FrontRow CM3000 Assembly instructions

CM3000
INSTALLER GUIDE

Welcome to FrontRow™– the teacher- and tech-friendly way to improve the learning environment in every classroom.
To make your installation of the FrontRow CM3000 as efficient as possible, we recommend that you first read the section
in this guide called Before You Begin, and from there proceed to Steps 1 through 5.
If you follow the steps set out in this Installer Guide and organize everything you need beforehand, you’ll find setting up
your FrontRow CM3000 Networked Amplifier / Controller to be quite simple. Of course, if you run into any obstacles,
you can always find contact information for our technical support representatives at www.gofrontrow.com/contact-us.
Thank you for choosing FrontRow! You’re just steps away from a more productive classroom.
You’re About to Make
Learning More Accessible

CONTENTS
Step 1: Before You Begin
Visualize your goal ......................................................................1– 2
Get Familiar with input and output ports ......................................................3
What do you want to amplify? What do you want to transmit and to what device?....................4
Gathering Information ....................................................................4-5
Step 2: Configuration
Connect to your CM3000....................................................................6
Name your CM3000 ........................................................................7
Secure you CM3000 ........................................................................7
Set audio parameters.....................................................................8–9
Set codec parameters ...................................................................9–10
Enable networking ........................................................................11
Serial Ports ..............................................................................12
Streaming ...............................................................................12
Enter command ..........................................................................14
Event Definition ..........................................................................15
Event Viewer .............................................................................16
Choose file store .........................................................................17
Step 3: Physical Installation Prep
Recommended tools and materials ..........................................................18
General safety precautions .................................................................18
Step 4: Plan Your Installation..................................................................19
Step 5: Install your CM3000
Connecting your CM3000 in an ezRoom installation .........................................20–25
Connecting your CM3000 in a Conductor installation ........................................26–28
Troubleshooting .............................................................................29
Appendix A: Control commands for the CM3000.............................................30–32
Appendix B: Network Settings .............................................................33-37
Appendix D: Changing CM3000 Line output from balanced to unbalanced......................38-39

Make sure you’ve got everything you need to install your CM3000. By taking the time to prepare, you’ll ensure the actu-
al set up is as quick and problem-free as possible.
1. Visualize your goal
Your CM3000 Networked Amplifier / Controller can be a component of a Conductor IP-based paging system or an ezRoom
classroom AV management system. When your CM3000 is part of an ezRoom installation it might look like this:
Step 1: Before you begin
1
The FrontRow CM3000 is an amplification and control device that is used in ezRoom®classroom AV management systems
and in Conductor™paging, bell and intercom systems. This one device switches and amplifies analog audio, encodes/
decodes streaming audio, auto switches between local classroom audio and IP audio, includes a four port network switch,
and allows for “pass though” control of serial devices such as a projector. It resides on an IP network so it can be accessed
remotely and securely to execute its functions.
CM3000
ezRoom Installation
Mic dome receiver
HDMI Receiver
CB2000 CB6000
HDMI Audio
Extractor INSIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE
OR
+12V
+12V
+5V
AV Cable
VGA & video to projector
Projector
Mic Audio
HDMI
Audio
HDMI
Serial
CAT5e
TB14
RCA Audio
PC Audio
CAT5e
LAN
Network +12V
+12VDC
Speaker
Speaker
Audio to ezRoom
ezRoom Installation

2
LAN
Speaker cable
Cat5e/6 cable
Audio cable
CB65
CM3000
Conductor Head End Installation
Shuttle Touch Screen PC
*Use with stereo to mono 3.5mm adapter (included)
CMP500
RJ11 phone line
LAN1
LAN1
Intercom
Audio Streaming Out (optional)
SPKR
DRS5000
To phone system
Audio Streaming In
Installed as part of a Conductor Admin Station, it may look like this:
Conductor Head End Installation

3
2. Get Familiar with input and output ports
1 LAN Ports
2 Powered LAN Ports
NOTE: The Powered LAN Ports are +12V DC
and are used only for FrontRow devices
3 Device Power
4 Ground Switch
NOTE: The Ground Switch is to provide a harder
ground point in the event of ground loop hum
on Audio Input 1
5 Audio Inputs
1
Left Side
2345
1 IR Input
2 Line Out
3 Speaker Terminals and
Ground Terminal
(shown with Phoenix Connector)
4 IR Output
(shown with Phoenix Connector)
5 Serial Terminals with GPI
(input)
6 Wireless Mic
7 Intercom
8 Audio Streaming Out
From Conductor
9 Audio Streaming In and
Page Override
Right Side
678
22
3 4 59
1

