The Program indicator lights whenever audio is detected at the Port 1 (Program) Output, thus indicating that audio should be heard in the room. (If P3 Prog Contribute on the System tab is checked, both Port 1 and Port 3 Outputs are used to “sense” Program audio.
Port Signal indicator (PTS LED on the ECB 62e)
The Port indicator lights whenever audio is detected at any Port Input whose Signal Mode is set to Automatic. This includes mixer audio entering Port 1.
Mic Signal indicator (MCS LED on the ECB 62e)
This lights whenever audio is detected at any Active Mic whose Mic Mode is set to Automatic.
Advanced auto power down example: Use the room controller to monitor the Port and Mic Signal indicators. When either is present, reset the power down timer that eventually shuts down the system thus saving the projector bulb, the associated power bill and actually save money!
Master Port
Identifies the current Master Port, which is the Port that most recently detected audio. Use Master Port Delay on the System tab for multipoint video applications.
Master Mic
Identifies the current Master Mic, which is the Mic that most recently detected audio. A Master Mic is a status signal generated when audio is detected at a Mic Input for a period of time longer than the Master Mic Delay timer setting. If an Input is assigned as Last On, and audio is detected for a period longer than the Master Mic Delay timer, that Input becomes the Master and remains on until a new Input takes over. The old Master Mic then releases and returns to its set Gate Depth. Use Master Mic Delay on the System tab for video-follows-audio applications.
PROGRAM OUT
HW Manual-3
ECB 62e Base - Front Panel Description
INPUT SIG level indicator: Lights when the Input signal on any Port, before trim, is above -25 dBu. Use this to check
signal flow.
INPUT OL level indicator: Lights when the Input signal on any Port, before trim, is within 2 dB of clipping.
OUTPUT SIG level indicator: Lights when the Output signal on any Port is above -25 dBu. Use this to check signal flow.
OUTPUT OL level indicator: Lights when the Output signal on any Port is above 6 dBu.
INPUT PADs: Ports 2 through 6 have switch selectable 0 or –10 dB attentuation. Use –10 dB for pro audio devices with
0 dBu or greater output levels.
SYSTEM STATUS INDICATOR—MASTER PORTS: Displays the current Master Port. It is also used by the PORT
STEP button (see ) to display the current Port monitored by the LEVEL Meter.
EXP status indicator: EXPansion port data - Lights when receiving data from the ECM 82e Mixers.
PTS status indicator: PorT Signal - Lights when audio is detected at any Port.
MCS status indicator: MiC Signal - Lights when audio is detected at any Mic Input from any ECM 82e Mixer.
PGS status indicator: ProGram Signal - Lights when audio is detected at any Port Output.
LEVEL: VU meter Selectively displays all Port Inputs and Port 1 and 3 Outputs by using the PORT STEP (see ). This is
also an error display:
-3 by itself indicates an RW 232 receive parity error. 0 by itself indicates an Expansion Network overflow. +6 by itself indicates an RW 232 overflow. During power-up initialization, this flashes until the system is ready.
If this keeps flashing longer than 10 seconds, RAM may be damaged. The ECB 62e needs servicing. If this illuminates steadily, the system has overflowed. To remedy, cycle the power off, then back on.
PORT STEP button: Pressing this for 1 second causes the MASTER PORT STATUS LED to flash the currently moni-
tored port for the LEVEL meter. If this button is pressed and held for 5 seconds, the monitored Port can be incremented by pressing the button in 1 second steps. The MASTER PORT STATUS LEDs will step Port 1 thru Port 6 Inputs (LED 1-6), then back for the Port 1 Output (LED 1), then the Port 3 Output (LED 3), and then returning back to Port 1’s Input (LED 1).
COM indicator: flashes randomly when receiving valid data from the control system or PC. If the DEVICE ADDRESS is
not within a valid range (1-250), this LED flashes steadily at ½ second intervals.
POWER indicator: Lights when the Base’s operating system is running.
HW Manual-4
ECB 62e Base - Rear Panel Description
PORT 1 MIXER INPUTS: MIX 1 thru MIX 6 connect to the MIX OUTs of the ECM 82e Mixers via the 12-pin
Euroblock.
PORT INPUTS: P2 thru P6 connect to balanced line sources via this 15-pin Euroblock. When the ECS 62 Stereo Option
card is installed, these are the Right channel Inputs. See page HW Manual-6.
ECS 62 PORT INPUTS: Connects the Left channel Inputs. See page HW Manual-6.
PORT OUTPUTS: This 8-pin Euroblock provides P1, P1 MONO and P2 Outputs, and the 12-pin Euroblock provides P3
thru P6. (P1 MONO is used for the ECM 82e Echo Canceller Reference.) When the ECS 62 Stereo Option card is installed, these are the Right channel Outputs.
ECS 62 PORT OUTPUTS: Connect the Left channel P1 and P2 Outputs from the 8-pin Euroblock, while P3 thru P6 are
delivered from the 12-pin Euroblock. (P1 Mono Not Applicable—available at .)
ECS EXPANSION port: This RJ12 mod jack and cable (included) is an Expansion data interface to control and communi-
cate with the ECM 82e Mixers. This proprietary high speed data interface cannot be used with non-ECS products. During power-up of the Base, all connected Mixers are polled, then sent their respective data, from the Base’s non-volatile memory. The Base then polls the Mixers at one minute intervals checking for dropped or added mixers. If found, the Base resets.
RW 232 CONTROL - DEVICE ADDRESS: Sets the RW 232 address for the ECB 62e. Each RW 232 unit requires a
different address. If the RW 232 Control Device Address is set to an invalid address, the COM LED continually flashes. The Device Address can be changed without power cycling the unit. See page HW Manual-13.
RW 232 CONTROL - INPUT: This DB-9 female connects to the RS-232 output of the controller (or PC), or the OUTPUT
of another RW 232 unit connected to the controller. Rane uses a standard RS-232 interface using Rane’s RW 232 protocol operating at 19.2 kb. Units connect by daisy-chaining the products on a serial bus, OUTPUT to INPUT.
RW 232 CONTROL - OUTPUT: This DB-9 male connects to downstream RW 232 units.
POWER input jack: This 5-pin DIN connects to the included RS 3 power supply, or daisychained with the Power Loop
cable from the ECM 82e connected to the RS 3 power supply. Warning! Connect the power supply DIN connector to the Base BEFORE connecting to AC power, otherwise damage may occur. See page HW Manual-11. A maximum of 3 units
may be daisy chained off of one RS 3 power supply (1 ECB 62e Base and 2 ECM82e Mixers or 3 ECM 82e Mixers).
ECB 62e Installation Notes
If an ECS 62 Stereo card is to be installed in the ECB 62e, install the required mono jumper on the ECB 62e mother
board before installing the ECS 62 (see page HW Manual-6).
The ECS Expansion port is the control between the ECB 62e and the ECM 82e’s. Using the supplied RJ12 cable
connect the ECM 82es to the ECB 62e. Note: The ECM 82e’s do not use RW 232 addressing. The ECS address for the ECM 82es determines the Mic number on the ECM 82e. ECS address 1 is Mixer 1, Mics 1 thru 8. ECS address 6 is Mixer 6, Mics 41 thru 48. Only use termination on the last Mixer when using four or more Mixers. ECS termination is located inside the ECM 82e.
HW Manual-5
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