9000M2 Software Series Part 10 - Setting Paging Priority and Volume Settings

In this tutorial you will learn how to assign paging priority and adjust paging volume with the TOA 9000m2 GUI Software application.

Before we start, it is important to keep in mind that paging priority is stored in global memory. This means that paging settings will remain regardless of scene changes. This is helpful in many cases--for example, if a user turns down the master volume in a particular room, an important page from a priority microphone will consistently operate with the same programmed behavior and volume no matter what.

First, you may open the priority setting view by clicking the priority button. You can also find this in the Setting Menu.

Next, you may assign a priority with a level 1 through 3 to any input. 1 is the highest priority, and 3 is lowest priority. A blank assignment indicates no priority.
 
Then, you can indicate if this priority input will be triggered by a VOX threshold. This means that the input will be triggered when an audio signal exceeds a certain threshold.

Keep in mind that in order to use the VOX, the channel's Gate setting must be turned on. See our video on Gate settings to learn how to turn a channel's gate on.

Next, set the ducking level: the Ducking Level is  the amount that the source will be reduced when a signal of higher priority is activated. In this example. When a page comes in through channel 1, channel 2 will be ducked by -40dB.

To adjust the paging volume, click the Paging Volume Button. As mentioned earlier, these volume settings are independent of normal output volume settings.

TOA 9000M2 Software Part 9 - Output Assignments & Crosspoints

Setting Output Assignments

 

In this tutorial you will learn how to configure output assignments  with the TOA 9000M2 GUI Software application.

Click on the Crosspoint Matrix block to call up the output Assignment view.

The crosspoint matrix represents inputs assigned to outputs with inputs represented as rows and outputs represented as columns.

New projects default to all inputs assigned to all outputs, represented by orange box. Clicking a box will turn the box to RED and will activate the cross-point fader. This fader adjusts the selected input channel's contribution to that output channel.

Click the button again to turn the output assignment off.

Keep in Mind that any source input that has been assigned assigned with a priority will not be included in this view. Priority inputs are managed in the paging settings. In this example Input 2 has been assigned a priority and is therefor not included in the output assignment view.

You may click the ADJUST button to transmit your Output Assignment settings to a connected 9000M2 unit.

Be sure to visit our YouTube page for more 9000M2 Software tutorials.

Tech Tip: How To Resolve A MAC Addressing / IP Conflict

By Rick Escobar, Product Support Assistant Manager

Anyone who works with equipment that has a MAC address and IP address have run into the main topic of this tech tip. Heck even a banana these days has networking as a feature. 

Problem: Cannot login to a unit or even ping it with a windows operating system.

Explanation:
Let's use two of TOA's NX-100 units, and set them both to maintenance mode. (NOTE: many TOA products have an IP Address of 192.168.1.1 right out of the box)
Connect one of the units to your switcher.
Open a DOS prompt and enter 'ping 192.168.1.1'

Result: The unit will pass the ping test without an issue.

NOTE: From a DOS prompt type 'arp -a' this will display the MAC address currently associated with 192.168.1.1

Now, move the Ethernet cable to the second NX-100 unit and again ping 192.168.1.1

Expected Result: Good chance your ping test will time out. If you type 'arp -a' again, you will see that it is still using the previous NX-100 MAC address.

TIP: You can use your QWERTY up / down arrows to use a previous typed command.

What's going on?:
Your PC is still associating the previous MAC address with 192.168.1.1. This is stored in the Windows Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Cache. Windows Vista, XP and 7 should release the ARP Cache all on its own after 2 minutes. However, if you are moving quickly, you are very likely to run into this issue, and may even end up in a loop where it may appear as if your unit is defective. Also, I have encountered an operating system that was not releasing the ARP Cache, and forcing a refresh was the only option.

Solution:
From the DOS command prompt enter 'netsh interface ip delete arpcache'. This will force the ARP cache to refresh and allow you to connect to the unit you were unable to connect to before.

TOA 9000M2 Software Part 2 - Overview Main Settings Window

By Sean Barton - TOA Area Systems Engineer West

In this tutorial you will become familiar with the Main Settings Window in the TOA 9000M2 GUI Software application.

The Scene Memory View displays the list of 32 SCENE memories, as well as the currently selected scene. A SCENE is a memory preset containing all of the channel and routing settings associated with a given application. Each scene may be named and also assigned to be a power-on default.

The Main I/O Configuration View - This window provides an overview of the entire unit’s Input / Output configuration. It will show all channel names, available DSP & signal routing. Clicking on any “block” will call up that parameter in the edit window below.

The Active Edit View displays the currently selected parameter. When editing a parameter in the main view window, that channel & the specific parameter will be highlighted in both windows.

Tech Tip: Guide to Troubleshooting

By Rick Escobar - Product Support Assistant Manager

We have all been there. Something we are working on just will not work and we find our shelves stumped. I’m going to do my best to offer a process for working through any problem.

Where’s the problem? It’s often the simple stuff that gets you. I find it best to first establish where it is working and reverse engineer from there. Let’s take a simple system that consists of an iPod audio source, amplifier/mixer, and speakers. In this case everything seems fine but no sound is coming out of the speakers.

Is there signal from the iPod? Using a pair of head phones will quickly establish if there is a signal.
 
Test the Cable
Is the volume up on the amplifier? Try different Inputs. Is there an auxiliary output you can listen to?If the amplifier is verified as working then try a short cable to a known working speaker and connect to your amplifier output. This will rule out any wiring issues.

Now let’s look at some tools useful for troubleshooting.

• Product Knowledge: Having some information on the product capabilities and requirements can be invaluable. This is especially true for more complicated systems. This includes reading the manual, no one likes to do it but the solution may be just an index away. Of with a PDF ctrl F and a key word search is your friend.
• System Knowledge: For example a microphones require pre amplification so hooking up to a line level input may produce nothing or a very low signal. The Devil will be in the details.
• The Internet: It’s amazing the amount of information that is out there. Sometimes a quick search will turn up a quick solution. I may be someone has already had the same issue. This also would include user groups. There are tons of these for all kinds of subjects and in general these groups are very helpful.
• Tech Support: When all else fails, break glass in case of emergency.

How to explain a problem so that even an engineer will understand it.

The best problem descriptions look more like a cooking recipe than anything else. You will get what is a being made, a summary of what it may taste like and steps to reproduce and an expected result. 
Here’s a example of a Cake Gone Bad:
Mom's Chocolate Cake
Summary: The Cake did not rise
Recipe:
Mix batter per instructions
Cook at 325 for 2 hours
Result: Cake did not rise
Expected: Cake should have risen
 
Now the chief could look at this, review the mixing instructions and other steps. Maybe it was the incorrect temperature, maybe the yeast was bad. But from this point it is easy to keep moving forward to find a solution.

I tried to keep this short and to the point, of course a complicated problem can be very time intensive but the process of moving forward to a solution pretty much stays the same.

When all else fails, don't hesitate to give my team a call at 800-733-4748.