A/Vaux PureSpectra User manual

PureSpectra HDMI Matrix Switchers
Lattis Analog-AV Matrix Switchers
PureSpectra RGS Family and
Lattis LE and CT Family
Owner’s Manual and Programming Reference
Protocol Level 12.2
(Firmware Version 12.2.x)
Aug 2013

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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For more information, visit us at: www.avaux.com
or email us: [e-mail]
A/Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Mesa, Arizona, USA
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
©1998-2013Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Portions ©1994-1998 Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Printed in the U.S.A.
All rights reserved.
PureSpectra, HDM+, Lattis, Aris, MediaMation, A/Vaux, and Vaux are trademarks of Vaux Electronics, Inc.
Other trademarks and registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies.
Model Number: ____________________________
Serial Number: ____________________________
Date Purchased: ____________________________
Place of Purchase: ____________________________

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4!
A/Vaux Matrix Switcher Models ............................................................................................................................................. 4!
PureSpectra HDM+ Switchers ...............................................................................................................................4!
Stereo-Audio Switchers..........................................................................................................................................5!
Hi-Def Component-Video Switchers ......................................................................................................................5!
Hi-Def Component-Video Switchers (CAT5)..........................................................................................................5!
Hi-Def Component-Video plus Digital-Audio Switchers (CAT5).............................................................................5!
Stereo-Audio plus HD Component-Video Switchers..............................................................................................5!
Composite-Video/Digital-Audio Switchers..............................................................................................................5!
Installation.............................................................................................................................................................................. 6!
RS-232 or Ethernet Control System Operation......................................................................................................6!
IR Remote Control and Keypad Operation ............................................................................................................7!
Multiple Switchers and Zone Expansion ................................................................................................................8!
Zones, Sources, and Groups .................................................................................................................................9!
HDMI Basics –Sources, Sinks, EDIDs, and Keys, oh my ...................................................................................10!
PureSpectra HDM+ Matrix Switchers –Out-of-the-Box Operation ......................................................................12!
PureSpectra HDM+ Matrix Switchers –Audio-Insert ...........................................................................................13!
PureSpectra HDM+ Matrix Switchers –Master-EDID..........................................................................................14!
PureSpectra HDM+ Matrix Switchers –Dumping EDID Data for a TV or AVR ...................................................15!
PureSpectra HDM+ Matrix Switchers –Setup Procedure ...................................................................................16!
Stereo-Audio Switchers........................................................................................................................................21!
Component-Video and Digital-Audio/Composite-Video Switchers –Standard Outputs ......................................21!
Component-Video Switchers –CAT-5 Outputs (CT Family)................................................................................22!
VauxProtocol ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23!
Send Commands and Receive Messages ...........................................................................................................23!
Command Rules ..................................................................................................................................................24!
Optional Command Checksums ..........................................................................................................................25!
Routing Commands & Messages ........................................................................................................................................ 26!
Volume, Mute, Balance, and EQ Commands & Messages .................................................................................................30!
Group Routing/Volume Commands & Messages:............................................................................................................... 33!
Presets & Paging-Doorchime-Camera Features ................................................................................................................. 36!
States ...................................................................................................................................................................36!
Normal Mode –State-0 ........................................................................................................................................36!
Preset-Recall Mode..............................................................................................................................................36!
Paging-Doorchime-Camera Mode .......................................................................................................................37!
State 1 to 30 Programming ..................................................................................................................................38!
Preset & Paging State Commands & Messages ................................................................................................................. 40!
Programming Commands & Messages ............................................................................................................................... 42!
Verbose-Text Commands & Messages ............................................................................................................................... 51!
Polling Commands & Messages.......................................................................................................................................... 53!
Miscellaneous Status Messages ......................................................................................................................................... 56!
Connectors for System Control............................................................................................................................................ 57!
Control Connector for RS-232 (DB-9F)................................................................................................................57!
I/O Connector (8P8C modular) ...........................................................................................................................58!
Ctrl-In & Ctrl-Out Connectors (6P6C modular)....................................................................................................59!
IR-In Connector (3.5mm) .....................................................................................................................................59!
Ribbon-Expansion Connectors (34-conductor flat ribbon) ...................................................................................59!
FCC Notice .......................................................................................................................................................................... 60!
Industry Canada Notice ....................................................................................................................................................... 60!
European CE Mark .............................................................................................................................................................. 60!
Limited Warranty.................................................................................................................................................................. 61!
Safety Information................................................................................................................................................................ 62!

