EXP3x Device

Each EXP3x output supports one of two selectable fixed configurations: A Zone Output configuration and a Line Output configuration. The only difference is that the Line Output omits the Zone Processor and Emergency Zone blocks from the processing chain. The reason for including two output configurations is some applications don't require Zone Processing, which provides support for Paging and the Distributed Program Bus. An example is using the EXP3x for analog Line Outputs in a Room Combine configuration, where the Room Combine block in the HAL1x already provides support for Paging and the Distributed Program Bus.

The following sections describe each of the output configurations:

Zone Output

The EXP3x provides all of the Digital Signal Processing required to support eight zones. Each zone output includes the following processing blocks:

• Zone Processor with support for up to 32 Distributed Program Bus Sources, 32 Paging Sources and 32 AUX Inputs per zone.

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Zone Processor in the HAL. See Zone Processor for detailed information.

• Emergency Zone for support of an emergency page source.

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Emergency Zone processing block in the HAL. See Emergency Zone for detailed information.

• Soft-knee Compressor.

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Compressor in the HAL, excluding the side-chain input. See Compressor for detailed information.

• 5-Band Parametric EQ block with High-cut and Low-cut filters.

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Parametric filter block in the HAL except the number of bell filters is fixed at 5. See Parametric EQ for detailed information.

• Line Output with Level and Meters.

note: This block is identical in function and use to the analog Line Output in the HAL1x. See Line Output for detailed information.

best practice: Link to the Level control in the Zone Processor block to control background music level in a zone without affecting Page or Emergency Page levels in the zone.

Line Output

A Line Output configuration provides the following processing blocks:

• Soft-knee Compressor

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Compressor in the HAL, excluding the side-chain input. See Compressor for detailed information.

• 5-Band Parametric EQ block with High-cut and Low-cut filters

note: This block is identical in function and use to the Parametric filter block in the HAL, except the number of bell filters is fixed at 5. See Parametric EQ for detailed information.

• Line Output with Level and Meters

note: This block is identical in function and use to the analog Line Output in the HAL1x. See Line Output for detailed information.

When using an EXP3x in a Room Combine configuration, it is typical to provide a DR3 remote in each base room for Level and Source selection. If eight base rooms each require a DR3 device, you can use the 6 DR and 2 RAD ports on the EXP3x for connecting the required eight DR3 devices. Note that you would link to the Level and Selector in each HAL1x Room Processor block and not to controls in the EXP3x.

best practice: Use a linkable level block before the EXP3x Input to control the background music level without affecting paging provided before the EXP3x, i.e., in a room processor or zone processor in the HAL device.

The EXP3x features two RAD ports that provide local support for AV I/O or additional DRs. Some typical applications for the RAD ports are as follows:

• Pager1 Input
• Line Inputs from performance stage located in local zone cluster
• Juke Box input
• AV input from television/satellite feed
• System output(s) to performance stage
• Additional AV output from system to Bar area or digital signage feed
• System output(s) to filler zone with local amps (Zone processing provided in HAL1x)
• Additional DR port(s)

The EXP3x features six DR ports for support of remote level control, source selection, command and toggles. Typical DR port applications are as follows:

• DR1 for individual zone volume control
• DR2 for individual source selection or commands/toggles

  note: You can use Toggles/Command for preset recall, wall open/close, etc.

• DR3 for multi-zone volume control or single volume with source selection or single volume with Toggles/Commands

tip: Place a DR1 in locations where only volume needs to be controlled from within a zone.

tip: Use a DR3 within a zone if you require both volume and source selection. In addition, place a DR3 at a station that needs to independently control the volume of up to 20 zones.

tip: Use a DR2 for global source selection or to indicate a room configuration such as room combining or for Preset Recall.

Eight open-drain logic output ports are provided. These operate the same as logic output ports found on the DR4.

You can configure each of the eight output ports in one of two ways:

• Toggle: The Toggle configuration allows the state of a toggle control in the Control palette of the Processing Workspace to control the state of the Logic Out port. When the toggle control is unchecked, HAL sets the corresponding EXP3x Logic Out port to logic high (5 V) and when the toggle is checked, it sets the port to logic low (0 V). See the EXP3x data sheet for more details on electrical specifications for the EXP3x Logic Out ports.
• Selector: The Selector configuration allows the state of a two position selector control in the Control palette of the Processing Workspace to control the state of the Logic Out port. For example, the logic output can signal a control system logic input that a preset is active or a wall is currently open. When the selector control is set to the first selection, HAL sets the corresponding EXP3x Logic Out port to logic high (5 V). Conversely, when the selector control is in the second position, HAL sets the port to logic low (0 v). See the EXP3x data sheet for more details on electrical specifications for the EXP3x Logic Out ports.

The logic outputs on the EXP3x are suited for legacy paging systems where relays within each zone must bypass 70/100 volt volume controls during a page. This turns up the remote’s volume during pages. With 8 logic outputs, 8 zones of old school constant voltage paging are supported. In this application, logic ports are linked to page-active indicators in Paging Manager in the normal manor [see paging manager and Linking].