Vaux Electronics LE-800-A Owners manual

Lattis Matrix Switcher

1600 and 800 Series Owner’s Manual

Publication M-LE-00

Manual Revision Jan 2003

Software Version 6.4

Model Number: ___________________

Serial Number: ___________________

Date Purchased: ___________________

Place of Purchase: ___________________

2

For more information, visit our web site: www.vauxelectronics.com
or email us: [e-mail]

Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Mesa, Arizona, USA
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

©1998-2003 Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Portions ©1994-1998 Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Printed in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved.

Aris, Lattis, MediaMation, Vaux, VauxConfig, VauxControl, VauxNet, and
VauxProtocol are trademarks of Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Other trademarks and registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

Introduction

Thank you for selecting a Vaux Lattis Matrix Switcher. These systems have been designed for the utmost in performance and
reliability. There are currently four models in the Lattis Matrix Switcher family:

LE-800A 8-source by 8-zone, audio-only LE-800AV 8-source by 8-zone, audio/video
LE-1600A 16-source by 16-zone, audio-only LE-1600V 16-source by 16-zone, video-only

The LE-800A, LE-800AV, and LE-1600A systems provides high-fidelity stereo line-level switching, zoned volume/bass/treble/muting,
programmable min/max/mute/initial-volumes, and other customizable features. The systems may be controlled using infrared remote
controls, keypads, and/or RS-232 serial control from a computer or other control system (e.g. AMX, Crestron…). The source inputs
are driven from any line-level source, while the volume-controlled zone outputs connect to power amplifiers for each stereo zone. In
the case of the LE-800AV and LE-1600V, the video switching is line-level composite video, for NTSC or PAL systems.

Matrix Switching and Zone Expansion

The Lattis Matrix Switcher is a multi-source/multi-zone audio (or audio/video) distribution and control system. A Lattis system allows
multiple audio (or audio/video) sources to be routed to multiple zones (one or more rooms). Each zone of the system has independent
control over source-selection, volume/bass/treble levels, muting, etc.

Multiple Lattis Matrix Switchers may be combined to expand the number of zones. For example, three 16x16 Lattis LE-1600A
switchers may be use to provide a 16-source by 48-zone system. The units are simply programmed to respond to different “Base­Zones,” (1, 17, and 33) allowing contiguous zone numbers from 1 to 48. A Vaux system may expand this way to a total of 255 zones.
The audio sources may be daisy-chained between multiple Lattis Matrix Switchers by ordering the optional ribbon-cable expansion kit.
If your switcher does not have the ribbon-cable option, you may use “Y-cables” to split each channel to multiple Lattis inputs, or a
“Distribution-Amp” (DA) may be used to buffer each source for driving multiple switchers. For video sources (when using a Lattis
LE-800AV or LE-1600V), a DA is not needed since each source has a buffered output which is used to connect to the video input of
the next switcher. With video signals, a Y-cable cannot be used since it is mandatory to maintain proper 75-ohm video line
impedance. You may also mix and match Lattis switchers to provide different features. For example, an 8x8 audio-only LE-800A
may be combined with an 8x8 audio/video LE-800AV, providing eight sources by sixteen zones (eight of these zones have video).

IR Remote Control and Keypad Operation

Lattis Matrix Switchers may be operated by hand-held Vaux RC-16-IR infrared (IR) remote controls. The remote controls allow
selection of A/V source, adjustment of each zone’s Volume/Bass/Treble levels, as well as system setup and programming functions.
The Vaux RC-16 remote control is easily programmed to control one specific numbered zone – the remote’s zone number may easily
be changed to move the remote to a different room. IR control from multiple rooms will require a wired or wireless IR-Repeater
system, which uses IR sensors in each room. The Vaux RC-16-IR remote may also be used to teach the Vaux control codes (for one
zone) to a third-party hand-held “learning” remote. Additionally, third-party IR-learning keypads may also be employed, using a Vaux
RC-16-IR remote to teach the Lattis commands to the keypad.

