Zektor Switch Serial Protocol, Version 0.16, 5/13/16
69
Audio Control
The minimum and maximum volume settings must have at least a 49.5dB (99 steps) difference
between them. Any attempt to set the maximum volume closer than 99 steps of the minimum, will
result in a setting of exactly 99 steps above the minimum volume setting.
‘VRT’ Set Volume Ramp (Fade) Times
The Zektor Switch allows the volume to be ramped over time (fading), this global command sets the
ramp time and ramp speed used when fading volume, for all zones. All zones share the same settings.
There are two different ways to fade volume.
1
Fade volume over a set period of time.
2
Fade volume at a controlled ramp speed.
The VRT allows setting both of these.
The 1st parameter of the VRT command is the ‘ramp time’ setting. This indicate the amount of time
needed to ramp (or fade) from one volume to the next and is given in 1/10th of seconds. The setting of
10 would equal 1 second, which means any volume change will take 1 second to complete, regardless
of the size of the volume change. The ‘ramp time’ is the value used when 10000 is added to a volume
command setting.
The 2nd parameter is the ‘ramp speed’ setting. This is given in 0.5dB steps per second. The setting of
40 would equal a 20dB per second ramp speed. The ‘ramp speed’ is the value used when 20000 is
added to a volume command setting.
The VRT command format is:
^VRT
time
,
speed
$
Set the ramp time, and ramp speed.
^VRT ?$
Reads current settings.
Response Strings:
^=VRT @
time
,
speed
$
Where:
time
= Volume ramp time in 1/10th increments. 1 = 0.1 second, 10 = 1 second, etc.
speed
= Volume ramp speed in 0.5dB per second increments. 40 = 20dB per second ramp.
level
‘VMZ’ Audio Mute a Zone using Volume Levels
The VMZ command allows you to mute the volume on the Zektor Switch using the audio processor.
This is the proper command to mute the audio of the Zektor Switch. This differs from the MZ com-
mand which is used to completely shut down, or disconnect a zone.
You can mute to full off, or you can mute by a specific amount, -20dB for instance.
Also available are mute fade options. Instead of instantly jumping to a mute setting, you can fade over
time, or fade at a given speed, to the new mute level.
The mute fade options and mute levels are preset by the ‘VMLZ’ command, on a zone by zone basis.
(See “‘VMLZ’ Set a Zone’s Mute Level” on page 70)
The mute fade times are preset using the VMT command, and the same timings are used for all zones
(See “‘VMT’ Set Muting (Fade) Times” on page 71)
.
There are four options when using mute:
0=Unmute - This disables muting, and returns the volume back to its original unmuted level.
1=Mute
- This enables muting. It attenuates the volume by the mute level (See: VMLZ).