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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Introduction
Thank you for selecting an A/Vaux Matrix Switcher. These systems have been designed for the utmost in
performance and reliability. There are a variety of models in the A/Vaux Matrix Switcher family, as shown
below. Our PureSpectra models provide HDMI plus optional analog AV matrix switching. The Lattis
models encompass analog AV switching for stereo audio, hi-def component-video, and digital-
audio/composite-video. Depending on model, the systems may be controlled by an Ethernet-connected
control system, via an RS-232 Serial-Port, and/or infrared remote controls/keypads.
A/Vaux matrix switchers are multi-source/multi-zone HDMI, audio and/or video distribution systems. A
matrix switcher allows multiple sources to be routed to multiple zones (one or more rooms). Each zone of
the system has independent control over source-selection, volume/bass/midrange/treble levels, muting,
and other functions.
A/Vaux Matrix Switcher Models
PureSpectra HDM+ Switchers
A/Vaux HDMI matrix switchers provide not only an intelligent routing core, but also optionally incorporate
analog-audio or digital-audio switching sections to form a complete whole-house AV distribution system.
Our PureSpectra switchers provide fast-switching full-matrix HDMI routing, with exceptional EDID and Key
management for HDTV sources and sinks, and Audio-Insert which allows different audio to be fed to any
HDMI output zone –we call this rich feature set HDM+ (HDMI-plus). Of course we support resolutions up
to 1080p/60Hz, support 3D formats, up to 36-bit deep-color, lossless Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master
Audio, and other audio formats.
Our flexible Audio-Insert feature can feed audio from either a different HDMI input, a Digital-Audio input, or
an Analog-Audio input, depending on switcher model. Models with a stereo-analog-audio section
incorporate all of the features listed in the section below; one model is also equipped with an analog-to-
digital converter (ADC) to allow stereo-audio sources to be digitized and inserted into HDMI output zones.
Models with a digital-audio section provide a versatile array for routing external inputs, or extracted HDMI
source audio inputs, and switching these signals to either external outputs, or inserting them into HDMI
zones.
All of our switchers have extensive features such as saving multiple states for Paging and Presets,
controlling multiple zones together using our Group commands, and Breakaway routing commands for
video or audio only, audio-and-video, and audio-insert.
RGS-808HDA 8-source by 8-zone HDMI, plus 8-source by 8-zone Stereo-Audio (2U)
RGS-808HDAX 8-source by 8-zone HDMI, plus 8-source by 8-zone Stereo-Audio (2U)
also incorporating analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) for the audio inputs.
RGS-808HDD 8-source by 8-zone HDMI, plus 24-source by 16-zone Digital-Audio (2U)