Computer Control Systems

The Lattis Matrix Switcher may be completely controlled by an attached computer, or other control system (such as AMX or Crestron)
which communicates over a serial, RS-232 connection. The host computer has complete control over A/V zone switching,
volume/bass/treble levels for each zone, etc. The Lattis system sends messages to the control system confirming actions for not only
RS-232 commands, but also for RF-, IR-, or keypad-generated commands, closing the loop on the whole system. The control system
may optionally poll periodically for system status, or may simply ignore messages for a basic command-only interface. Serial
communication uses the VauxProtocol standard, presented later in this manual.

Lattis Matrix Switcher Front Panel

Power Switch
Infrared Contol Sensor (below switch, left of logo)
Power light
Active light (one or more zones on)
Ack light (acknowledge – command accepted)
Nak light (negative acknowledge – command ignored)
Prog light (power-up testing and program-mode)

Lattis Matrix Switcher (LE-1600A) Rear Panel

A/V Source Inputs (phono jacks) — 8/16 inputs for line-level stereo audio (& composite video on 800AV/1600V).
A/V Zone Outputs (phono jacks) — 8/16 outputs for line-lev stereo audio (& composite video on 800AV/1600V).
The audio outputs are volume/bass/treble/mute controlled within the Lattis Matrix Switcher and connect to
zone power amplifiers (sized appropriately for each zone).
Optional, one or two 40-conductor ribbon cables for daisy-chaining audio sources.
IR-In jack (3.5mm phone) for connection of IR-Repeater system, or other modulated IR input.
Memory-Erase button. Careful — will restore all programmable parameters to factory settings.
I/O connector (8P8C): System-Active (5V) signal. Other connections for future use.
Ctrl-Out connector (6P6C) Expansion port for RS-232/IR daisy-chaining to Ctrl-In connector on next switcher.
Ctrl-In connector (6P6C) (see Ctrl-Out).
Control connector (9-pin DB-9-F) RS-232 serial control port..
Power connector (2.1mm connector, auto-polarity) For 12 VDC, 1 A adapter.

Parts Checklist

When unpacking your Lattis system, ensure that you have received the following:

· Lattis Matrix Switcher (LE-800A, LE-800AV, LE-1600A, LE-1600V)

· AC Adapter – 12 VDC, 1 A

· Owner’s Manual

Other components you may need:

· Vaux RC-16-IR infrared remote control(s)

· Infrared repeater system

· Keypad control system

· Source components, zone power amplifiers, speakers

· Audio/Video connecting cables

· RS-232 connecting cable

· Ribbon-cable kit for daisy-chaining audio sources to multiple switchers. The switchers must be ordered with the ribbon

connectors installed, and ordered with ribbon cable(s) for connecting two to ten switchers. An eight-source switcher uses a
single 40-conductor ribbon cable, and a sixteen-source switcher uses two ribbon cables. The audio sources connect to the
lowest switcher in the rack, and the ribbon cable(s) run vertically to provide all switchers with the input sources.

Installation

The Lattis Matrix Switcher is quite flexible, in that it can integrate with a variety of A/V devices and control systems, and may be
configured a variety of ways. Installation of the Lattis System is described below:

1. System Power: Place the Lattis Matrix Switcher near your audio/video components. Turn off the Lattis front panel switch
and plug the AC power adapter’s cable into the rear panel Power connector on the Lattis Matrix Switcher. Plug the
adapter into a standard electrical outlet — select an outlet which is not controlled by a wall switch.

2. Optional IR Input from IR Repeater Systems (modulated IR input source): Connect to the rear-panel IR-In jack, or affix
an IR emitter over the front-panel sensor.

3. Optional IR Input from IR-learning Keypads (modulated IR input source): Connect to the rear-panel IR-In jack, or affix
an IR emitter over the front-panel sensor.

4. Optional RS-232 Computer or Control System Connection: Connect your computer or control system, using a properly
wired RS-232 cable, to the 9-pin Control connector on the rear panel of Lattis Matrix Switcher System. For more
information on the VC-232 interface, refer to a later manual section.

5. Connection of A/V Source components: Plug your Audio/Video source components into the Lattis Source inputs using
appropriate cabling.

Note: Lattis Video Switchers (LE-800AV and LE-1600V) use a dual-port connector for source inputs. The video input
signal connects to the black phono jack on the Source side – the yellow phono jack above this connector provides a 75­ohm buffered output for looping the source to other destinations (such as a second switcher).

