AMX AXB-VOL3 User manual

instruction manual
AXlink Bus Controllers
AXB-VOL3
Three-Channel Volume Control

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Table of Contents
i
AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Table of Contents
Product Information .................................................................................................1
Specifications .................................................................................................................... 1
Installation .................................................................................................................3
DIP Switch Settings........................................................................................................... 3
Wiring ................................................................................................................................ 3
Preparing and connecting captive wires .................................................................................. 3
Wiring guidelines...................................................................................................................... 3
AXlink connector ...................................................................................................................... 4
Volume channels 1 - 3 connectors........................................................................................... 4
Programming ............................................................................................................5
Channel Settings Commands............................................................................................ 5
Levels ................................................................................................................................ 5
Send_Commands.............................................................................................................. 6

ii AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Table of Contents

Product Information
1
AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Product Information
The AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control provides three audio volume control channels.
Each line-level channel, opto-isolated from system ground, can be configured for balanced or
unbalanced line operation. The AXB-VOL3 is programmable for 128 steps of audio level, audio
mute, variable ramp speed and level presets. The AXB-VOL3 connects to Axcess control systems
using the 4-wire AXlink data/power bus; it can be used for remote or rack mount applications.
Specifications
FIG. 1 AXB-VOL3 front and rear panel
AXB-VOL3 Specifications
Three line-level audio control channels:
Line operation: Balanced or unbalanced
Audio ground: Audio ground opto-isolated from system ground.
Nominal input level: -10 to +4 dBm.
Max. input/output level: +16 dBm.
Volume level resolution: 128 volume level steps (+ .5 dB per step).
Attenuation: 72 dB at full attenuation (mute).
Total Harmonic Distortion: THD = <.008%
Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 1 dB
123
ON
DEVICE
AXlink
GND
AXP AXM
PWR
OUT
OUT
GND
IN
IN
GND
IN
OUT
OUT
GND
GND
IN
OUT
IN
GND OUT
IN
GND
AXlink VOL CHAN 3 VOL CHAN 2 VOL CHAN 1
AXlink LED
Device
DIP switch Channel LEDs
Volume Channel
connector
AXlink connector
Front
Rear

Product Information
2AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
AXB-VOL3 Specifications (Cont.)
Front Panel Components:
AXlink LED AXlink LED (green and blinks to indicate AXlink communication activity and
power:
• Full-Off indicates no power is being received or the controller is not functioning
properly.
• One blink per second indicates power is active and AXlink communication is
functioning.
• Full-On indicates there is no AXlink control or activity, but power is On.
Device DIP Switch An 8-position DIP switch used to set the AXlink device number for the
AXB-VOL3.
Channel LEDs Red channel LEDs 1 - 3. The LEDs individually light indicating a change in chan-
nel levels.
Rear Panel Components:
AXlink connector 4-pin, captive wire connector, receives power and information via the AXlink and
AXlink Central Controller.
Volume Channel
connectors
6-pin, captive wire connectors that control audio level, audio mute, variable ramp
speed and level presets of up to 3 devices.
Enclosure Metal with black matte finish
Dimensions (HWD) 1.51" x 5.55" x 5.45" (3.84 cm x 14.10 cm x 13.84 cm)
Weight 1.1 lb (0.499 kg)
AXlink Power 12 VDC @ 230 mA

Installation
3
AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Installation
DIP Switch Settings
Use the device DIP switch to set the AXB-VOL3 AXlink device number. You can set it as one of
255 devices in an Axcess control system. Set the device number with the total of all ON (down)
switches. As an example, the DIP switch below defines Device 128.
The device number takes effect only upon power-up. If you later change the device number, remove
and reconnect the AXlink connector to enter the new device number into memory. AMX standard
device numbers are assigned as follows:
 Cards are 1 through 25.
 Boxes are 96 through 127.
 Panels are 128 through 255.
The AXB-PCCOM emulates a touch panel when set in the panel range.
Wiring
Preparing and connecting captive wires
1. Strip 0.25 inch of wire insulation off all wires.
2. Insert each wire into the appropriate opening on the connector according to the wiring
diagrams and connector types described in this section.
3. Tighten the screws to secure the wires. Do not tighten the screws excessively; doing so may
strip the threads and damage the connector.
Wiring guidelines
The interface requires a 12 VDC power to operate properly. The interface uses a PSN2.8 power
supply. The Central Controller supplies power via the AXlink cable or external 12 VDC power
supply. The maximum wiring distance between the Central Controller and interface is determined
by power consumption, supplied voltage, and the wire gauge used for the cable. The table below
lists wire sizes and maximum lengths allowable between the VOL3 and Central Controller. The
maximum wiring lengths for using AXlink power are based on a minimum of 13.5 volts available at
the Central Controller’s power supply.
Device DIP Switch Settings
Position 1234 5 6 7 8
Value 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128
Wiring Guidelines at 230 mA
Wire Size Maximum Wiring Length
18 AWG 510.31 feet (155.54 m)
20 AWG 371.29 feet (113.17 m)
22 AWG 201.29 feet (61.35 m)
24 AWG 126.88 feet (38.67 m)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
ON