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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Stereo-Audio Switchers
High-fidelity stereo line-level switching, zoned volume/bass/midrange/treble/muting, paging and preset-
states, programmable min/max/mute/turn-on-volumes, EQ parametrics, and other customizable features.
The source inputs are driven from any line-level audio source, while the volume-controlled zone outputs
connect to power amplifiers for each stereo zone:
LE-808A 8-source by 8-zone (1U)
LE-1616A 16-source by 16-zone (2U)
LE-1616A-RE 16-source by 16-zone –Ribbon-Expansion option for expanding zones (2U)
Hi-Def Component-Video Switchers
These systems switch high-definition component-video to standard (phono) outputs:
LE-608HD 6-source by 8-zone – standard phono jack output (1U)
LE-1208HD 12-source by 8-zone – standard phono jack output (2U)
LE-1216HD 12-source by 16-zone – standard phono jack output (2U)
Hi-Def Component-Video Switchers (CAT5)
These systems switch high-definition component-video to CAT5 (8P8C UTP) outputs:
CT-608HD 6-source by 8-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HDRX receivers) (1U)
CT-1208HD 12-source by 8-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HDRX receivers) (2U)
CT-1216HD 12-source by 16-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HDRX receivers) (2U)
Hi-Def Component-Video plus Digital-Audio Switchers (CAT5)
These systems switch high-definition component-video plus coax digital-audio to CAT5 outputs:
CT-608HX 6-source by 8-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HXRX receivers) (1U)
CT-1208HX 12-source by 8-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HXRX receivers) (2U)
CT-1216HX 12-source by 16-zone – CAT5 output (to CT-HXRX receivers) (2U)
Stereo-Audio plus HD Component-Video Switchers
These switchers have both an 8-by-8 stereo-audio section plus a 6-by-8 component-video section, in one
chassis. Available in three flavors of component-video outputs:
LE-808AHD 8-by-8 audio, plus 6-by-8 component with standard phono jack output (2U)
CT-808AHD 8-by-8 audio, plus 6-by-8 component with CAT5 output (2U)
CT-808AHX 8-by-8 audio, plus 6-by-8 component/digital-audio with CAT5 output (2U)
Composite-Video/Digital-Audio Switchers
Video switching is line-level composite-video, for NTSC or PAL systems –these units may also be used to
switch coaxial s/pdif digital-audio:
LE-1216V 12-source by 16-zone (1U)
LE-2416V 24-source by 16-zone (1U)

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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Installation
A/Vaux matrix switchers have connections for sources, zones, and control. Either RS-232 or Ethernet
controls the switcher – infrared (IR) control may be used in addition to, or in place of, RS-232 or Ethernet.
RS-232 or Ethernet Control System Operation
Our switchers may be completely operated by a control system (such as RTI, Savant, Control-4, Crestron,
AMX, or Vantage), or a computer, which communicates over a serial RS-232 or Ethernet connection. The
host computer has complete control over A/V switching, volume/bass/midrange/treble levels for each
zone, etc. The switcher returns messages to the control system to confirm actions –messages are sent
for not only RS-232/ethernet commands, but also for IR-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 for both RS-232 and Ethernet uses
the VauxProtocol language, presented later in this manual.
Fig 1. The Control port provides an RS-232 connection. The Ctrl-In
and Ctrl-Out jacks are used when Daisy-Chaining multiple switchers.
A straight-wired DE9-M to DE9-F cable may be used to connect from a
standard computer port (only 3 pins are used, but all 9 pins may be
wired). For connection to other control systems, only wire three pins:
pin-3 is DATA-IN (from TXD), pin-2 is DATA-OUT (to RXD), and pin-5
is ground. Other pins should be left disconnected to avoid conflicts.
Fig 2. An optional Ethernet connection to a switcher. Note that
there is also a Ctrl-Out jack for Daisy-Chain use. A pushbutton
selects IP (Ethernet) or RS-232 mode.