6. Connection of A/V Zone amplifiers: Connect the Lattis Zone audio outputs to power amplifiers appropriate for each zone.
For video-capable switchers, connect the video outputs to video monitors, or, for longer runs, to composite buffer
amplifiers or video modulators. Run the speaker wiring and video cables to each zone. NOTE: Do not use level-sensing
audio amp powering options — low volumes may turn the amp off.

Note: Lattis Video Switchers (LE-800AV and LE-1600V) use a dual-port connector zone outputs. Each Zone output has
two independent 75-ohm buffered output ports, allowing connection of two video cables to different destinations.

7. Power-up the system: Turn on the Lattis Matrix Switcher using the front-panel switch — a string of front-panel lights
indicates that the Switcher is running.

8. Install Two (2) “AA” batteries in the RC-16 remote control(s) (alkaline preferred).

RC-16 Remote Control

· The RC-16 Remote Control has four lighted "Mode" keys, which select one of four operating modes. Pressing a mode button
will flash the light twice and change the "Current-Mode." When non-mode buttons are pressed on the remote, the appropriate
mode light flashes to confirm the button press, as well as the Current-Mode in use. The remote acts as four totally-different
remotes in each of these modes.

· A/V is the normal mode for turning a zone on or off, selecting sources, and adjusting volume in a zone. The remote's "Current-
A/V-Zone" may be changed to correspond to the room in which the remote is located (up to 90 zones and 8 clusters may be
controlled). You may select 8 or 16 sources for the zone, depending on your system.

· Note that some RC-16 buttons are not used with Vaux Lattis switchers -- for Vaux Aris systems, you may also use the RC-16
to control source equipment using learned IR codes (play, pause, channel, digits...).

· Macro mode is not used with Lattis switchers (Aris-only).

· Lights mode is not used with Lattis switchers (Aris-only).

· Aux mode is for future use.

· Some other buttons will always switch the remote to a/v mode (regardless of the mode it was set to previously): zone, on/off,

volume, mute, shift, prog, and source-select (tuner, cd...).

· During operation or programming, pressing an incorrect button will result in an "Error" flash -- this is a flash of all four of the
lighted mode buttons on the remote (a/v, macro, lights, & aux).

· The RC-16 Remote Control uses two "AA" alkaline batteries. Battery life is typically one year, but will depend on how
frequently the remote is used. When the remote's operating range seems shorter, or operation seems intermittent or erratic, the
batteries likely need to be changed. Batteries contain nasty stuff which gets released in landfills -- to keep our groundwater
clean, please dispose of used batteries at a recycling center.

· When inserting batteries, all four mode lights flash, indicating that the stored parameters have been restored to Factory­Settings:

Current-A/V-Source 01 (tuner)
Current-A/V-Zone 01
Current-Lighting-Device 11 (X-10 address A1)
Current-Aux-Device 01

Programming the System

Setting each Zone’s Initial Volume Level (and maximum level)

When you have the system running, you will likely wish to tailor each room’s initial volume level (the level to which it first turns on).
You can also set the maximum volume of the amplifier at this point.

· Set the RC-16 remote control so you are controlling the desired zone (01 to 90).
Press the Zone button, followed by two-digits corresponding to the desired zone.
eg: Zone-0-1 will select zone 01, and Zone-1-2 will select zone 12.
This zone is saved in the remote until you change it again.

· Turn down power amp’s level control for this zone to about 25%

· Select a nominal-level source such as a CD or Tuner.

· Using the RC-16 remote control, turn the zone’s volume up to maximum.

· Adjust the power amp’s level control to the loudest level you wish the zone to reach.

· Using the RC-16 remote, turn the volume down to the desired initial (turn-on) level.

· Press Shift-FFwd on the RC-16 (Shift followed by the FFwd key).

· Repeat for other zones.

