Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Axia nodes are intended for use with an Ethernet
Switch that supports multicast and QoS (Quality
of Service). On a non-switched Ethernet hub, or a
switch that is not enabled for multicast, this will result in network congestion that could disrupt other
network activity.
Canada Warning:
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A
limits for radio noise emissions set out in the Radio
Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. Le present appareil numerique nemet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques
(de les Class A) prescrites dans le Reglement sur le
brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le ministere des
Communications du Canada.
Caution
The installation and servicing instructions in the
manual are for use by qualified personnel only. To
avoid Electric Shock, do not perform any servicing
other than that contained in the operating instructions
unless you are qualified to do so. Refer all servicing
to qualified personnel.
Electrical Warning
To prevent risk of electric shock: Disconnect power
cord before servicing.
This equipment is designed to be operated from a
power source that includes a third grounding connection in addition to the power leads. Do not defeat
this safety feature. In addition to creating a potentially hazardous situation, defeating this safety ground
will prevent the internal line noise filter from functioning.
Ventilation Warning
The Axia 8x8 node uses convection cooling. Do not
block the ventilation openings in the side or top of
the unit. Failure to allow proper ventilation could
damage the unit or create a fire hazard. Do not place
the unit on a carpet, bedding, or other materials that
could interfere with the rear and top panel ventilation openings.
Customer Service
We support you...
By Phone/Fax in the USA.
Customer service is available from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM USA Eastern Time, Monday through Friday at
+1 216.241.7225. Fax: +1 216.241.4103. The 24-hour Telos/Omnia/Axia support line is +1 216.622.0247.
By Phone/Fax in the Europe
Service is available from Axia Europe in Germany at +49 81 61 42 467. Fax: +49 81 61 42 402.
By E-Mail.
The address is Support@AxiaAudio.com.
Via World Wide Web.
The Axia Web site has a variety of information which may be useful for product selection and support. The URL
is http://www.AxiaAudio.com.
Feedback
We welcome feedback on any aspect of Axia products or this manual. In the past, many good ideas from users have
made their way into software revisions or new products. Please contact us with your comments.
Updates
The operation of the Axia node is determined largely by software. Periodic updates may become available - to
determine if this is the case check our web site. Contact us to determine if a newer release is more suitable to your
needs.
Our electronic newsletter has announcements of major software updates for existing products, as well as keeping
you up to date on the latest Axia, Telos, and Omnia product releases. You may subscribe to update notifications here:
http://www.axiaaudio.com/signup.htm
Trademarks
Axia Audio
2101 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 USA
+1 (216) 241-7225
Inquiry@AxiaAudio.com
Axia Europe
Johannisstrae 6, 85354 Freising, Germany
+49 81 61 42 467
Inquiry@AxiaAudio.com
Copyright 2009 by TLS Corporation. Published by Axia Audio. We reserve the right to make improvements or changes in the products described in this manual, which may affect the product specifications, or to revise the manual without notice. All rights reserved.
Introduction iii
Telos Systems, Axia Audio, Livewire, the Livewire Logo, the Axia logo, SmartSurface, Element, SmartQ, Omnia,
the Omnia logo, and the Telos logo, are trademarks of TLS Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective holders.
Notice
Warranty
This product is covered by a five year limited warranty, the full text of which is included in the rear
section of this manual.
Service
You must contact Axia before returning any equipment for factory service. Axia will issue a Return
Authorization number, which must be written on the
exterior of your shipping container. Please do not
include cables or accessories unless specifically requested by the Technical Support Engineer at Axia.
Be sure to adequately insure your shipment for its
replacement value. Packages without proper authorization may be refused. US customers please contact
Axia technical support at +1 (216) 241-7225. All other customers should contact their local representative
to arrange for service.
If you have not done so, please review that material first. In it we explain the ideas that motivated
Livewire and how you can use and benefit from it,
as well as nitty-gritty details about wiring, connectors, and the like. Since Livewire is built on standard
networks, we also help you to understand general
network engineering so that you have the full background for Livewires fundamentals. After reading
Introduction to Livewire you will know whats up
when you are speaking with gear vendors and the
network guys that are often hanging around radio
stations these days.
As always, we welcome your suggestions for improvement. Contact Axia Audio with your comments:
Axia Audio, a Telos Company
2101 Superior Avenue
Cleveland Ohio 44114 USA
Phone: +1.216.241.7225
Web: www.AxiaAudio.com
E-Mail: Inquiry@AxiaAudio.com
Introduction iv
This manual covers the details of the Axia 8x8 Microphone, Analog and 8x8 AES nodes. However it is
assumed in this document that you are familiar with
Livewires basic concepts, as outlined in the companion Introduction to Livewire: System Design
Reference & Primer manual.
