K R A ME R E LE CT R O N IC S L T D .
Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 2.1 Getting Started Achieving the Best Performance 2 2 3 3.1 Overview Defining the VA-8xl 8-Channel Balanced Stereo Audio Amplifier 3 3 4 Connecting the VA-8xl 6 5 5.1 5.2 Operating the VA-8xl Adjusting the Gain/Attenuation of the Channels Storing and Recalling Setups 8 8 9 6 6.1 6.2 6.
1 Introduction Welcome to Kramer Electronics! Since 1981, Kramer Electronics has been providing a world of unique, creative, and affordable solutions to the vast range of problems that confront the video, audio, presentation, and broadcasting professional on a daily basis.
2 Getting Started We recommend that you: • Unpack the equipment carefully and save the original box and packaging materials for possible future shipment • Review the contents of this user manual Use Kramer high performance high resolution cables Use only the power cord that is supplied with this machine i 2.1 Go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com to check for up-to-date user manuals, application programs, and to check if firmware upgrades are available (where appropriate).
3 Overview The VA-8xl 8-Channel Balanced Stereo Audio Amplifier is a high−performance 8-channel, balanced stereo input volume controller for balanced audio signals on terminal block connectors. The volume of each L and R stereo channel can be adjusted independently of the other stereo channel. In particular, the VA-8xl features: • A digitally controlled volume control function, with gain from -95dB (attenuation) up to +31dB (amplification) - in increments of 0.
4 Figure 1: VA-8xl 8-Channel Balanced Stereo Audio Amplifier Front Panel Feature Function 1 POWER Switch Illuminated switch supplying power to the unit 2 CHANNEL SELECTOR Buttons (a). Select/deselect the stereo channel (from 1 to 8) (b). Select a setup number (from 1 to 15) 3 4 5 6 LEVEL Control Buttons # DOWN (a). Decreases the volume in increments of 0.5dB from -95dB to +31dB gain (b). Stores the current setting in the non-volatile memory LEFT Selects/deselects the left channel UP (a).
VA-8xl – Overview Figure 2: VA-8xl 8-Channel Balanced Stereo Audio Amplifier Rear Panel # Feature 9 IN Terminal Block Connectors Function Connect to audio sources (from 1 to 8) 10 OUT Terminal Block Connectors Connect to audio acceptors (from 1 to 8) 11 RS-485 Detachable Terminal Block Port Pin # 1 is for Ground; Pin # 2 is for +; Pin # 3 is for – 12 RS-232 9-pin D-sub Port Connects to the PC or the Remote Controller 13 SETUP DIP-switches DIP-switches for setup of the unit 14 Power Connec
4 Connecting the VA-8xl i Always switch off the power to each device before connecting it to your VA-8xl. After connecting your VA-8xl, connect its power and then switch on the power to each device. To connect the VA-8xl as illustrated in the example in Figure 6: 1. Using the appropriate wiring shown in the figures below, connect up to 8 balanced stereo audio sources (for example, a tape deck) to INPUT CHANNEL 1 – 8 via terminal block connectors: You do not have to connect all channels. 2.
Figure 6: Connecting the VA-8xl 8-Channel Balanced Stereo Audio Amplifier VA-8xl - Connecting the VA-8xl 7
5 Operating the VA-8xl When switching on the VA-8xl (after a previous session), the VA-8xl briefly scans each channel (stored in the non-volatile memory), showing the settings in the LED displays. After that, the VA-8xl goes to channel 1, and shows its gain/attenuation level in dB. During regular work, the VA-8xl shows the status of the last channel you observed and/or changed. To observe the status of a channel: • Press a CHANNEL SELECTOR button.
3. Press the UP or DOWN button once to increase or decrease, as appropriate, in increments of 0.5dB. Press and hold the UP or DOWN button, to increase or decrease the decibel level by a significant amount. 4. Press the LEFT LEVEL or the RIGHT LEVEL button to set the level. The bright LEFT and/or RIGHT LED display becomes dim again, preventing unintentionally altering the settings. 5.