Installation
4AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
AXlink connector
Install the AXlink data/power bus wiring as shown in FIG. 2.
Volume channels 1 - 3 connectors
Volume channels 1 - 3 can be wired for unbalanced or balanced line operation, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 2 AXlink data/power connections
FIG. 3 Volume Channels 1 - 3 Connector wiring diagrams
PWR
AXP
AXM
GND
PWR
AXP
AXM
GND
AXB-VOL3
Control
system
GND
IN-
IN+
GND
OUT-
OUT+
Unbalanced IN
Jumper IN- to GND
Unbalanced OUT
GND
IN-
IN+
GND
OUT-
OUT+
Balanced
IN
Balanced
OUT
Optional 600 ohm resistor can be added for impedance matching, if required

Programming
5
AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Programming
The following sections list Axcess programming commands used with the AXB-VOL3.
Channel Settings Commands
Use the AXB-VOL3 channel settings listed for ramp up, ramp down and mute operations..
When controlling levels, such as with an active bargraph, there is no LED indication of volume
changes.
Levels
 1 = Output #1
 2 = Output #2
 3 = Output #3
AXB-VOL3 Channel Setting Commands
Channel Description Channel Description
1 Ramps channels 1 and 2 up. 7 Ramps channel 2 up.
2 Ramps channels 1 and 2 down. 8 Ramps channel 2 down.
3 Mutes channels 1 and 2. 9 Mutes channel 2.
4 Ramps channel 1 up. 10 Ramps channel 3 up.
5 Ramps channel 1 down. 11 Ramps channel 3 down.
6 Mutes channel 1. 12 Mutes channel 3.
Ramping a volume channel while the mute channel is on will NOT automatically turn
off the mute channel (will not restore) but the ramping will still occur and the volume
change will be noticed when the mute channel is turned off. For setting ramp rates
and presets, see SEND_COMMAND programming instructions below. For reading
current volume levels and displaying bargraphs see CREATE_LEVEL and
SEND_LEVEL programming instructions. Volume channels 1 through 3 use levels 1
to 3 respectively.

Programming
6AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
Send_Commands
System Send_Commands are stored in the Axcess Control System.
AXB-VOL3 Send_Commands
PLT Ramps specified channel(s) from current level to a specified preset level or percentage at the
current rate or optionally in a specified amount of time.
Syntax:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P<output channel 0-3>L<level 0-255|0-100%>[T<Time
0-255 in tenth second increments>]’
Variables:
Output Channel = Channel numbers 1, 2 or 3. Output channel 0 = both channels 1 and 2.
Level = Level number (0-255) or percentage (0-100 percent). Level 0 is lowest volume (same
as mute) and 255 or 100% is maximum volume.
Time = Optional ramp time (0-255) in tenths of a second.
Example 1:
SEND_COMMAND VOL,'P0L50%'
Ramps both channels to 50% mid level volume at the current ramp rate.
Example 2:
SEND_COMMAND VOL,'P1L255T20'
Ramps channel 1 to highest level volume in 2 seconds.
PR Sets the ramp rate of the specified channel(s) where the time is the time to ramp the full range
both down to up and up to down or optionally just down to up or just up to down.
Syntax:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, 'P<output channel 0-3>R<ramp rate 0-255 in tenth
seconds>[U|D]'
Variables:
Output Channel = Channel numbers 1, 2 or 3. Output channel 0 = both channels 1 and 2.
Ramp Rate = Sets ramp rate (1-255) for channel commands in tenth second increments.
U = Optional character sets rate for ramp up.
D = Optional character sets rate for ramp down.
Example 1:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, 'P0R50'
Sets ramp rate of channels 1 and 2 to 5 seconds full range from down to up and up to down.
Example 2:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, 'P3R50D'
Sets ramp rate of channel 3 to 5 seconds full range from up to down only.

Programming
7
AXB-VOL3 Three-Channel Volume Control
AXB-VOL3 Send_Commands (Cont.)
PP Syntax:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P<Channel> = P<Channel>’
Variable:
Channel = Enter channel number.
Examples:
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P1 = P2’
Sets channel 1 level to the same as channel 2.
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P1 = P3’
Sets channel 1 level to the same as channel 3.
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P2 = P1’
Sets channel 2 level to the same as channel 1.
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P2 = P3’
Sets channel 2 level to the same as channel 3.
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P3 = P1’
Sets channel 3 level to the same as channel 1.
SEND_COMMAND VOL, ’P3 = P2’
Sets channel 3 level to the same as channel 2.
Note: You cannot use 'P0' with these commands.

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