Table of Contents
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Shareable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
. . .
. . . . .
vii
viii
Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Gain (dB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
AES Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Show Source Allocation Status . . . . . . . . . 11
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Destination Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Destination Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Destination Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Output Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Volume Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Output Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Channel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Source Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Destinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
AC (Mains) Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
System Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
IP Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Input Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Host name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Output Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Gateway (Router) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Powering Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Restoring Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Bench Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Selecting A Stream For Playback . . . . . . . . . 7
Assigning Streams To Radio Buttons . . . . . . . 7
Adjusting Output Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction v
Introduction vi
Steve Church
Introduction vii
Introduction viii
Chapter One:
stereo Livewire stream, which becomes available to other devices on the Livewire network.
A front panel headphone jack, LCD display, and control knob, round out the front panel. The control knob
defaults to the headphone volume control function.
In addition to being a handy audio selector for use
in the studio, the Router Selector node can be a handy
Livewire tester/monitor node, for use in the Technical
Operations Center or rack room.
The Axia Livewire Router Selector Node has one stereo input, and one stereo output. The user can feed audio
into either a balanced analog input or an AES input.
The Router Selector node has both AES and analog
balanced outputs. Both the AES and analog outputs are
active simultaneously; both outputs have the same audio
present.
Therefore, each Router Selector Node can create 1
Description
Rear Panel
consult Chapter 2.
Volume Control
The control knob defaults to a volume control function for the built-in headphone jack and, optionally, the
rear panel outputs. Turning the knob causes a volume
indicator bar to be displayed showing the volume level
setting. The volume indicator disappears three seconds
after one ceases to change the volume.
Sync
The sync status is displayed in the upper right corner
of the main LCD display. If sync packets are being received SYNC will begin to flash. SYNC will continue to
flash until the local clock has locked to the network master. Once the local PLL is locked, SYNC will illuminate
solidly. If the router selector is the network master then
MASTER will be displayed.
Meters
The top section of the default LCD display shows the
current Send (local input) and Receive (local output) levels for both left and right channels.
Source Selection
The control knob is also used to select the Livewire
stream to be played. Briefly, clicking (e.g. depressing) on
the control knob before rotating it puts it in stream selection mode. More on this later.
AC (Mains) Power
The AC receptacle connects mains power to the unit
with a standard IEC power cord. The power supply has a
universal AC input, accepting a range from 90 to 240
VAC, 50-60 Hz. A fuse is located inside on the power
supply circuit board
IMPORTANT! As with any piece of modern
electronic gear, it is advisable that precautions
be taken to prevent damage caused by power
surges. Standard line surge protectors can be
used to offer some degree of protection. It is
the users responsibility to ensure protection
adequate for their conditions is provided. This
equipment is designed to be operated from a
power source which includes a third grounding
connection in addition to the power leads. Do
not defeat this safety feature. In addition to creating a potentially hazardous situation, defeating this safety ground will prevent the internal
line noise filter from functioning.
Input Connectors
IMPORTANT NOTE: Axia recommends using
balanced audio for analog audio connections.
If unbalanced sources are to be connected to
these inputs, we strongly recommend using a
balun (transformer) or balanced-to-unbalanced
buffer amplifier at the source device. Such
devices are readily available, for example the
StudioHub Match Jack.
Function: Analog/AES
Not Connected
Not Connected
Not Connected
Not Connected
Pin
Ground
Output Connectors
The stereo analog audio output is available on both
an 8-position / 8 pin miniature modular jack (e.g. RJ-45
style) and a pair of XLR male connectors.
The AES output is also available on both an RJ-45
connector and an XLR male connector. The RJ-45 connector pin functions are the same for both the AES and
Analog.
These outputs use the same pin designations as the
inputs (see Figure 1-2 above).
Analog Output Characteristics
Connector RJ-45 (Studio Hub+ compatible)
Level (selectable)
+4 dBu (+24 dBu clip point)
+8 dBu (+26 dBu clip point)
-10 dBV (+16 dBV clip point)
Impedance < 50 _
Whats Next
Thats the 10,000-foot view of the Router Selector Node. In Chapter 2, we'll learn how we can set up a
brand-new Node out-of-the-box, without ever touching
a PC! q
Chapter Two:
Bench Testing
Powering Up
When the Livewire Router Selector node is powered
on you should observe the following: The eight Radio
buttons should illuminate briefly, and after a short period
of time the LCD display will illuminate and display the
default screen (showing the meters and the stream currently selected).
