You are here: Key Audio Design Features > Zone Processing > Zone Processing Examples > Using Priority Inputs with Selection Control

Zone Processing Scenario

Configuring a Zone with Priority Inputs and Selection Control

Example Scenario

You are designing the audio system for a large restaurant bar that typically plays background music. The bar also includes a big-screen TV and sometimes plays the TV audio (for example, if a popular sporting event is occurring). In addition, there are occasional pre-recorded advertisements played throughout the entire restaurant and bar. These advertisements should interrupt whatever is currently playing.

To implement this requirement, you decide to configure the pre-recorded advertisements as a priority input so that when it starts playing, HAL will mute the background music or TV audio. You also decide to use a Distributed Program Bus for the background music so that its channels are available to the other zones in the restaurant.

Configuring the System
1. Configure the inputs
  1. In the Processing Workspace, add the Distributed Program Bus to your Processing Map and configure it with background music input as well as the pre-recorded input.
  2. Add and configure the TV audio input. This input could be a RAD or a HAL analog input.
  3. Optionally, customize the names of the inputs.
2. Add a Zone Processor block and connect the inputs to it.
  1. From the DSP palette, click and drag a Zone Processor block into your Processing Map.
  2. Connect the TV audio to the Zone Processor input nodes. You do not have to connect the background music or pre-corded input because a Zone Processor includes the Distributed Program Bus inputs automatically.
3. Configure the input priorities.
  1. Open the Zone Processor properties by double-clicking the block or clicking the properties icon on the block's title bar.
  2. Open the zone's Priority Selector block properties (using the same method as above).
  3. In the Priority Inputs area, click the dropdown arrow for the first item in the priority list, and then select the pre-recorded input.
  4. Expand the Detector Settings by clicking its arrow, and then configure any settings you like.
4. Configure remote control of the input selection and volume.
  1. In the Hardware Workspace, add a DR3 to the Hardware Map (by dragging and dropping it onto a DR or RAD port). A DR3 is a good choice in this case as it includes both a selector and a level control.
  2. In the Processing Workspace Processing Map, open the Zone Processor's Priority Selector block properties and Level block properties (so that you can access their controls).
  3. Click the Control tab to display the Control palette. Locate the DR3 you just added.
  4. Click and drag the DR3's Selector control icon and drop it on the Priority Selector block's control icon.
  5. Click and drag the DR3's Level control icon and drop it on the Level block's Gain control icon.
See Also