User`s guide
Connecting GPIO • 33
Version 1.2 July 2010
Appendix B: Connecting GPIO
This  Appendix  will  give  you  some  basic  informa-
tion on GPIO  (General Purpose Input Output)  ports. 
Please refer to the manuals supplied with your Element 
or GPIO node for more details on integration with other 
non-intercom GPIO.
GPIO Port Definitions
Axia  GPIO  devices  utilize  DB-15 connectors  on 
their back panels. Each connector (also known as a 
GPIO  port) can  be  associated  with  the  logic  functions 
of a device in your studio. Each GPIO port and provides 
five  opto-isolated  inputs  and  five opto-isolated  outputs 
per device for machine control, lamp drives and remote 
channel controls. GPIO ports can also be monitored and 
controlled by our PathfinderPC software.
GPIO ports are programmed to support several dif-
ferent types of devices. How does a GPIO port “know” 
which type of device is assigned to it? 
When  you construct  a  console Source  Profile  for a 
telephone  hybrid,  for  example,  you  defined  the  source 
type.  This  is  important,  because  when  that  source  is 
assigned  to  a  console fader,  Element  console  uses  this 
Source Profile definition to tell the GPIO Node what sort 
of command to send to the attached device. IP-Intercom 
stations are also a special type of source that have pre-
defined GPIO properties.
If Element “sees” in the Source Profile that  the as-
signed  device is  a microphone, it tells  the  GPIO Node 
to send logic for On,  Off,  Remote  Mute  and Remote 
Talk  commands  on the appropriate  pins as defined  for 
a microphone source. If it “sees” a line input, it tells the 
GPIO Node to send Start, Stop and Reset commands, 
plus closures for Ready lights, etc. 
Axia GPIO ports can deliver unique command sets 
for the following types of devices:
1.  Microphone (Operator, Guest, Producer, Talent  
or External)
2.  Line Input
3.  Codec
4.  Telephone Hybrid
5.  Computer Playback Device
6.  Control Room Monitor
7.  Studio Monitor
8.  Profanity Delay Device
9.  Recording Device
10. Accessory Button Panel Device
11. IP-Intercom Station
The pin definitions for the IP-Intercom hardware 
port are provided below. 
IP-Intercom GPIO Connector Pinouts
Pin Function:
1 Listen Active Lamp
2  
3 Ring Lamp
4 Mic Mute Lamp
5 Line Active Lamp
6  
7  
8  
9
10
11  
12 Mute Preview/Speaker Command
13
14
15
The functions of the pins vary a bit for different de-
vice types. This automatically customizes the port to the 










