Biamp Audia EXPI, Operation Manual

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4
Room A
left
stereo
speaker
stereo
input
#2
stereo
input
#1
right
stereo
speaker
microphones #1~4
distributed 70V
ceiling speakers
Room B
left
stereo
speaker
stereo
input
#2
stereo
input
#1
right
stereo
speaker
microphones #1~4
distributed 70V
ceiling speakers
Room C
left
stereo
speaker
central
paging
microphone
stereo
input
#2
stereo
input
#1
right
stereo
speaker
microphones #1~4
distributed 70V
ceiling speakers
Room D
left
stereo
speaker
stereo
input
#2
stereo
input
#1
right
stereo
speaker
microphones #1~4
Channel 5
background music service
distributed 70V
ceiling speakers
APPLICATIONS
Hotel with Sound Reinforcement in Multiple Banquet/Conference Rooms
This application demonstrates the use of AUDIA
®
in
a hotel conference/banquet facility. This is a
networked system using one Audia
FLEX 10x12CM
unit and three Audia EXPI 8-Input Expander units
(forty-two inputs, twelve outputs, CobraNet) . An
example system diagram is shown on the next page.
Each room has four microphones and two stereo line
inputs, which are connected to an Audia
EXPI located
within the room. This is beneficial because stereo
line input signals are typically 'unbalanced' and, as
such, should not be routed over long distances. The
Audia
EXPI converts these signals to digital audio,
and transmits them back to the main equipment rack
via CobraNet. Additionally, CobraNet affords the
necessary isolation to help avoid ground loops
between active components within the individual
rooms and back at the main equipment rack.
CobraNet also saves on the labor and expense of
wiring, by transmitting all signals from a given room
over a single CAT5 cable.
Only three of the rooms utilize an Audia
EXPI locally.
The fourth room houses the main equipment rack,
which includes an Audia
FLEX 10x12CM. The
Audia FLEX unit accommodates the eight inputs from
this room, as well as two inputs from centralized
paging and background music. The Audia
FLEX unit
also provides twelve system outputs: mono speech
and stereo program for each of the four rooms.
These outputs are feeding the two MCA8050 multi-
channel amplifiers.
One MCA8050 amplifier has eight channels which are operating as four stereo pairs, providing up to 50 watts per channel to drive the
stereo program speakers in each of the four rooms. The other MCA8050 amplifier has eight channels which have been bridged in pairs,
essentially creating four channels of 100 watts each. With four TDT100 transformers installed internally, this MCA8050 is prepared to drive
the
(speech related) 70 volt distibuted speaker system in each of the four rooms.
CobraNet from the Audia
EXPI units to the Audia FLEX unit is tied together through an Ethernet switch. This allows sharing of digital audio
signals (CobraNet) on a network. The maximum distance between any AUDIA unit and an Ethernet switch is 300 feet. Therefore, this
system can span up to 600 feet between the main equipment rack and any of the rooms. Additional Ethernet switches, or even fiber-
optics, can be used to further extend distances between units on the network.
All mixing and processing of signals is done back at the Audia
FLEX unit in the main equipment rack. In the system design, each room is
provided with an Auto Mixer (4x1) for the microphones and a Router (4x2) for stereo source selection. A Room Combiner allows proper
sharing of audio and control data amongst the Auto Mixers, and a Matrix Mixer (8x8) is provided to facilitate proper stereo source routing
for each of the various room configurations. Duckers allow page-override of local and backgound music signals. Levelers are utilized on
all microphone inputs
(to provide consistent volume levels) , and equalizers are utilized at all outputs (to compensate for room acoustics
and enhance intelligibility) .
Various remote control options are available.
Volume 8 , Select 8 , and Volume/Select 8 rotary encoder panels may be used to provide
volume, source selection, and even room combining functions. A Logic Box could instead provide room combining via external switches
(on the room partitions or on a custom control panel) , and would also allow control of external equipment (such as lighting, speakers,
sources, etc.) . Control behavior is programmable, and can be made to change automatically to fit different system configurations. For
example, volume control and source selection can follow room combining.