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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IR Remote Control and Keypad Operation
A/Vaux matrix switchers may also be operated by third-party infrared (IR) remote controls or keypads,
allowing selection of A/V source, adjustment of each zone’s volume/bass/midrange/treble levels, as well
as system setup and programming functions. Vaux remote control commands are available in industry-
standard “hex” format, for importing into a remote control system of your choice. Each Vaux IR command
has an embedded zone number, to control one specific numbered zone –there is a discrete set of IR
commands for each zone, therefore each function only requires a single IR command (never a zone-then-
function or other error-prone multi-IR macro).
Infrared control systems may connect to the IR-In port on the rear-panel of a switcher (or to any one of a
rack of daisy-chained switchers), or, optionally, an IR-emitter may be placed over the front sensor (an
opening near the front-panel power switch). When connecting through the rear IR-In port (a 3.5mm two-
conductor jack), the switcher needs a modulated IR signal (not an envelope signal) as is typically provided
by infrared control systems or repeaters. A/Vaux infrared codes use a 40 KHz modulation frequency, and
the IR-In port connects to an internal emitter via a 1K drop resistor, hence it works with virtually any high-
or low-level infrared drive signal from third-party control systems.
Fig 3. The IR-In port uses an industry-standard 2-conductor, 3.5mm
jack. The tip is data, and the sleeve is ground.
Fig 4. The infrared sensor is the opening below the power switch.
Infrared control may be used simultaneously with a serial-or Ethernet-connected control system –this
allows something as simple as an IR repeater to be used for perhaps a guest room, and a full touchscreen
control system to be used in primary rooms. The main control system will also have complete knowledge
of all activity in the infrared-controlled rooms.
Using infrared to control the system allows access to up to 90 zones (the infrared commands available are
a subset of the full command set available using serial/ethernet control, called VauxProtocol). Vaux
infrared control commands are available in industry-standard “hex” format, for importing into a remote
control system of your choice. Each Vaux IR command has an embedded zone number, to control one
specific numbered zone –there is a discrete set of IR commands for each zone, therefore each function
only requires a single IR command (never a zone-then-function or other error-prone multi-IR macro).
There is also a selection of all-zone-routing, general, and setup commands, which have a zone number of
zero. You will find our IR command set at avaux.com under the Technical tab.

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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Multiple Switchers and Zone Expansion
Multiple matrix switchers may be combined to expand the number of zones. For example, three 16x16
Lattis LE-1616A switchers may be used to provide a 16-source by 48-zone system. The units are simply
programmed to respond to different “Base-Zones,” (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 analog-audio sources may be
daisy-chained between multiple Lattis Matrix Switchers by ordering the optional ribbon-cable expansion kit
(-RE option). 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. With digital-audio (s/pdif coax) or analog-video (component or composite)
signals, a Y-cable cannot be used since it is mandatory to maintain proper 75-ohm coax line impedance,
and you must use a DA to split sources. You may also mix and match A/Vaux switchers to provide
different features. For example, a 16x16 audio-only LE-1616A may be combined with a 12x16
component-video LE-1216HD. These switchers may be “daisy-chained” and driven from only one control
port. The audio and video may be switched together, or independently (aka breakaway).
Multiple A/Vaux switchers may be combined for up to 255 audio and/or video zones. Switchers may be
Daisy-Chained together with short modular cables, allowing an entire rack of A/Vaux switchers to be
controlled using a single RS-232-Serial, Ethernet, or Infrared port.
Fig 5. A Daisy-Chained switcher. Ethernet or RS-232 Control
connects to the first switcher (and/or infrared). A short 6-conductor,
straight-wired, modular cable connects the Ctrl-Out port of the first
switcher, to the Ctrl-In port of the next switcher. Any number of
switchers may be connected. The daisy-chain provides bi-directional
data as well as one-way infrared control to all switchers.
Fig 6. The Ribbon-Expansion option simplifies audio cabling. Up to
ten switchers may be have their sources paralleled via the ribbon
cables.

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Zones, Sources, and Groups
Each room that needs audio/video will be driven from an output Zone on the A/Vaux switcher. Each zone
can independently select any input Source, each zone can have the same, or different, source for audio
or video, and each analog-audio zone has full volume/bass/midrange/treble/mute capability. Each HDMI
output zone can have audio inserted from multiple sources, or can be muted.
Single-command control of multiple audio and/or video zones at a time is provided using zone Groups.
Groups can be used with adjoining areas that would normally have the same source selection, such as the
Master-Bedroom/Master-Bath, or Foyer/Great-Room/Dining-Room/Lavatory. Separate switcher zone
outputs drive each room. Group commands provide source-selection for all zones in the group, and
simultaneous analog-audio-volume adjustment of all zones in the group. Zone commands can also be
used should you need control of individual room analog-audio-volume as well as the master group (multi-
room) volume. Groups can also be used within a room, such as when a powered subwoofer augments the
main audio system. Both the subwoofer and the main audio amps are driven from separate zones, and
hence have individual volume control with zone commands. Group commands will provide master source-
selection, volume control, and muting. The group commands allow selection of up to eight consecutive
zones, starting at any zone (in 8-zone increments), so you should design your system such that rooms to
be grouped start at zone 1, 8, 16, 24, etc. There is no limit to the number of groups, since the definition is
embedded in the command.