To recall a setting, via the front panel buttons, do the following: 1. When the LED displays are dimmed, press the UP button. The abbreviation “rCL” (recall) appears in the LEFT LED display. 2. Press the appropriate CHANNEL SELECTOR button. The abbreviation “rCL” (recall) appears in the LEFT LED display and the number of that CHANNEL SELECTOR button appears in the RIGHT LED display. 3. Press the same CHANNEL SELECTOR button again. The memory recalls the setup.
6 Controlling the VA-8xl You can control a single VA-8xl unit (see Section 6.1) or configure up to a 120 channel balanced stereo audio amplifier, using 15 units via RS-485 or RS-232 (see Section 6.3). 6.1 Controlling a Single VA-8xl Unit To connect and control a single VA-8xl unit, connect the following to the rear panel: • PC or other controller, see Section 6.2: “Preparing the RS-232 Port on a Single Unit” 6.2 • Set the DIP-switches, see Section 6.2.
Method B (Figure 8)—Connect the RS-232 9-pin D-sub port on the unit via a straight (flat) cable to the null-modem adapter, and connect the null-modem adapter to the RS-232 9-pin D-sub port on the PC. The straight cable usually contains all nine wires for a full connection of the D-sub connector.
For a single, stand alone machine, set as MACHINE # 1. MACHINE # 6.
Figure 10: Configuring up to 15 VA-8xl Units 6.3.1 Connecting a Control Interface on a Set of Units To connect the control interface on a set of units, do one of the following: • Connect the RS-232 port on the first VA-8xl unit to a PC or other controller, and then connect the RS-232 port on each of the VA-8xl units, using the specially prepared RS-232 cable (see Section 6.3.
2. Attach the RS-232 9-pin D-sub (F) connector (A) to another RS-232 9-pin D-sub (M) connector (B) by connecting PIN 5 to PIN 5, PIN 3 to PIN 2, and PIN 2 to PIN 3. 3. Connect the RS-232 9-pin D-sub (F) connector (A) to your PC’s RS-232 9-pin D-sub (M) port. 4. Attach the RS-232 9-pin D-sub (M) connector (B) to another RS-232 9-pin D-sub (M) connector (C), by connecting PIN 5 to PIN 5, PIN 8 to PIN 3, PIN 9 to PIN 2. 5.
6.3.3 Connecting the RS-485 Control Interface To connect an RS-485 connector on one VA-8xl unit to an RS-485 connector on another unit: 1. Connect the “+” PIN on the first VA-8xl unit to the “+” PIN on the second VA-8xl unit 2. Connect the “-” PIN on the first VA-8xl unit to the “-” PIN on the second VA-8xl unit 3. If shielded cable is used for an RS-485 connection, connect the shield to the Ground PIN.
Figure 12: An RS-485 Control Interface Setup VA-8xl - Controlling the VA-8xl 17
7 Upgrading the Flash Memory The VA-8xl firmware is located in FLASH memory, which lets you upgrade to the latest Kramer firmware version in minutes! The process involves: 7.1 • Downloading from the Internet (see Section 7.1) • Connecting the PC to the RS-232 port (see Section 7.2) • Upgrading Firmware (see Section 7.3) Downloading from the Internet You can download the up-to-date file from the Internet. To do so: 1. Go to our Web site at http://www.kramerelectronics.
3. Connect the power cord and turn the POWER switch on the VA-8xl ON. The LED displays may show erratic data, which should be ignored. 7.3 Upgrading Firmware Follow these steps to upgrade the firmware: 1. Double click the desktop icon: “Shortcut to FLIP.EXE”. The Splash screen appears as follows: Figure 13: Splash Screen 2.
Figure 14: Atmel – Flip Window 3. Press the keyboard shortcut key F4 (or select the “Read Configuration File” command from the File menu, or press the keys: Alt FR). The “Open Configuration File” window appears: Figure 15: Open Configuration File Select Window 4. Choose the file: “Va8xl.cfg” (by double-clicking it). If COM 2 was not selected (see Section 7.2), an RS-232 error message appears. In the “Atmel – Flip” window, the Operations Flow column is disabled, and crosses appear in the third column.
