User Manual Please read this manual carefully before using the Phoenix Octopus For additional help and updates, refer to our website www.phnxaudio.com To contact Phoenix Audio for support, please send a detailed e-mail to support@phnxaudio.com Table of Contents Introduction…………………..….…………………2 Specifications………………………………………2 Product Concept …………………………………..3 Installing………………….…………………………5 Setup Wizard …………………………….. ………11 Setup Utility ……………………………………….15 Phoenix Audio Technologies 1 www.phnxaudio.
Introduction The Phoenix Octopus Conferencing Mixer utilizes Beamforming microphone array technology, provides unlimited daisy chain capability, and allows for multiple connectivity options all in a single, easy to install box. The Octopus gives the ability to mount microphones and speakers anywhere in the room (ceilings, walls, and table tops).
either Slaves or a Master. The Master communicates with the conferencing unit (VoIP, Video Codec or Telephone) and receives, into its microphone inputs, the output of Slave units. Each of the Slaves can act as a lower hierarchy Master (referred to as a mid-level Master) and as such receive into its microphone inputs lower level Slaves. The Matrix microphones are connected to the lowest level Slaves.
Panels Overview • Front panel includes: • On/Off switch. • Power LED indicator. • 1/4” audio Monitor jack – this jack is used for setting and testing the unit. During setup (with the Setup Wizard) the microphone inputs and the system output will be assigned to this jack (depending on the setting phase – see details in the Setup Wizard chapter). • Optional Telephone interface – see details in the next chapters. • • • • • • Back panel includes • Four input XLR connectors.
done with the Setup Wizard and is explained in detail in the next chapter). Connect your inputs to the Mic inputs on the back panel using standard XLR connections (see diagram below). Designing & Installing the Octopus System For optimal performance we recommend the following steps while setting up the Octopus system: 1) Making all the necessary connections, including the microphones, speakers, communication interface(s) and controls.
Two layer configuration with 12 Matrix microphones and 1 podium microphone Three Slave units and one Master Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 If your setup requires more inputs you need to create additional layers; connect the lower level Slaves to mid-level Masters (Link Up to Mic input) and so on. At the top of the hierarchy will be a Master unit. Connect the unique inputs (SR and/or AUX) to the Master unit.
Three layer configuration with 20 Matrix microphones, 1 podium microphone and 1 auxiliary input (tape) Five Slave units, two mid-level Masters and one Master Link Up In4 In3 Link Up In4 In3 In1 In2 Link Up Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 7 In2 Link Up In4 In1 In4 In3 Link Up In3 Link Up In4 In2 In4 In3 In2 In3 In2 In1 In2 In1 In1 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Phoenix Audio Technologies www.phnxaudio.
Speakers speakers’ output into the Octopus ‘SPK In’ jack (black RCA). The loudspeaker signal can come from different communication sources. It could come from the far-end of the IP link (through the USB communication), through the far-end of the telephone line (digital or analog), it could come from the far-end of the Video Codec system (through its speakers’ RCA jack), or any combination of the above. In order to ensure proper Echo Cancelling performance, please follow the instructions herein.
work with any OS for data communication (including MAC and Linux). However the controls, including the Setup Wizard and Audio Setup utility are only available on Windows OS. If the speaker source is not solely VC it is required that the room speakers be fed through the Octopus. The USB and telephone far-end signals are connected directly to the Octopus. The Video Codec signal should be connected into the ‘SPK In’ connector.
In addition the interface includes a double-switch with four positions that is used to set up output level for different telephone systems. Note: the Octopus can communicate in parallel with the VC, IP link (USB), and either a PSTN or DTI the telephone interface (only one telephone interface can be integrated into the Octopus). Two of these three links can communicate with each other (through the Octopus). The user can select which two and set their volume levels separately.
Setup Wizard The Setup Wizard is used to configure the type of unit, the input settings (type, level, and phantom selection) and setup the output level. Additional settings are available through the Audio Setup utility. Those include 3-way settings, color (frequency response) settings, and more, and will be detailed in the next chapter. Setting the units is performed one unit at a time. Plug your laptop to the USB port of the unit being set and run the Setup Wizard software.
When setting the loudspeakers’ volume you should keep in mind that you need to avoid saturating the microphones with the speakers’ signal. (meaning Matrix microphone), SR channel, or AUX channel. You can select whether the input requires a Phantom supply, and if yes whether it is 3V or 24V. You can then increase/decrease the input level, monitor the signal on the scope (on the right hand side), record the signal, play it back and save it into a file.
You can record the output, playback the recording and save it into a file. You can also listen to the output in real time through the Monitor jack using a set of headphones. Note: when the setting of the unit is finished the output of that unit will keep being routed to the Monitor jack so that you can simply listen to all the units one at a time. However, when listening through the Monitor jack you will be hearing the audio before it has been processed through the unit.
Slave Stand Alone unit; please refer to the Stand Alone setting chapter for details. A Slave unit, by definition, is not connected to the room’s speakers or to the communication channel. Therefore the only things you set are the inputs. The Input Setup screen is similar to the Stand Alone units’ setup screen, but it does not allow you to designate a channel as AUX or SR (these channels can only be connected to a Master unit). The next screen is the input setting.
we selected the Tel<->PC option, the VoIP and the Tel participants will hear each other and will not hear the VC participants. However the VC participant can still hear the Octopus and the Octopus can hear it. Additional Settings - Audio Setup Utility The Audio Setup utility can help you set some additional parameters. These settings apply only to a Stand Alone or Master unit. The default setting is VC<->PC since these two are available in the basic module (while the Tel is optional).
The separate volume sliders are available when you select the Advanced mode, and the sliders change their functionality depending on the selection of the 3-way (if the selection was VC<->PC then the sliders will control the VC and the PC volumes). In addition, you can set the Bridge level – i.e. the level of signal going from one of the 3-way participants to the other and back. If you are experiencing difficulty please send an email to Tech Support at support@phnxaudio.