A/Vaux Electronics, Inc. Matrix Switcher Manual 12.2
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HDMI Basics – Sources, Sinks, EDIDs, and Keys, oh my
For those new to HDMI matrix switching, we’ll start with some terminology: in an HDMI system a source
is called, well, simply a source,and connects, of course, to our A/Vaux matrix switcher Source inputs. The
switcher's Zone outputs connect to what is called a sink device. The switcher in the middle of it all is
called a repeater.
>>> If you are connecting a zone to only a TV panel, the TV is the sink for both video and audio
(there is one sink on this zone, and it will require a key, which is something we will discuss shortly).
>>> If you connect the zone output first to an AVR (AV Receiver), and then connect the AVR output to
the TV, the AVR is the audio sink device, and the TV is used only as the video sink. Technically
the AVR is also a repeater, but for our purposes we just need to know that there are two sinks on
the switcher’s output zone, both of which will require a key (more on this in a moment).
HDMI source devices are said to be upstream devices, and HDMI sink devices are considered to be
downstream devices. The downstream sinks need to provide information to the upstream sources, to tell
the sources just which capabilities are supported by the sink. This sink-provided data is called EDID
(extended display identification data). This is an expansion of the EDID system used by computer
monitors for years. The sink EDIDs provide information about video resolutions supported (eg:
1080p/60Hz, 1080p/24Hz, 720p…), whether video options are supported (such as 3D or deep color
modes), the type of audio formats available (2-Channel-PCM-Stereo, surround modes such as Dolby-
Digital, DTS…), and some other stuff like manufacturer ID, product-name, etc.
One thing to keep in mind is that unless you are simply using one model of TV (and, optionally, AVR) on
every output zone of the switcher, you will have different video and audio capabilities being reported in the
EDIDs of all of the downstream devices connected to the A/Vaux matrix.The implications of this will be
important to you for several reasons.
Lets start with an example of a simple inexpensive one-to-four HDMI splitter: it will need to be able to
send an HDMI source signal to four sinks at the same time. Since the source can only output one video
format, it will need to output something all of the sinks can use. If you have three new 1080p TVs and one
older 720p TV, the EDIDs from these four sinks will be analyzed by the splitter, and the lowest-common-
denominator, 720p, will be sent to the source in a splitter-generated EDID. Likewise, if those three new
TVs are connected via surround-sound AVRs, but that one old TV plugs directly into the splitter, and only
handles 2-Channel-PCM-Stereo, guess what will be reported to the source in the splitter-generated EDID?
So that one old TV has just dropped all zones down to 720p and stereo audio. Bummer.
OK, you say, we have only decent 1080p TVs –but what if some of them support 3D and some do not?
You can propose a system that is only ever going to get 3D in a couple of rooms, which is quite
reasonable, but standard EDID management will not allow a 3D source at all, if not all of your connected
TV panels support 3D formats.
Luckily you specified a PureSpectra matrix from A/Vaux, which will help you fix this mess nicely. But
before we jump into that, let’s discuss HDMI source devices and the additional messes that they can
cause.
Long ago, in a smoky room somewhere, lawyers representing movie studios pounded their fists and told
everyone that audio/video intellectual property must be protected at all costs. And cost it did. Some
fellows in the room who knew a bit about computer monitors said they could morph DVI into a new
standard. A standard that would provide encryption on the video signal, and, yeah, toss in audio as well,
package it in a new connector, and call it HDMI. The company who produced the first 4-bit
microprocessor said they would take charge of the encryption details and licensing, another silicon vendor
said they would provide HDMI chipsets, and others in the room said they would form an alliance, to make
everyone pay dearly just to talk to them. And it was good.