Xantech MRC88M Programming manual

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QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS
MRC88m & XMUSIC
Multi-Room Controller and XMusic Integration
DESCRIPTION
This document describes how to integrate the XMUSIC with the MRC88m, using Dragon-Drop
software.
For this example, we are going to connect the XMUSIC to the MRC88m with Output 1 connected to
Source Input 1, Output 2 connected to Source Input 2, Output 3 connected to Source Input 3, and
Output 4 connected to Source Input 4.
We are going to use the COM RS232 port of the MRC88m for communications with the XMUSIC.
Important Note: For best results, do not use the XMUSIC IR or RS232 commands in the
Dragon Palette Editor to control the XMUSIC, as was previously required. You should now be
using the internal Metadata commands as described below to control the XMUSIC.
PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS
1) Connect the RED and WHITE analog stereo outputs from Output 1 of the XMUSIC to the
appropriate SOURCE 1 inputs of the MRC88m, the outputs of Output 2 to SOURCE 2, etc.
2) Connect the RS232 port of the XMUSIC to the COM port of the MRC88m.
3) If you are using the original XMUSIC (versus the newer XMUSICw+) you MUST use the special
RS232 adaptor cable (Xantech Part #05913781) in order to get full 2-way communications.
CREATING A NEW MRC88m PROJECT
1) Start Dragon-Drop.
2) Select the New Project item under the File Menu (“File->New Project”).
3) Open the Audio/Video Distribution project type and select “MRC88m”.
4) Select the “Blank Project” Option, then click “OK”. You should now see the MRC88m basic
keypad.

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ENABLING THE XMUSIC DRIVER
1) Open the Project Options dialog box (“File->Project Options”).
2) Select the “Source Components” tab.
3) Select the “XMusic” tab.
4) Click the “Enable Xantech Music Server” check box. This enables the XMUSIC driver.
5) In the “Port:” field, make sure that “Com Port” is selected. This lets the driver know how the
XMUSIC is connected to the MRC88m.
Note: If you are using an Imerge S3000 instead of the Xantech XMUSIC, you must also manually
configure the RS232 settings of the COM port to match the Imerge S3000 (Dragon automatically puts
in the proper settings for the XMUSIC). Please see Appendix A near the end of this document for
more information.

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TELLING THE MRC88m WHICH SOURCE INPUTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE XMUSIC
1) In the “Output 1” region, click the check box next to the “Connect to Source Input” text.
2) Make sure that “Source 1” is selected in the drop-down box. This let’s the MRC88m know that
Source 1 in the system is the XMUSIC Output 1.
3) In the “Output 2” region, click the check box next to the “Connect to Source Input” text.
4) Select “Source 2” in the drop-down box.
5) In the “Output 3” region, click the check box next to the “Connect to Source Input” text.
6) Select “Source 3” in the drop-down box.
7) In the “Output 4” region, click the check box next to the “Connect to Source Input” text.
8) Select “Source 4” in the drop-down box.
9) When you finished the dialog should look like the picture below.

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10) Click “OK” at the bottom of the dialog box to close the “Options” dialog.
At this point you have successfully told the MRC88m that an XMUSIC is connected, and how it
is connected.

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CONFIGURING THE MRC88m KEYPAD TO CONTROL THE XMUSIC
The XMUSIC is controlled by using the new “Metadata” Internal Commands. These new commands
can be used to control the XIS100, the XMUSIC, and the iPort. Figure 1 at the end of this shows
how each Metadata internal command functions.
1) Just above the Virtual Keypad (under the “Keypad” tab), select “Zone 1” from the drop-down box.
2) On the Virtual keypad, select SRC1.
3) On the right-hand portion of the Dragon window, make sure that the “Internal Commands” tab near
the bottom of the window is selected.
4) On the Virtual Keypad, select the “ÇPAUSE” button.
5) In the “Internal Commands” window, select the “Metadata Up” command.
6) In the “Zone” area, select the current zone, Zone 1.

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7) In the “Source” box, select “1”, since the XMUSIC output that we want to control is connected to
Source 1.
8) Click the “Accept” Button.
You have now successfully programmed the“ÇPAUSE” button in Zone 1 to perform the “Up
Arrow” function of the XMUSIC. Continue programming the rest of the MRC88m keypad
buttons to the other desired XMUSIC functions.
Also, please see Figure 2 at the end of this document to see how the buttons on the SPLCD-
MRC-KP map to the MRC88m Virtual Keypad buttons.

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CONFIGURING SOURCE 2
1) On the Virtual keypad, select SRC2.
2) On the right-hand portion of the Dragon window, make sure that the “Internal Commands” tab near
the bottom of the window is selected.
3) On the Virtual Keypad, select the CH+” button.
4) In the “Internal Commands” window, select the “Metadata Next Track” command.
5) In the “Zone” area, select the current zone, Zone 1.

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6) In the “Source” box, select “2”, since the XMUSIC output that we want to control is connected to
Source 2.
7) Click the “Accept” Button.
In the Command List on the left side of the Dragon window you will see the macro:
You have now successfully programmed the “CH+” button in Zone 1 to perform the “Next
Track” function of the XMUSIC server for Output 2. Continue programming the rest of the
MRC88m keypad buttons to the other desired XMUSIC functions.

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CONFIGURING THE SOURCES CORRECTLY FOR THE “AUTO CONFIGURATION” FEATURE
OF THE SPLCD WHEN CONNECTED TO THE MRC88m
1) On the Virtual Keypad, select SRC1.
2) On the right-hand portion of the Dragon window, select the “Properties” tab near the bottom of the
window.
3) Click the “Source Type” field in the “Button” property. This enables the drop-down box in the field
to the right.
4) Click on the down arrow to expose the drop-down menu, and select MP3/Music Server. This will
be used to tell any connected SPLCD’s that Source 1 is a MP3/Music Server type of source, so that
the SPLCD can display the appropriate page for this source.
5) Now click on the text box to the right of the “Source Name” field. Type in the name of this source,
such as “XMS 1”. This text will be used to label the Source 1 button of the SPLCD.
6) Finally, click on the “Apply” button. Note that no changes to these properties will be made until the
“Apply” button is clicked!
7) Repeat the above steps for Sources 2, Source 3, and Source 4.

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Figure 1: Below, Mapping the Internal Metadata commands to XMUSIC functions
XMUSIC Function Metadata Internal
Command Comments
Up Arrow Metadata Up
Down Arrow Metadata Down
Left Arrow Metadata Menu Back
Select Metadata Select
Play Metadata Play
Pause Metadata Pause
Fast Forward Metadata Fast Forward
Rewind Metadata Rewind
Next Track Metadata Next Track
Previous Track Metadata Prev Track
Stop Metadata Stop
Up 25 Metadata Up Fast Navigates Up 25 lines
Down 25 Metadata Down Fast Navigates Down 25 lines
Random Metadata Shuffle
Repeat Metadata Repeat
Metadata Menu Top
Figure 2: Below, Mapping the “MP3/Music Server” page buttons of the SPLCD-MRC-KP to the
MRC88m Virtual Keypad buttons
SPLCD Button Maps To: MRC88m Keypad Button
TRK+ Ch+
TRK- Ch-
Guide Ch+ Tier 2
Info Ch- Tier 2
Up Arrow Pause
Down Arrow Stop
Left Arrow Rew
Right Arrow Fwd
OK Play
|<< (Rewind) Rew Tier 2
> (Play) Play Tier 2
>>| (FFW) Fwd Tier 2
|| (Pause) Pause Tier 2
[] (Stop) Stop Tier 2
Vol Up Vol +
Vol Down Vol -
Mute Mute
Power Pwr