PRG MBOX 2016 User manual

MBOX®2016 DUAL OUTPUT
MEDIA SERVER
HARDWARE MANUAL (rev. A)
2016 DUAL OUTPUT
HARDWARE
WWW.PRG.COM

AutoPar®, Bad Boy®, Best Boy®, Followspot Controller™, Mbox®, Mini Node™, Nocturne®, Series 400®, ReNEW®, Super Node™, UV Bullet™,
V476®, V676®, Virtuoso®, and White Light Bullet™, are trademarks of Production Resource Group, LLC, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Mac®, QuickTime® and FireWire® are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
All other brand names which may be mentioned in this manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This manual is for informational use only and is subject to change without notice. Please check www.prg.com for the latest version. PRG assumes no
responsibility or liability for any claims resulting from errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual.
Mbox® 2016 Dual Output Hardware Manual
Version as of: September 20, 2017 rev A
PRG part number: 02.9800.0006.40
Production Resource Group
Dallas Ofce
8617 Ambassador Row, Suite 120
Dallas, Texas 75247
www.prg.com
Mbox® 2016 Dual Output Hardware Manual
©2017 Production Resource Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

iii
MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Hardware
Hardware Components
Mbox 2016 Dual Output Case Assembly ..................................................................................................................... 4
Dual I/O Module ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Sonnet xMac Pro .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Mac Pro Computer ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB/Audio Interface ............................................................................................................... 10
Hardware Setup
Basic Setup and Connections .................................................................................................................................... 11
Connecting the Stage Output .................................................................................................................................... 12
Networking Multiple Mbox Servers ............................................................................................................................ 12
Power-Up Procedure .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Chapter 2. Dual I/O Module
Operation Overview
Function ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Connected Display Devices and EDID
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Switching Between Standard EDID or Capturing EDID ............................................................................................. 17
Possible Issues with EDID and the I/O Module .......................................................................................................... 19
Frequency Selection .................................................................................................................................................. 21
SDI Output
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Conguration .............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Genlock (Generator Lock)
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Genlock and the Dual I/O Module .............................................................................................................................. 23
DMX and Ethernet
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25
DMX ............................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Ethernet ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Chapter 3. Capture card
Operation Overview
Function ...................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Input ........................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Output ........................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Chapter 4. USB/Audio Interface
Operation Overview
Function ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Input ........................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Output ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33

iv MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
Appendix A. Maintenance
Routine Maintenance
Cleaning or Replacing the Air Filter ............................................................................................................................ 36
Removing the Computer ............................................................................................................................................ 37
Removing the PCIe Card Cage .................................................................................................................................. 38
PCIe cards
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Replacing PCIe Cards ................................................................................................................................................ 39
Additional Peripherals
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Appendix B. Intra-rack Connections
Intra-rack Connections
Diagrams .................................................................................................................................................................... 42

v
MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
REVISION HISTORY
This manual has been revised as follows:
Version Release Date Notes
revA September 20, 2017 Initial Release

1
MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
About This Guide
This user manual provides necessary information regarding the operation of the Mbox 2016 Dual Output hardware.
This guide is provided to explain the features in the hardware in detail. This manual is written to cover the use of
latest Mbox rental hardware. Mbox software operation is covered in a separate manual.
Important Note About Control
The Mbox 2016 Dual Output hardware is designed to work with either the Mbox Director software or moving-light
consoles. There is a new version of the Mbox Director software (v4) required to control the Mbox v4 software. Mbox
v4 will work with any moving-light console that can have a compatible prole, including: PRG V676®, V476®, and
V276 consoles, MA Lighting grandMA1 and 2 consoles, High End Systems Hog® 4 series consoles, Jands Vista,
Compulite Vector, ETC EOS and Ion consoles, and Martin M-Series consoles.
Additional Documentation
For more information about DMX512 and sACN protocols, refer to the following documents available from the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) at www.ansi.org:
+ ANSI E1.11 - 2008 (R2013): Entertainment Technology - USITT DMX512-A, Asynchronous Serial Digital Data
Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories
+ ANSI E1.31 - 2009: Entertainment Technology - Lightweight streaming protocol for transport of DMX512 using
ACN
The above documents are also available in electronic format free for PLASA members at www.plasa.org
For more information about Art-Net, refer to the following document available from Artistic Licence Engineering at
www.artisticlicence.com:
+ Specication for the Art-Net Ethernet Protocol
Customer Service
For technical assistance, contact the nearest PRG ofce. Contact information for all PRG ofces can be found on
our website at: www.prg.com
For Mbox support, please contact: [e-mail]
For additional resources and documentation, please visit our website at: www.prg.com

2MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
Notes

1.
HARDWARE
This chapter provides an overview of the Mbox 2016 Dual Output hardware and its setup
+HARDWARE COMPONENTS
+HARDWARE SETUP
1.

4MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Mbox 2016 Dual Output Case Assembly
The following illustrations show the main case components for the Mbox 2016 Dual Output hardware:
1 - Refer to “Dual I/O Module” on page 5.
2 - Refer to “Sonnet xMac Pro” on page 7.
3 - Refer to “Mac Pro Computer” on page 9.
4 - Refer to “Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB/Audio Interface” on page 10.
R IG H TLE FT
BAL AN C E D
AUDI O OUT
LINE INST LINE INST OFF ON
DIRECT
MONITOR
48V
GAIN
010
GAIN
010
MONITOR
010
1 2
scarlett 2i2
2 3 41
V ID E O I NP U T
S T A G E B L A C K OUT
PR E V IE W 1
TM
DMX E T HE R N E T
INP U T 2
INP U T 1
RDM Tx
RDM Rx
DMX R x
PO R T 1 PO R T 2
PO W E R
B
A
Tx
Rx
CO MP UTE R
LINK
E DID CA P T U R E
OUT P UT 1
S DI 1
AB
GE N L O C K 1
OUT
IN
PR E V IE W DIM AC T I V E US B
DVI 1
VG A 1
E DID CA P T U R ES T A G E B L A C K OUT PR E V IE W DIM AC T I V E US B
S DI 2 GE NL O C K 2
DVI 2 P R E VIE W 2
VG A 2
ABIN OUT
OUT P UT 2
Dual I/O Module
HDMI
E NE T A EN E T B
DV I 1 DV I 2
100-240V. 50-60Hz
1
2
3
234 1
LE F TR IG H T
LIN E O UT P UT S
USB
LE F TR IG H T
FAULT
SITE WIRING
SENSIBILITY OUTPUT: 120V 50/60 Hz
INPUT
RESET
PUSH TO
PROTECTOR
OVERLOAD
USB PORT
UPS Power Unit Dual I/O Module1
Mac Pro
Computer3
UPS Power Unit
Ethernet, RAID, and
Capture Cards
Mac Pro
Computer3
Sonnet xMac Pro2
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
USB/Audio Interface4
Ethernet, USB, and
DVI Connections
FRONT VIEW REAR VIEW

5
MBOX® 2016 DUAL OUTPUT HARDWARE MANUAL
Dual I/O Module
Function
The function of the Dual I/O module is to provide video conversion, nal dimming of the video signal, and to send EDID
information to the Mac computer. The module also handles DMX512, sACN, and Art-Net input for the computer.
The module functions as a “dual” unit since it provides two independent output sections. These sections are noted in
the drawing below as “Server Output 1” and “Server Output 2.” While the two sections use identical hardware, because
they are independent, they must be congured separately.
Note: This section is intended to be an overview of the Dual I/O module components. For more information regarding
module operation, refer to “Chapter 2: Dual I/O Module”.
Front Panel Components
+Stage Outputs - The module provides three (3) stage outputs: VGA, DVI, and HD-SDI. The intensity level of these
stage outputs can be mastered by the Mbox software’s Global Master Intensity parameter. The stage outputs are
automatically blacked out when the Mbox application is not running or is in window mode.
+Stage Blackout Switch - When this switch is set to “Yes,” the stage outputs will be blacked out.
+Preview Dim Switch - When this switch is set to “Yes,” the preview outputs will have the same dimming state as the
stage outputs.
+EDID Spoof/Capture Switch - The right-hand switch controls the EDID spoof/capture functions of the I/O module.
This switch is used when switching between the built-in EDID sets and when capturing EDID from any EDID
(Extended Display Identication Data) compliant device.
+Preview Outputs - The module provides two (2) preview outputs: DVI and HD-SDI. The preview outputs are for local
monitors and are not affected by the hardware dimmer in the Dual I/O module (controlled by the intensity channel on
the Master xture).
+EDID Capture - Genlock In/Out - The Genlock connectors are used with the Generator Lock function, which can
be used to sync the graphics card in the computer to a reference signal. Genlock Input and Output connectors are
provided on both output sections. Normally, only the top pair of genlock connectors are active.
Note: The Genlock Out connector is not a passthrough. The output should only be used if an Mbox server is the source
for the reference signal. Do not use the Genlock Out connector to daisy-chain genlock between servers!
O UT P U T 2
T M
B
A
Tx
R x
L INK
E T HE R NE T
IN P UT 2 P O R T 1 P O R T 2
P O W E R
C O MP U T E R
Dual I/O Module
DMX
IN P UT 1
R D M Tx
R DM R x
DMX R x
ABOUT IN
US B
ABIN O UT
P R E V IE W 1
O UT P U T 1
S DI 1 G E N L OC K 1
DV I 1
V G A 1
E D ID C A P T UR E
S T AG E B L A C K OU T P R E VIE W DIM A C T I V E
S DI 2 G E N L OC K 2
DV I 2 P R E V IE W 2
V G A 2
S T AG E B L A CK OU T E D ID C A P T UR E P R E VIE W DIM A C T I V E U S B
DVI
Stage
Output
Ethernet (Art-Net/
sACN) Connectors
Server Output 2
VGA
Stage
Output
DVI
Preview
Output
Server Output 1
HD-SDI
Preview
Output
HD-SDI
Stage
Output
Genlock
Input/Output*
DMX Inputs
Preview
Dim Switch
Stage
Blackout
Switch
EDID
Capture
Switch
Active LED
Indicator
USB LED
Indicator