4
3. What do you want to amplify? What do you want to transmit and to what device?
Your CM3000 can amplify and switch a variety of audio inputs, and can control devices with serial interfaces. Now is the time to
plan what you want to do.
Example 1: Typical ezRoom setup with a projector
In the ezRoom Installation diagram on page 1, the CM3000 works with other ezRoom components to turn a projector on
and off, switch audio inputs, handle the transport controls for a Blu-ray player, and control audio volume from the teacher’s
computer, an MP3 player and two FrontRow wireless microphones. If Conductor is being used in the school the CM3000
can also amplify PA announcements and provide for two-way intercom calls between the ezRoom classroom and the office
with Conductor.
Example 2: Typical Conductor setup
You can also use the CM3000 to manage the intercom and paging audio for the Conductor system in the front office. The
Conductor Head End Installation diagram on page 2 shows a configuration with which a school administrator can make
an announcement or page via the FrontRow CB65 microphone and the CM3000 will encode the analog audio into stream-
ing (or IP) audio for transmission over Cat 5/6 cables and the LAN. Also, when a teacher communicates with the front
office via intercom, the CM3000 converts the streaming audio to analog audio and plays it over the front office speakers.
4. Gathering Information
You will save a lot of time by working with the school to gather information up front.
Will this CM3000 be used as part of a Conductor setup or an ezRoom setup? If part of a Conductor setup:
• The IT department will provide you with IPv4 for the CM3000, Shuttle Touch Screen PC and DRS5000 Server.
If the CM3000 will be part of an ezRoom setup:
• Make a list of all rooms to be outfitted and the equipment to be controlled in each one.
• The IT department will provide you with IPv4 addresses for each CM3000 and other FrontRow IP addressable components
(these must be static, or fixed, IP addresses), along with other network information, such as the subnet mask, router IP
address and Frontrow server IP address.
• Will the room include a FrontRow Symbio™wireless voice amplification system?
• Will the room be served by a Conductor system for paging? For intercom?
• Will there be an IR-controlled device?
• Will the room controller be a FrontRow CB2000 or CB6000?

5
• Organize the network information in a spreadsheet such as the one found at
http://gofrontrow.com/how-to/room-control-project-planning-template.xls:

6
Your CM3000 has several parameters that can be configured to tell it how to communicate with other devices in an ezRoom or
Conductor installation. While each installation is different most of the default parameters will be appropriate.
1. Connect to your CM3000
• Connect your laptop computer’s LAN port to the CM3000 LAN 1 port with a CAT-5, or network, cable.
• Change the IPv4 address on your laptop to static address 192.168.1.100. See Appendix B for instructions.
• Open a web browser on your laptop and in the URL field type the IPv4 address 192.168.1.103 and press enter. This is
the default static IP address of the CM3000 and will likely be changed when you configure it per the school’s IP
addressing scheme.
• You will be connected to your CM3000 and see a screen like this:
Step 2: Configuration
CM3000 - Left Side

7
2. Name your CM3000
The name you choose should contain meaningful information, such as the classroom number, so that a person accessing the
device remotely will have appropriate context. Also on this screen you can see the device MAC address and firmware version.
3. Secure your CM3000
If the project requires it you can password-protect the CM3000 configuration screens by setting Security Level to Admin after
which a person can access the configuration screens only by entering the password. (If Security Level is set to None, no
password is required.)
The old password is calypso. Choose a new one based on the school’s guidelines and record the information.

