Lectrosonics PT3 - Manual (Page 6)

The PT3 software comes with a large list of common LecNet actions for a wide variety of LecNet devices. This list is
stored as a separate disk file (actions.ini) which may be updated from Lectrosonics’s web site as new LecNet
devices are introduced (see ACTION AND MONITOR FILES in the ADVANCED CONCEPTS section for the web
address). The list is also user-extensible, via the user-friendly Actions Master List editor.
MONITORS
In AMX installations, it is sometimes useful for AMX levels and channels to automatically track with changes to a
LecNet device. For example, a touch panel button could be made to darken whenever a particular microphone on an
automatic mixer is in use. The PT3 can monitor LecNet devices for status information, notifying the AMX master
whenever changes occur.
Monitors are named LecNet status inquiries, which may be used with little regard for the underlying byte sequences
or timings. The PT3 can continually issue selected status inquiries (monitors) and relay any changes via an AXlink
level or channel (
AXlink mapping). These monitors and AXlink mappings comprise the monitor map, which is
simply a list of LecNet monitors and their associated AXlink mappings.
The PT3 software comes with a large list of common LecNet monitors for a wide variety of LecNet devices. This list is
stored as a separate disk file (monitors.ini) which may be updated from Lectrosonics’s web site as new LecNet
devices are introduced (see ACTION AND MONITOR FILES in the ADVANCED CONCEPTS section for the web
address). The list is also user-extensible, via the user-friendly Monitors Master List editor.
STRINGS
In AMX installations, it is sometimes necessary to send exact byte sequences to the LecNet and examine the re­
turned string directly. While actions and monitors make the most common interfacing tasks trivially simple to config­
ure, in some cases they are not sufficient. For example, if an AXCESS program wished to query a specific LecNet
address and receive the string identifying the type of device attached (e.g. “AM8”), it would have to use strings to do it.
Actions fetch no response, and monitors repeat continuously and only return numeric information. Sometimes a
LecNet command is simply too long to be expressed as an action, in which case the strings capability must be used.
PT3 strings are still much easier to use than an RS-232 port. The LecNet address, byte sequence, and reply length
(if any) are sent directly to the PT3 as a single SEND_STRING command. The reply is automatically accumulated in
a buffer, as with any AMX-compatible device. LecNet protocol timings are handled transparently by the PT3.
SETTING UP THE PT3
Preparing the PT3 for use mostly involves using the PT3 software to describe your setup. In AMX installations, some
AXCESS programming is also required, as it is with any AMX-compatible device. Once a configuration has been
described, it should be saved to disk. It can then be transmitted to the PT3, which will start performing the new
translations immediately. PT3 settings persist when the device is powered off.
MAIN WINDOW
The main window provides an at-a-glance overview of the PT3 setup currently being edited.
On the left side is the LecNet Action Map frame. (For an explanation of actions and the action map, see the PT3
CONCEPTS section.) A summary of the action map is displayed in the form of a list box. To save space, the first
letter in each action summary is either M for MIDI or A for AXlink. Scroll bars appear if the entire list cannot be
displayed at once. The New button adds, then edits a new entry, Delete removes one, and Edit alters the selected
entry. (The New and Edit buttons bring up the Edit LecNet Action Map Entry window, described later.) The Up and
Down buttons can be used to change the order of items in the list. If multiple actions share the same trigger, the
actions are executed in the order shown in the list, from top to bottom. Otherwise, the order of items in the action
map is unimportant. The action map can hold up to 96 entries. It is valid, but unusual, to have an empty action map.
On the right side is the LecNet Monitor Map frame. (For an explanation of monitors and the monitor map, see the PT3
CONCEPTS section.) The monitor map works similarly to the action map, except that it can hold only 16 entries. The
New and Edit buttons bring up the Edit LecNet Monitor Map Entry window, described later. Up and Down buttons
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