Zektor Switch Serial Protocol, Version 0.16, 5/13/16
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Audio Control
The levels in the commands are given in 0.5dB steps and use an offset of 128 to indicate a boost / cut
of 0.0dB. Values above 128 boost level by 0.5dB per step, for instance 129 = +0.5dB (a boost of
0.5dB), and 127 = -0.5dB (a cut of 0.5dB).
‘EQ1Z’ Examples
Examples are only given for the EQ band-1 command ‘EQ1Z’, for other bands, substitute the proper
command for the desired band. The simplest form of the command is:
^EQ1Z @1,128$
and causes the EQ level on zone ‘1’ to be set to 0.0dB which is flat (no boost or cut).
The easiest way to use the equalizer settings on the Zektor Switch is to know that 168 is full boost, and
88 is full cut and every step from 88 to 168 boosts the EQ level by 0.5dB, with 128 used to indicate no
boost or cut.
Or you can set a zone to an absolute level, in decibels, by taking the gain (which is positive for boost
and negative for cut), multiplying by 2 (to take into account the 0.5dB steps), adding 128, and using
that as the new level.
For instance if you wanted to boost the EQ level by 9dB, you’d take the gain: 9dB multiply by 2 and
add 128. So ‘level = 9*2 + 128 = 146’, and:
^EQ1Z @1,146
->
Boost EQ band’s level by 9.0dB
would set the EQ level on zone 1 to a 9.0dB boost.
You can also easily add or subtract from the current level in 0.5dB steps, for instance:
^EQ1Z @1,+6
->
Boost EQ band’s level on zone 1 by 3.0dB
^EQ1Z @3,-9
->
Cut EQ band’s level on zone 3 by 4.5dB
When using the ‘+’ and ‘-’ prefixes to add or subtract from current levels, the ‘EQxZ’ commands will
not allow you to go above 168 (+20.0dB) or below 88 (-20.0dB), though it’s perfectly valid to send a
command that would attempt this.
‘MXZ’ Stereo to Mono Down Mix for a Zone
Stereo audio can be mix in a number of different ways. This includes swapping channels, and a number
of ways of creating mono audio.
Command format:
^MXZ @
zone
,@
zone
,mix
Set the stereo mix down of a zone or zones.
Response Strings:
^=MXZ @
zone
,
mix
$
Where:
@
zone
= One (or more) zones to be affected.
mix
= Stereo mix down flag.
0 = No change to audio.
1 = Swap left and right channels.
2 = Mix to mono by adding left and right channels.
3 = Mix to mono by using the left channel for both outputs.
4 = Mix to mono by using the right channel for both outputs.
5 = Mix to mono by subtracting the right channel from the left.
6 = Mix to mono by subtracting the left channel from the right.