Remote Control Setup Commands (shift-pause-x):

Note: Zone must be on and unmuted to change these (zone 1-90).

shift-pause-1 Zone-Initial-Volume-To-Current (L/R levels)
shift-pause-2 Zone-Mute-Volume-To-Current (left level)
shift-pause-3 Zone-Min-Volume-To-Current (left level)
shift-pause-4 Zone-Max-Volume-To-Current (left level)
shift-pause-5 Zone-Previous-Volume-Flag-Off (zone turns on with programmed Initial Volume – normal)
shift-pause-6 Zone-Previous-Volume-Flag-On (zone turns on at previous level, saved when zone last turned off)

shift-pause-7 Zone-Audio-Mode to Mono
shift-pause-8 Zone-Audio-Mode to Stereo (normal)

shift-pause-9 Zone-Restore-Factory-Settings (Initial-Vol, etc., this zone only)

Examples (first set RC-16 to desired zone, then select a source):

- to configure a zone's maximum volume level (power amp has gain adjust):

- turn power amplifier's gain down (to perhaps 30 %)

- adjust volume, using remote control, to maximum

- adjust power amplifier's gain to loudest acceptable volume level

- to configure a zone's maximum volume level (power amp has no gain adjust):

- adjust volume, using remote control, to desired level

- press shift-pause-4 to store this volume as the Maximum-Level

- to configure a zone for a fixed initial (turn-on) volume level:

- press shift-pause-5 to turn Previous-Volume-Flag off

- adjust volume to desired level

- press shift-pause-1 to store this volume as the Initial-Level

- to configure a zone for using Previous-Volume as initial level:

- press shift-pause-6 to turn Previous-Volume-Flag on

- to configure a zone for a desired mute level:

- adjust volume to desired level

- press shift-pause-2 to store this volume as the Mute-Level

- to configure a zone for a desired minimum volume level:

- adjust volume to desired level

- press shift-pause-3 to store this volume as the Minimum-Level

- to restore a zone's programmable parameters to factory settings:

- press shift-pause-9, and reset a zone's initial/mute/min/max/tapers...

Audio/Video Operation

For all operations below, change the RC-16 remote control to the desired zone, if needed. The remote also needs to be in a/v mode for
the following operations: press the RC-16's a/v mode button to change to a/v mode (the button will flash twice). Note: the remote is
automatically placed in a/v mode when you press certain buttons.

Setting the RC-16’s Current-A/V-Zone:

· For all operations below, set the RC-16 remote so you are controlling the desired zone (01 to 90). Press the Zone button,
followed by two-digits corresponding to the desired zone -- eg: Zone-0-1 will select zone 01, and Zone-1-2 will select zone

12. This zone is saved until you change it again.

· You may also control a Cluster (a group of multiple zones that is programmed into the Lattis system), by selecting zones 91 to
98, for Clusters 1 to 8. Only certain functions are available during Cluster operation.

· You may also choose zone 00, which is a special All-Zones code. Only certain functions are available during All-Zones
operation.

· Note: the remote is automatically placed in a/v mode when you press the zone button.

Selecting a Source:

· Press an RC-16 Source button (Tuner, CD...)
Note: This will automatically place the remote in A/V mode.

· The Lattis Ack light will flash. The source is routed to the zone at the programmed Initial-Volume-Level for the zone (or, the
Previous-Volume, if the zone is so configured). If the zone is currently on, the new source will be at the current volume level.

· The Lattis Active light will be on when any zone is in use.

· If the Lattis s Nak light flashes, the requested zone is not valid for this Lattis unit. (eg: selecting zone 09 when only 01 to 08

are valid in an 8x8 switcher).

· If you have a 16-source LE-1600A or LE-1600V, you access the upper sources by pressing the Shift button, followed by a
source button:

button selects button selects

tuner source 1 shift-tuner source 9
cd source 2 shift-cd source 10
dss source 3 shift-dss source 11
vcr1 source 4 shift-vcr1 source 12
vcr2 source 5 shift-vcr2 source 13
dvd source 6 shift-dvd source 14
tape source 7 shift-tape source 15
aux source 8 shift-aux source 16

Turning the Zone Off:

· Press the RC-16’s On/Off button -- the Lattis Ack light flashes, and the zone turns off (note: pressing the On/Off button

again turns the zone on with the previous source).

· If the Lattis Nak light flashes, the requested zone is not valid for this Lattis unit.