Restoring Defaults
To restore the Livewire node to the default settings
follow the steps below:
1. Power the node OFF.
2. Depress and hold the control knob.
3. Power ON the unit while continuing to hold the control knob.
4. After about 8 seconds, you will see Hold knob for
3 Seconds to reset factory defaults displayed. If you
release the knob within 3 seconds, no changes will
occur. If you continue to hold the knob, the default
settings will be set and the screen will be go dark. At
this time release the knob.
Two Livewire Router Selector nodes may be connected together in Point to point mode (e.g. Ethernet snake mode) to verify operation of the units. When
connected in this way the audio fed to Audio Input of
node A will be output on Audio Output of node B
whereas the audio on Audio Input of node B will be
output on Audio Output of node A. To connect two
units in point to point fashion follows these steps:
0.0.0.0, so unless the unit has previously been programmed, the screen will show 000.000.000.000.
2. Click the control knob once. The first digit of the
existing IP address will be highlighted. Rotate the
control knob to set the first digit and then click to
move to the next digit.
3. Continue until all digits of the IP address have been
entered. After entering the last digit clicking will
complete the entry process.
4. Make note of the IP address you have entered, so
that you can access the Node using a Web browser,
see Chapter 3.
5. The Subnet Mask (required) and Gateway IP address
(optional) are entered in the same way as the IP address.
6. To return to the main screen, rotate the control knob
anti-clockwise until [X] is displayed and then press.
If you have read the Introduction to Livewire: System Design Reference & Primer Manual, you will know
that each stream must have a unique channel number, so
dont forget that now.
To program the nodes Transmit Channel follow
these steps:
1. Starting from the metering screen, press and hold
the control knob for 5 seconds. Once the System
Menu is displayed turn the knob clockwise until Tx
Channel is highlighted. The default Tx Channel
is 00000, so unless the unit has previously been
programmed, the screen will show this value.
2. Click the control knob once. The first digit of the
existing Tx Channel will be highlighted. Rotate the
control knob to set the first digit and then click to
move to the next digit.
Operation
Whats Next
In our youth we
never dreamed that, one day, streams
Chapter Three:
Advanced Programming
This chapter will walk you through the use of the
Router Selector Nodes built in web pages to
configure advanced features quickly, easily.
and remotely!
3: Advanced Programming 9
All of the nodes parameters may be configured using the nodes web configuration pages.
To access the web server from a computer, the
computer and node must be connected to the
same LAN (or, the computer and Node can be
connected using a crossover 10/100 BaseT Ethernet cable). To connect, open your web
browser and enter the IP address of the node to be configured. Your browser should now display the nodes
home page, with links to the various functions available
Shareable
This is a feature provided for backward compatibility with SmartSurface consoles. This interlock prevents
multiple consoles from sending simultaneous backfeeds
or logic commands to a single source. A red lock indicates a console has locked the source and it is available
to other consoles in listen-only mode.
Gain (dB)
This allows you to change the input gain in the digital domain. Care must be taken to ensure peak levels do
not exceed 0 dBfs to prevent clipping. A gain range of up
to +/- 12 dB may be selected in steps of 0.1 dB. Enter a
value and click apply to make the change.
The analog line inputs clip point remains at +24
dBu so this level must not be exceeded. The
rare device with a clip point in excess of +24
dBu will require an external pad.
The Gain setting may be use to adjust for differing peak output levels between different +4 nominal
equipment, or it can be used to accommodate analog
sources that are below +4 nominal levels.
The default setting of 0 dB accommodates input levels at nominal levels of +4 dBu with a clip
point of 24 dBu (e.g. 20 dB headroom). When
feeding the nodes inputs from a +4 nominal
device that clips at some lower level (for example +18 dBu, e.g. 14 dB headroom), you can adjust the gain (by 6 dB in our example). to match
this devices clip point to the nodes 0 dBfs point.
3: Advanced Programming 10
Destination Name
This is the name used to identify this
destination (local output) within the
Livewire network. While these names are
optional, we encourage you use them to
describe what is wired to the node output.
Destination Channel
These are the Livewire channels to be
routed to each local output. If the channel
3: Advanced Programming 11
3: Advanced Programming 12
What does this all mean in practice? If the destination is a codec or hybrid youll set the Destination Type
to To Source and use the same Channel number as the
stream representing the Codec or Hybrids output (the
caller or far end codec audio).
