KRAMER: SIMPLE CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Kramer Protocol
38
NOTE 1 - When the master switcher is reset, (e.g. when it is turned on), the reset code is sent to the PC. If this code is sent to
the switchers, it will reset according to the present power-down settings.
NOTE 2 - These are bi-directional definitions. That is, if the switcher receives the code, it will perform the instruction; and if
the instruction is performed (due to a keystroke operation on the front panel), then these codes are sent. For example, if the
HEX code
01
85
88
83
was sent from the PC, then the switcher (machine 3) will switch input 5 to output 8. If the user switched input 1 to output 7
via the front panel keypad, then the switcher will send HEX codes:
41
81
87
83
to the PC.
When the PC sends one of the commands in this group to the switcher, then, if the instruction is valid, the switcher replies by
sending to the PC the same four bytes that it was sent (except for the first byte, where the DESTINATION bit is set high).
NOTE 3 - SETUP # 0 is the present setting. SETUP # 1 and higher are the settings saved in the switcher's memory, (i.e. those
used for Store and Recall).
NOTE 4 - The reply to a "REQUEST" instruction is as follows: the same instruction and INPUT codes as were sent are
returned, and the OUTPUT is assigned the value of the requested parameter. The replies to instructions 10 and 11 are as per
the definitions in instructions 7 and 8 respectively. For example, if the present status of machine number 5 is breakaway
setting, then the reply to the HEX code
0B
80
80
85
would be HEX codes
4B
80
81
85
NOTE 6 – If INPUT is set to 127 for these instructions, then, if the function is defined on this machine, it replies with
OUTPUT=1. If the function is not defined, then the machine replies with OUTPUT=0, or with an error (invalid instruction
code).
If the INPUT is set to 126 for these instructions, then, if possible, the machine will return the current setting of this function,
even for the case that the function is not defined. For example, for a video switcher which always switches during the VIS of
input #1, (and its VIS setting cannot be programmed otherwise), the reply to the HEX code
0A
FE
80
81 (ie. request VIS setting, with INPUT set as 126dec)
would be HEX codes
4A
FE
81
81 (ie. VIS setting = 1, which is defined as VIS from input #1).
NOTE 8 - The reply is as in TYPE 3 above, except that here the OUTPUT is assigned with the value 0 if the setup is not
defined / no valid input is detected; or 1 if it is defined / valid input is detected.
NOTE 9 - An error code is returned to the PC if an invalid instruction code was sent to the switcher, or if a parameter
associated with the instruction is out of range (e.g. trying to save to a setup greater than the highest one, or trying to switch an
input or output greater than the highest one defined). This code is also returned to the PC if an RS-232 instruction is sent
while the machine is being programmed via the front panel. Reception of this code by the switcher is not valid.
NOTE 10 – This code is reserved for internal use.
NOTE 13 - This is a request to identify the switcher/s in the system. If the OUTPUT is set as 0, and the INPUT is set as 1, 2,
5 or 7, the machine will send its name. The reply is the decimal value of the INPUT and OUTPUT. For example, for a 2216,
the reply to the request to send the audio machine name would be (HEX codes):
7D
96
90
81 (i.e. 22dec for 2nd byte, and 16dec for 3rd byte).
If the request for identification is sent with the INPUT set as 3 or 4, the appropriate machine will send its software version
number. Again, the reply would be the decimal value of the INPUT and OUTPUT - the INPUT representing the number in
front of the decimal point, and the OUTPUT representing the number after it. For example, for version 3.5, the reply to the
request to send the version number would be (HEX codes):
7D
83
85
81 (i.e. 3dec for 2nd byte, 5dec for 3rd byte).
If the OUTPUT is set as 1, then the ASCII coding of the lettering following the machine’ s name is sent. For example, for the
VS-7588YC, the reply to the request to send the first suffix would be (HEX codes):
7D
D9
C3
81 (i.e. ASCII for “ Y” ; ASCII for “ C” ).
NOTE 14 - The number of inputs and outputs refers to the specific machine which is being addressed, not to the system. For
example, if six 16X16 matrices are configured to make a 48X32 system (48 inputs, 32 outputs), the reply to the HEX code
3E
82
81
82 (ie. request the number of outputs)
would be HEX codes
7E
82
90
82
ie. 16 outputs