8
4. Set audio parameters
In this section you can make adjustments to the CM3000 audio behavior to customize it for a specific ezRoom installation. The
default values of most parameters will provide optimal performance for most installations, and noted below are where adjust-
ment should be made.
Volume Presets
• Startup refers to the volume level when the device is powered up. 0 is lowest and 32 is highest.
• The Presets can be used to send a control code that sets the CM3000 to a preset volume level. For most installations this
is not used as one can send an exact volume command to a CM3000 directly.
Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4
• When checked Enable allows the audio signal on that channel to be used as an input to the device.
• Startup designates which channel will be active at device power up. Typically this would be Channel 1.
• Gain adjusts the input level of a channel so that when necessary it can be balanced with higher or lower inputs to level
match with other channels.
• The CM3000 supports ducking, which is the automatic decrease of audio volume on other channels when there is audio
on the priority channel. Mic designates the priority channel, and by convention Channel 4 is selected.
• Relatedly, Setback specifies how low the volume of the non-priority channels is set when audio is present on the priority
channel. 0 designates no volume decrease and -32 would mute the channel.
• Also, Threshold specifies the audio level necessary on the priority channel for ducking to be invoked. The default set-
ting of 32 is appropriate for the average classroom. In a room with substantial ambient noise however, that noise may be
picked up by the teacher’s microphone and invoke undesired ducking. This can be overcome with a higher Threshold
setting, though the drawback is the teacher would need to speak louder. An alternative is to set Setback to 0, which
essentially turns off the ducking feature.
Channel 5
• This channel refers to the IP streaming audio coming in to the LAN 1 or 2 port.
• As with Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4, Startup designates which channel will be active at device power up. Typically this would
be Channel 1.
• PA Detect needs to be set to Both if the CM3000 is in an ezRoom installation that is integrated with a Conductor system.
Even if not however, there is no reason to use another setting.
• Relatedly, when the CM3000 is part of an ezRoom installation that is integrated with a Conductor system, Threshold
specifies the sensitivity of IP audio level detection that will invoke ducking. This is typically not changed from its default
value because the Both setting under PA Detect will allow for the trigger upon presence of an IP audio stream.
Other Settings
• Amp Gain sets the output gain for the device, and is typically set to the level of 32db.
• When the CM3000 is part of an ezRoom installation that is integrated with a Conductor system, PA Volume specifies the
volume level of pages and bells.
• Relatedly, PA Restore specifies the length of time after the paging or bells audio ceases that the other audio inputs are
taken out of mute and returned to their previous volume levels and state.
• Mic Restore is similar to PA Restore, but applies to the microphone audio.
• With Mute mode one can choose to mute only the amp speakers or also the line out audio when the MUTE command is
received from Encore! control software, a CB6000 CB2000 wall controller, or Maestro software.
• With Balance the balance of right versus left speaker(s) can be adjusted.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made on this screen.

9
Audio Settings displays the current settings.
5. Set codec parameters
In this section you can make audio codec (equalizer) adjustments. The default values of most parameters will provide optimal
performance for most installations, and we note below where adjustment should be done.
Audio codec configuration
• Line Out default Gain adjusts the gain for the analog line outputs.
• Intercom default output Gain adjusts the gain for the intercom streamed output from a Conductor system.
• RFB adds additional gain adjustment for a wireless microphone that is plugged in to the Wireless Mic port.
• MIC adjusts the gain of an audio source plugged in to the Audio Streaming Input port.
• Intercom adjusts the gain for intercom devices CB75 or CB85. Boost and Gain allow for adjustments of the Intercom
volume levels when switching between different microphone types (such as the FrontRow CB65 or CB75).

10
Other Settings
• VOX Level should not need to be changed; unless you are an experienced audio engineer and are working with unusual
installation requirements please leave this set at 128.
• When used with a TB-13 adaptor Enable audio detect triggering enables the detection of an audio signal from a legacy
(e.g., non-Conductor) paging system so as to duck other audio inputs; this is one of the two events that need to be
specified to enable “Priority Page Override,” which is discussed further in the description of the screen Event Detection
later in this document.
• Relatedly, Trigger Level specifies the level of audio energy needed to trigger the page override feature. The higher
the number the more audio energy is needed to trigger the page override. This is to ensure that a noisy paging system
doesn’t inadvertently trigger the page override.
• Also, Silence Timeout specifies the length of time between cessation of a page and the resumption of other audio.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.
Audio Equalization configuration
• Unless you are an experienced audio engineer and are working with unusual installation requirements, please leave these
parameters set at their default levels.
Audio Codec/EQ settings displays the current settings.

11
6. Enable networking
Device network configuration
• Automatic IP configuration (DHCP) causes the CM3000 to request an IP address from a DHCP server; this should
be enabled only if the IT department has a DHCP server online and has set up static (fixed) IP address reservations for
CM3000 devices; otherwise manually enter the IP address reserved for the device in the IP Address field.
• The IP Address field displays, and also enables entering, the IP address for the device; while the default address for a
CM3000 is 192.168.1.103 you must use the address provided by the IT department and ensure that each device has a
unique address.
• The IP Subnet Mask is provided by the IT department; if the CM3000 is used as part of a Conductor system the subnet
mask must be 255.255.255.0.
• The Router IP Address is required when the CM3000 is in a network in which switches determine cross subnet connectivity.
• The Primary NameServer IP Address and the Secondary NameServer IP Address are optionally provided by the IT
department.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.
Device port configuration
• Web Server Port is the default port used for web services and always set to 80.
• Remote Management Port specifies which port controllers are to use to for network commands; while the default is set
to 7262 be sure that the CM3000 is set to the same port number as the controller devices.
• Remote Port Idle Timeout specifies how long the CM3000 will wait for a network device to respond before terminating
the network session (i.e., before giving up); this can be a useful parameter when the network is large and/or congested,
but it normally is not enabled.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.