Output Load
This setting has two options. The usual selection is
Hi-Z and is used when the nodes outputs are fed to High
impedance destination devices.
If the node is feeding 600 Ohm
inputs (very rare these days)
the 600 ohm option should be
selected. This boosts the nodes
output level by ~1 dB to maintain true +4 levels into 600 Ohm
equipment to ensure unity gain.
The clip point remains at 24 dB.
Output Gain
An output gain control is
provided to make adjustments
that may be required if external equipment needs a level
other than +4dB. Signal level
throughout an Axia system
should be +4dB since we know
you will have normalized these
levels by adjusting source gain
Channel Filter
Use this to reduce or filter what sources can be
viewed from the front panel but not the web page. Only
the channel numbers listed are available and either a
range or a comma delimited list can be used. Any channels that are the list must also be included in the range.
The list is not in addition to the range - the list is the
only ones that will be displayed. Example: If the channel
range is set to 1-100 and the channel list includes only
90, then only source 90 will be displayed. If the range is
set from 1-32767 and the channel list is 1-100, 125, then
all channels from 1 to 100 and 125 will be displayed. If
no filtering is desired, set the range to 1 32767 and
leave the list blank. Click apply to make the change
Meters
The Meters screen, shown in Figure 3-6 , is a metering screen that shows the audio level of the local source
(local input) and destination (local output) for the node.
The screen is divided into two sections, with the input
on the left and the output on the right. Each section has a
display, with a left and right meter for each input or output. Note that the levels shown are in the digital domain,
and are therefore calibrated in dBfs. The color-coding of
the meters is somewhat arbitrary; the meters turn red approximately 9 dB before the clip point (e.g. 9 dB below
digital full scale) but this does not represent an overload
condition.
NOTE: If the meters are not displayed, Java
needs to be installed on the computer. Java is a
free download and may be obtained from www.
java.com.
Sources
While we recommend setting the gain setting for inputs based on the peak output clip point of the source
equipment (see Source Page, above), you can use the
meter screen to tweak input Gain settings by eye if
desired. Use the large arrows to adjust the level by 1 dB,
use the small arrows to adjust the level by .1 dB.
Destinations
This meter represents the Livewire stream being
output from this node. These meters are primarily for
confidence monitoring. As with the front panel, the lower-most segment indicates that the designated Livewire
stream is present, even if no audio is currently playing.
Use the large arrows to adjust the level by 1 dB, use the
small arrows to adjust the level by .1 dB.
unique IP address.
Host name
The name is a 12-character, alphanumeric name for
this Node that may include hyphens but NOT spaces;
those will be converted to hyphens. This name is used
to identify the node on the network. You may wish to
include the location of the node (studio or rack) in the
name for ease of reference.
Network address (IP Address)
The IP address of the node. Each Audio Node must
have a unique IP address. The only exception is when
two nodes are connected in the point-to-point (snake)
configuration. Normally this would be set using the front
panel, but it can be checked or changed from this web
page, if needed.
NOTE: If you change the IP address you will lose
your browser connection when you click Apply,
and will need to reconnect using the new IP address.
3: Advanced Programming 13
System Parameters
User password
This is the password required
to connect to the unit. It must be
at least 5 characters long and may
be as long as 8 characters. Only
alphanumeric characters are permitted. To change the password
you must enter the new and old
passwords and then click Apply.
NOTE: If you changed the IP or
Firmware settings the unit will
reboot. If you have only entered
a new password the unit will not
reboot.
3: Advanced Programming 14
word scheme.
3: Advanced Programming 15
3: Advanced Programming 16
On the other hand, Standard streams dont need tagging, because they are not low-latency. By default, standard streams are marked with Type of Service (DSCP
code points) information in the IP header which can be
used by L3 switches to provide better service to our audio streams than to best effort IP traffic.
of the switch.
DSCP Class of Service is a standard describing the
tagging of IP frames with service information. Network
equipment can be set up to provide different forwarding delay and drop precedence depending on the service
information. Our defaults are compatible with most Ethernet equipment defaults for class of service Livewire
requires; you should not need to change them unless instructed by Axia Support.
3: Advanced Programming 17
3: Advanced Programming 18
Unbalanced Connections
Unbalanced Destinations
To feed audio to an unbalanced destination from the
8x8 Analog node you must use a separate cable for the
left and right signals, and you will need a shielded RJ-45
plug so you can terminate the shield of the audio cables.
