Rane RPM 88 User Manual

Page 8

Manual-6

AMX and Crestron Control
There are two ways to control a Drag Net device from an AMX

or Crestron system. Use either Ethernet connectivity or use the

rear panel Versatile Input Port (VIP). Each of the 8 VIP pins

supports either switch closure Preset recall or zero-to-five volt

control of Level.

The RW 485 ports found on some Drag Net devices do not

communicate with AMX or Crestron systems. They are solely for

communicating with Rane's RW 485 remotes.

Many AMX/Crestron applications require simple Level con-

trol and/or Preset recall. This is most easily accomplished using

the VIP (Versatile Input Port) found on all five Drag Net de-

vices: RPM 2, RPM 26z, RPM 22, RPM 44 & RPM 88. There

are always more Drag Net products coming — both hardware

and software, so check our home page for the most recent.

VIP Preset Recall

Connect a switch closure or relay to a VIP pin and short it to

the ground (GND) pin to recall the corresponding Preset. For

example, shorting VIP pin 1 to the GND terminal recalls Preset

1; pin 2 recalls Preset 2, etc. There are more details about this

functionality in the Drag Net Help file and on our Drag Net Ap-

plications page. Be certain to appropriately set the VIP Alloca-

tion in Drag Net's Parameter Window.

If GND contention of two or more pins simultaneously

occurs, the highest-numbered VIP pin takes precedence. For

example, if pin 3 is shorted to GND and pin 6 is then shorted

to GND, Preset 6 is recalled. If pin 3 is closed and then pin 2,

nothing happens -- Preset 2 is not recalled. This permits a hier-

archy of Presets when using VIP pin closures for tiered priority

paging. Since there are only eight VIP pins, you can only recall

up to eight Presets using switch closures.

There are four ways to recall more than eight presets.

1. Use the Drag Net software Recall button which is only in-

tended for the system installer/designer.

2. Use the Rane SR 4 remote to recall any eight Presets.

3. Use a Rane SR 3 remote which can recall any 16 of the avail-

able 24 Presets.

4. Use an Ethernet command from an AMX or Crestron Ether-

net-equipped product.

[When using Drag Net's Auto Mixer/Ducker block, you have

the ability to link a VIP pin closure to a push-to-talk switch in a

paging or boardroom application. When using the Ducker block

in these applications, the VIP pins act independently provided

you Group the appropriate VIP pin with the Auto Mixer/Duck-

er's Input in Drag Net's Remote Map. Again, see our Drag Net

Applications for examples.]

VIP Level control

Connect a zero to five volt DC voltage to a VIP pin from an

AMX or Crestron card to adjust any or all Level blocks placed in

the Processing Map. Use Groups in Drag Net's Remote Map to

link one or more Level blocks so they track each other when us-

ing a VIP pin. Be certain to appropriately set the VIP Allocation

in Drag Net's Parameter Window. When using VIP pins with

Level blocks, set the minimum and maximum for each Level

block by double-clicking it while it's in a Remote Map Group.

This keeps the max and min burdens within the Drag Net device

— but only when using the VIP pin to control Levels, not when

adjusting Levels from Ethernet commands.

You can use up to eight voltage control inputs linked to

Level(s) using the rear panel VIP pins. Combinations of Preset

switches & voltage Level “pots” are possible as long as combined,

they do not exceed the eight pins provided.

Since you can Group any or all Level blocks in Drag Net's

Remote Map, it's much easier to implement a stereo level control

since the Drag Net device is burdened with the task of tracking

many Levels. You can use this to your advantage when using VIP

pins to adjust multiple zones or levels. Since you can place the

Level block anywhere within the Drag Net Processing Map, you

can Group Level blocks at the input, at the output or anywhere

in-between — just place the Level block where you want it.

Ethernet control

Download the AMX or Crestron control code and documenta-

tion from the Drag Net web page: www.rane.com/dragnet

Ethernet Port
The Ethernet port is used to configure, monitor, and control

the RPM 88 via standard 10Base-T Ethernet communication.

Use an Ethernet crossover cable (one is included with each unit)

to connect the RPM 88 directly to a computer. Use a standard

(non-crossover) Ethernet cable if the RPM 88 and computer are

connected indirectly using an Ethernet repeater hub or switch.

All devices connected to the Ethernet port, including

repeater hubs, switches, and the computer’s Network Interface

Card (NIC) must support 10Base-T communication.

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