MatchBox USB Multi-Channel CobraNet® to USB PC Audio Interface User Manual Date 09/10/2009 Revision 05 © Attero Tech, LLC 1315 Directors Row, Suite 107, Ft Wayne, IN 46808 Phone 260-496-9668 • Fax 260-496-9879 614-00004-05
MatchBox USB User Manual IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The symbols below are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage inside the enclosure -voltage that may be sufficient to constitute a risk of shock. This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important operating and maintenance instructions in the accompanying literature. Please read the manual. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
MatchBox USB User Manual Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules and EN55022. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
MatchBox USB User Manual Contents 1 – Overview .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 – What’s in the Box? .................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 – How to Use a MatchBox USB ..........................
MatchBox USB User Manual 1 – Overview Multi-media PCs are becoming more important as media sources, not only in residential settings, but in a variety of commercial audio installation settings as well. The MatchBox USB is a cost-effective general purpose solution for direct digital transmission and reception of media PC audio streams over a CobraNet-based system. The MatchBox USB features USB Plug-n-Play installation at full speed communication (12.
MatchBox USB User Manual An example of use for the MatchBox is in a background music application which could use each of the stereo devices as a different zone in a building. Each zone could then be set up with a completely separate playlist of music. This could be through a single application or multiple instances of an audio player each playing through a different audio device.
MatchBox USB User Manual 2 – Hardware Installation Figure 1 - MatchBox USB Connections As can be seen in Figure 1, the unit only has a few notable external features.
MatchBox USB User Manual 2.1 – Connecting the MatchBox to a PC All connections to the MatchBox USB should be made before the power is applied. Connecting the MatchBox USB takes three steps… Step 1) Attach the MatchBox USB to the required PC using the supplied USB cable. Step 2) Attach the CobraNet I/F port to another CobraNet device directly or to a network switch that is part of the CobraNet network. If connecting directly to another CobraNet device, ensure a crossover cable is used.
MatchBox USB User Manual A standard MatchBox configured with two devices as inputs and two devices as outputs will have playback devices named “Attero Tech MatchBox USB” and “Attero Tech MatchBox USB (2)” but also recording devices named “Attero Tech MatchBox USB” and “Attero Tech MatchBox USB (2)”. Despite the same names, Windows treats recording and playback devices as separate entities and they are all separate devices with separate audio channels.
MatchBox USB User Manual 3 – Software Tools The MatchBox is set up and configured through the Attero Tech Control Center application. Refer to the Attero Tech Control Center User’s Guide for installation and software setup instructions. Attero Tech Control Center includes functions to set up the audio direction of the MatchBox devices/channels and to configure the CobraNet-related features of the MatchBox.
MatchBox USB User Manual 3.2 – CobraNet Configuration The MatchBox is now ready to transmit and receive information over the CobraNet. Like any CobraNet node, this requires setting up the required transmit and receive bundles. The bundle setup is done using Attero Tech Control Center. See the Attero Tech Control Center manual for instructions on how to set up bundles.
MatchBox USB User Manual 4 – Troubleshooting 4.1 – Checking the Network Connection The CobraNet network connection can be diagnosed by noting the status of the LEDs just above the Ethernet connector on the MatchBox. These LEDs will be on, off, or flashing depending on the current state of the network connection. Below is a table showing the states of the LEDs and what device status they represent.
MatchBox USB User Manual No audio is being transmitted on the CobraNet network. o Ensure the MatchBox is running and correctly connected (see above). o Ensure the PC is playing audio and the audio software output is configured to use the MatchBox. o Check the mode the MatchBox is set up in is correct for the number of channels required going to and from the PC. o If using an ASIO host application, check the ASIO driver is installed and the Matchbox is selected as the audio interface within the application.
MatchBox USB User Manual 5 – Architects & Engineers Specification The CobraNet interface unit shall provide a USB interface to a PC, over which eight channels of digital audio may be transmitted or received. Eight channels of CobraNet inputs and eight channels of CobraNet outputs are supplied via the rear panel RJ-45 connector. The CobraNet interface shall provide the option to select the number of audio channels used as outputs or inputs from the PC.
MatchBox USB User Manual APPENDIX A – Introduction to CobraNet CobraNet is an audio networking technology for delivery and distribution of real-time, high quality, uncompressed digital audio using a standard Ethernet network. It is implemented using a combination of hardware, firmware, and the CobraNet protocol. Unlike other audio networking or distribution technologies, CobraNet is a true network and exists on standard Ethernet networks using standard Ethernet hardware.
MatchBox USB User Manual o Unicast – Used for one-to-one connections. In this mode, only one receiver at a time can receive this bundle. Once a link is established from this transmitted bundle to a receiver, any future requests for that bundle from other potential receivers will fail. o Multicast – Used for one-to-many connections. This mode broadcasts its contents over the entire network. There is no restriction on the number of receivers.
MatchBox USB User Manual APPENDIX B – Reference Documents The following table lists the relevant reference documents.