RJ-45 Pin 1 will feed the Left signal with the signal common (e.g. cable shield) connected to the RJ-45 shield.
Pin 3 will feed the Right signal with the signal common
(e.g. cable shield) connected to the RJ-45 shield.
An external pad may be required if the destination
equipments inputs cannot accept signals with peak levels of +24 dBu.
the shield. Doing so will not harm the node, however doing so will activate a feature that will increase the output
level by 6 dB, which is generally not desirable.
+
R
+
L
Unbalanced Sources
To feed an unbalanced signal from a source into the
inputs of the analog 8x8 node you must use a separate
cable for the left and right signals. We generally prefer
the method where the unbalanced signal is presented
across the differential balanced inputs of the node. The
handling of the shield will depend on the equipment and
grounding practices used.
If both pieces of equipment are grounded to a facility
grounding system then the shield may be left open at one
end (or both ends), as follows.
+
Appendix A:
+
L
Appendix B:
Appendix C:
Troubleshooting
Here are some basic troubleshooting tips that might prove useful. Dont forget that the Introduction to Livewire;
System Design Reference & Primer should be your companion and has many useful tips. Our on-line forum also
contains tips from users as well as our own Tech Tips section fount at http://forums.axiaaudio.com
Problem
Possible Solution
SYNC indicator on front This indicates that the node is not able to lock onto a clock source. This is because
panel is not displayed.
there is no master clock or a network problem (not properly configured network
switch)
check Ethernet switch configuration
verify that there is a node assigned a clock priority value greater than 0 on
the network
Audio from a node sounds This indicates a problem with the source packet. This can be due to two debad. The meters on the web
vices producing data on the same multicast channel (source channel number)
page show audio. The meters
or also could be due to network problems. If the data is passing through a
on the front display are not
trunk cable that is heavily used (a lot of data, over 50%) data could be getting
present.
dropped. Note that the meters on the front display will show activity if the data
is valid. The meters on the web page may show activity, but this does not show
valid data is actually being received.
Sometimes, on a small network, you may get output from a node but it has
drop-outs and is just not quite right. Check the clock (master/sync) to make
sure your node is getting or generating Livewire clock. See item on sync above.
Appendix C: Troubleshooting 23
No Meters are displayed on This page require Java be installed on the PC being used to display the nodes web
the meters http page.
pages. Java is a free download from www.java.com.
Appendix C: Troubleshooting 24
Appendix D:
Frequency Response
Any input to any output: +0.5 / -0.5 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Dynamic Range
Analog Input to Analog Output: 102 dB referenced to 0 dBFS, 105 dB A weighted to 0 dBFS
Analog Input to Digital Output: 105 dB referenced to 0 dBFS
Digital Input to Analog Output: 103 dB referenced to 0 dBFS, 106 dB A weighted
Mic Pre Input to Analog Line Output: <0.005%, 1 kHz, -38 dBu input, +18 dBu output
Analog Input to Analog Output: <0.008%, 1 kHz, +18 dBu input, +18 dBu output
Digital Input to Digital Output: <0.0003%, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS
Digital Input to Analog Output: <0.005%, 1 kHz, -6 dBFS input, +18 dBu output
Operating Temperatures
-10 degree C to +40 degree C, <90% humidity, no condensation
Axia Audio at its option will either repair or replace the Product and such action shall be the full extent of Axia
Audios obligation under this Warranty. After the Product is repaired or replaced, Axia Audio will return it to the party
that sent the Product and Axia Audio will pay for the cost of shipping.
Axia Audios authorized dealers are not authorized to assume for Axia Audio any additional obligations or liabilities in connection with the dealers sale of the Products.
Axia Audios products are to be used with registered protective interface devices which satisfy regulatory requirements in their country of use.
#1490-00039-000
08-31-05 rev 0.9b RKT
01-07-05 rev 1.0 RKT
05-26-09 rev 2.5 BW/CN
In order to invoke this Warranty, notice of a warranty claim must be received by Axia Audio within the above-stated
warranty period and warranty coverage must be authorized by Axia Audio. If Axia Audio authorizes the performance
of warranty service, the defective Product must be delivered, shipping prepaid, to: Axia Audio, 2101 Superior Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
Axia Audio, a Telos Company 2101 Superior Ave. Cleveland, Ohio, 44114, USA +1.216.241.7225 www.AxiaAudio.com