12
7. Serial Ports
• The COM Port menu specifies the COM port number that the parameters on this page apply to; the CM3000 has only
one COM port.
• Baud Rate specifies the data speed at which the CM3000 should communicate with the attached serial device; while 9600
and 19.2K are typical for projectors, data speeds vary by manufacturer.
• Stop Bit is specified by the manufacturer but is typically 1.
• Parity is specified by the manufacturer but is typically None.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.
8. Streaming
Unless you are an experienced audio engineer and are working with unusual installation requirements, please leave these
parameters set at their default levels.

13
9. Miscellaneous
Use this screen to configure the CM3000 to be part of a Conductor system for intercom and/or PA.
Intercom/PA Stream Mode configuration
• Checking Intercom device tells the Conductor server that this CM3000 is part of the intercom system.
• Checking Master device tells the Conductor server that this CM3000 has a microphone and is allowed to initiate pages.
This is set only when the CM3000 is part of a Conductor admin station, not when it is simply a part of the intercom system.
• Heard on AMP speakers specifies that intercoms and paging are heard on the ceiling speakers in an ezRoom; when the
CM3000 is part of a head end installation it specifies that intercoms are heard on speakers attached to the CM3000.
• Heard on Intercom speakers specifies that intercoms and paging are heard on the intercom (the CB75) in an ezRoom.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.
Push to talk configuration
• PPT Mode refers to a CB75 “push to talk” configuration choices, which are offers Disabled (always handsfree), After push
(initially handsfree), Always (never handsfree).
• Switch assignments should not be used unless you are an experienced audio engineer and are working with unusual
installation requirements.
• Save Settings will save any adjustments made in this section.
IR configuration
• Unless the CM3000 is to be controlled via IR these settings do not apply. Even if controlled via IR these settings will not
likely need to be changed.
INTERCOM Connection configuration
• Rotary Mode is used with a CB75; choose AMP direct if there is no intercom functionality and you want to use the CB75
for local classroom audio control; choose Intercom so the push to talk (PTT) microphone can be used for classroom
intercom; Off disables the rotary knob.
• Save Settings will save any adjustment made in this section.

14
Run Calibration is a legacy feature that doesn’t apply to a CM3000.
10. Enter Command
Use this section to send control commands to a device to verify that it performs the action desired.
Choose the command from the (Select an entry) menu and complete it with device and other specific information in the Send
Command field. Submit it by pressing the Send CMD button.
Control feedback requested in the command sent will be displayed in the Receive Command field if specified within the
control command. If no reply is requested Command successful will be displayed; this only means that the CM3000 successfully
sent the command. In practice, the most salient feedback is gotten by observing the device itself.
See Appendix A for more detailed information on CM3000 commands.

15
11. Event Definition
The CM3000 is an amplifier, an encoder/decoder for audio over IP and an IP switch, but it can also store predefined commands
that are executed when certain triggers occur. The menu of commands is the same as that shown in the previous screen, and
the following screen shows triggers to initiate commands.
This screen enables associating triggers (numbered 1 through 7, and associated with the New Event field) with commands.
There are navigation buttons to facilitate editing.
Under Alarm one can specify that an alarm sounds when a trigger occurs.
Under Action one specifies the specific command that gets executed when the trigger occurs.

16
12. Event Viewer
This screen shows for each trigger what command will be executed (if any). Checking the green box will simulate a trigger to
enable testing the trigger/command combination.
Note that triggers 5 and 6 represent legacy paging systems (i.e., not a Conductor system) audio start and audio stop for the
Page Override feature.
• Events 1 and 2 are triggered by the GPI of the CM3000 (open and close)
• Events 3 and 4 are triggered from the CB75 push button if so programmed and configured
• Events 5 and 6 are for page override and are typically set to “Mute” and “Unmute”
• Event 7 is no longer used by the CM3000.

17
13. Choose file store
The set of configuration parameters created by the previous screens can be saved in a file for use with other CM3000s. In this
section you would “save” a configuration file or “load” a file from a location on your computer. Some of the parameters would
still need to be changed (e.g., the IP address).
Other manuals for CM3000
1
Table of contents