User Manual Please read this manual carefully before using the Phoenix Octopus For additional help and updates, refer to our website www.phnxaudio.com To contact Phoenix Audio for support, please send a detailed e-mail to support@phnxaudio.com Table of Contents Introduction…………………..….…………………2 Specifications………………………………………2 Product Concept …………………………………..3 Installing………………….…………………………5 Setup Wizard …………………………….. ………11 Setup Utility ……………………………………….15 Phoenix Audio Technologies 1 www.phnxaudio.
Introduction The Phoenix Octopus Conferencing Mixer utilizes Beamforming microphone array technology, provides unlimited daisy chain capability, and allows for multiple connectivity options all in a single, easy to install box. The Octopus gives the ability to mount microphones and speakers anywhere in the room (ceilings, walls, and table tops).
either Slaves or a Master. The Master communicates with the conferencing unit (VoIP, Video Codec or Telephone) and receives, into its microphone inputs, the output of Slave units. Each of the Slaves can act as a lower hierarchy master and as such receive into its microphone inputs lower level Salves. The Matrix microphones are connected to the lowest level Salves.
Panels Overview Front panel includes: One/Off switch Power LED indicator ¼” audio Monitor jack – this jack is used for setting and testing the unit. During setup (with the setup wizard) the microphone inputs and the system output will be assigned to this jack (depending on the setting phase – see details in the Setup Wizard chapter).
done with the setup wizard and is explained in details in the next chapter). Connect your inputs to the Mic inputs in the back panel using standard XLR connections (see diagram below). Designing & Installing the Octopus System For optimal performance we recommend the following steps while setting up the Octopus system: 1) Making all the necessary connections, including the microphones, speakers, communication interface(s) and controls.
Two layer configuration with 12 matrix microphones and 1 podium microphone Three Slave units and one Master Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 If your setup requires more inputs you need to create additional layers; connect the lower level Salves to mid-level Slaves (Link Up to Mic input) and so on. At the top of the hierarchy will be a Master unit. Connect the unique inputs (SR and or Aux) to the Master unit.
Three layer configuration with 20 matrix microphones, 1 podium microphone and 1 auxiliary input (tape) Five Slave units and three Masters Link Up In4 In3 Link Up In4 In3 In1 In2 Link Up Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 7 In2 Link Up In4 In1 In4 In3 Link Up In3 Link Up In4 In2 In4 In3 In2 In3 In2 In1 In2 In1 In1 In1 Link Up In4 In3 In2 In1 Phoenix Audio Technologies www.phnxaudio.
speakers’ output into the Octopus ‘SPK In’ jack (black RCA). Speakers The loudspeaker signal can come from different communication sources. It could come from the far-end of the IP link (through the USB communication), through the far-end of the telephone line (digital or analog), it could come from the far-end of the Video Codec system (through its speakers’ RCA jack), or any combination of the above. In order to ensure proper Echo Cancelling performance, please follow the instructions herein.
If the speaker source is not solely VC it is required that the room speakers be fed through the Octopus. The USB and telephone far-end signals are connected directly to the Octopus. The Video Codec signal should be connected into the ‘SPK In’ connector. All these signals will be summed together and send to the Octopus’s SKR Out jack work with any OS for data communication (including MAC and Linux). However the controls, including the setup wizard and audio utility are only available on Windows OS.
Note: the Octopus can communicate in parallel with the VC, IP link (USB), and either a PSTN or DTI the telephone interface (only one telephone interface can be integrated into the Octopus). Two of these three links can communicate with each other (through the Octopus). The user can select which two and set their volume levels separately. More details in the following chapters.
Setup Wizard The Setup Wizard is used to configure the type of unit, the input settings (type, level, and phantom selection) and setup the output level. Additional settings are available through the audio setup utility. Those include 3-way settings, color (frequency response) settings, and more, and will be detailed in the next chapter. Setting the units is performed one unit at a time. Plug your Laptop to the USB port of the unit being set and run the Setup Wizard software.
(meaning Matrix microphone), SR channel, or Aux channel. You can select whether the input requires a Phantom supply, and if yes whether it is 3V or 24V. You can then increase/decrease the input level, monitor the signal on the scope (on the right hand side), record the signal, play it back and save it into a file. During the entire session the microphone inputs are routed to the Monitor jack (front panel) so that you can listen to it in real time using a set of headphones.
You can record the output, playback the recording and save it into a file. You can also listen to the output in real time through the Monitor jack using a set of headphones. Note: when the setting of the unit is finished the output of that unit will keep being routed to the Monitor jack so that you can simply listen to all the units one at a time. The Output slider controls the output level of all the different system’s outputs at the same time, including USB, VC and telephone (when applicable).
explanation on how to set the input levels. Master The first screen in setting a Master unit is setting the speakers’ volume, which is similar to the first screen of a Stand Alone unit; please refer to the Stand Alone setting chapter for details. The next screen is the input setting. A Master unit, by definition, is not connected to Matrix microphones; therefore the inputs selection is limited to Slave, SR, and Aux. See the details on setting SR and Aux channels in the Stand Alone chapter.
the Tel<->PC option, the VoIP and the Tel participants will hear each other and will not hear the VC participants. However the VC participant can still hear the Octopus and the Octopus can hear it. Additional Settings - Audio Setup Utility The Audio setup utility can help you set some additional parameters. These setting apply only to a Stand Alone or Master unit. The default setting is VC<->PC since these two are available in the basic module (while the Tel is optional).
The separate volume sliders are available when you select the Advanced mode, and the sliders change their functionality depending on the selection of the 3-way (if the selection was VC<->PC then the sliders will control the VC and the PC volumes). In addition, you can set the Bridge level – i.e. the level of signal going from one of the 3-way participants to the other and back. If you are experiencing difficulty please send an email to Tech Support at support@phnxaudio.