Figure 16: Atmel – Flip Window (RS-232 Communication) 5. Click OK and press the keyboard shortcut key F3 (or select the “Communication / RS232” command from the Settings menu, or press the keys: Alt SCR). The “RS232” window appears. Change the COM port: Figure 17: RS-232 Window 6. Click Connect. In the “Atmel – Flip” window, in the Operations Flow column, the Run button is active, and the name of the chip appears as the name of the third column: T89C51RD2.
Figure 18: Atmel – Flip Window (Connected) 7. Click Run. After each stage in the operation is completed, the check-box for that stage becomes colored green (see also the blue progress indicator on the status bar). When the operation is completed, all 4 check-boxes will be colored green and the status bar message: Memory Verify Pass appears: If an error message: “Not Finished” shows, click Run again.
Figure 19: Atmel – Flip Window (Operation Completed) 8. Close the “Atmel – Flip” window. 9. Turn the POWER switch on the VA-8xl OFF. 10. Disconnect the RS-232 9-pin D-sub rear panel port on the VA-8xl unit from the null modem adapter. 11. Set DIP 7 OFF. 12. Set DIP 8 OFF. 13. Turn the POWER switch on the VA-8xl ON. Upon initialization, the new VA-8xl software version shows in the RIGHT LED display.
8 Technical Specifications INPUTS: 8 balanced stereo audio +4dBm / 30kΩ on detachable terminal blocks OUTPUTS: 8 balanced stereo audio +4dBm / 50Ω on detachable terminal blocks GAIN: -95dB to +31dB MAX. OUTPUT LEVEL: >20dBu balanced (TND +N <0.01) BANDWIDTH (-0.3dB): 20 Hz to 40 kHz NOISE FLOOR: <90dB (GAIN 0dB) THD + NOISE: 0.
9 Default Communication Parameters RS-232 Protocol 2000 Baud Rate: 9600 Data Bits: 8 Stop Bits: 1 Parity: None Command Format: HEX Example (Output 1 to Input 1): 0x01, 0x81, 0x81, 0x81 Ethernet IP Address: 192.168.1.39 TCP Port Number: 5000 Network Mask: 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 192.168.1.
10 Kramer Protocol 2000 The VA-8xl is compatible with Kramer’s Protocol 2000 (version 0.50). This RS-232 / RS-485 communication protocol uses four bytes of information as defined below: 1st BYTE: Bit 7 (MSB) Bit 6 Bits 5…0 Defined as 0. 0 - for sending information to the switchers (from the PC) 1 - for sending to the PC (from the switcher). INSTRUCTION The function that the switcher is to perform is defined in the INSTRUCTION table below.
The following tables define the VA-8xl hex codes for attenuation gain control, amplification gain control and the channel number codes. 10.1 Gain (dB) Mute -95.5 -95 -94.5 -94 -93.5 -93 -92.5 -92 -91.5 -91 -90.5 -90 -89.5 -89 -88.5 -88 -87.5 -87 -86.5 -86 -85.5 -85 -84.5 -84 -83.5 -83 -82.5 -82 -81.5 -81 -80.5 -80 -79.5 -79 -78.5 -78 -77.5 -77 -76.5 -76 -75.5 -75 -74.5 -74 -73.5 -73 -72.5 -72 -71.5 Hex Codes for Attenuation Gain Control LED ---95.5 -95 -94.5 -94 -93.5 -93 -92.5 -92 -91.5 -91 -90.
Gain (dB) -71 -70.5 -70 -69.5 -69 -68.5 -12 -11.5 -11 -10.5 -10 -9.5 -9 -8.5 10.2 Gain (dB) Hex Codes -71 -70.5 -70 -69.5 -69 -68.5 -12 -11.5 -11 -10.5 -10 -9.5 -9 -8.5 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 B2 81 B3 81 B4 81 B5 81 B6 81 B7 81 A8 A1 A9 A1 AA A1 AB A1 AC A1 AD A1 AE A1 AF A1 LED Hex Codes -43 -42.5 -42 -41.5 -41 -40.5 -8 -7.5 -7 -6.5 -6 -5.5 -5 -4.5 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX Gain (dB) -15 -14.5 -14 -13.5 -13 -12.5 -4 -3.
VA-8xl - Kramer Protocol 2000 29
! ! P/N: 2900- 300151 " " Rev: 1
