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Pyxis 3U with Nebula

Controller
Getting Started Guide

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This leaflet is designed for quick reference only; the user should refer to the User Guides for
both Pyxis and Nebula for detailed information.

Nebula controllers are fitted to 2449 Pyxis Control Modules.

Reference Signals For Your Router

A Pyxis frame can contain video and/or audio modules.

Video cards need a video reference for clean switching operation. If no video reference is
present and allocated to the relevant source the module will crash switch at any point in the
video frame.

Audio cards need an AES reference (balanced or unbalanced – not both) to operate correctly.

Configuration: Video Modules

You may have both video and audio in your router. You need to ensure that the cards are
correctly configured to match levels and destinations configured in the Nebula database.

As each video module has no video connection to any other video module the only
configuration required is the control level number. Level is set using one of the Hex Rotary
switches in the front left hand corner of the module.
 Hex Switch Position Logical Level Port Offset
0 1 0
1 2 576
2 3 1120
3 4 1664
4 5 2208
5 6 2752
6 7 3296
7 8 3840
8 --- ---
9 --- ---
A --- ---
B --- ---
C --- ---
D --- ---
E --- ---
F --- ---

Depending on the video module it may be 3G/HD/SD reclocking, 3G/HD/SD non-reclocking or

SD non-reclocking only.

The outputs of the non-reclocking modules will pass SD or HD, in order to meet SMPTE
specifications the output slew rate must be selected using the DIP switches in the front left
hand corner of the module. Each switch is associated with a block of 8 output ports.

LEFT 1 2 3 4
Enable Ports 1 - 8 Ports 9 - 16 Ports 17 - 24
OFF Slew Rate set by controller or HD HD HD
(High) automatically from reclockers
ON Slew Rate set by DIP Switches SD SD SD
(Low)
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MIDDLE 1 2 3 4
Ports 25 - 32 Ports 33 - 40 Ports 41 - 48 Ports 49 - 56
OFF (High) HD HD HD HD
ON (Low) SD SD SD SD

RIGHT 1 2 3 4
Ports 57 - 64 Port 65 - 72 Not Used Not Used
OFF (High) HD HD
ON (Low) SD SD

If you are not sure what signals will be routed to each output set the switches to HD, this will
almost certainly work in most applications.

The reclocking modules will by default use feedback from the reclockers to set the output slew
rate unless the switch override is enabled then the switch settings fix the slew rate.

The SD only modules have the switches fitted but no action is taken and output rates are fixed at
SD.

Configuration: Audio Modules

Audio modules have 36 stereo inputs and outputs (AES or Analog) and 1 MADI (56 or 64) input
and output. The modules are therefore 642 stereo or 682 stereo depending on the MADI mode. A
Pyxis frame with 4 audio modules fitted has a 272x272 stereo switching capability using AES (or
Analog) and MADI I/Os.

Audio modules are designed to be expandable, the destination offset, control level and module
mode must be set on each module using the DIP switches and hex rotary switches in the front
left hand corner of the module.
 Name Type Function
RESET Push Manual Reset of Module
Button
MODE 4 Way 0 OFF (up) = 56 channel MADI, ON (down) = 64 channel MADI
DIP
Piano 1 OFF (up) = Router mode, ON (down) = Transcoder mode
Key 2 OFF (up) = lock to reference, ON (down) = lock to MADI
DIP
3 OFF (up) = Fs is not 44.1kHz, ON (down) = Fs = 44.1kHz
DEST Rotary Destination Offset (Range 0 - 3)
OFFSET Hex
LEVEL Rotary Module Level (Range 0 - 7)
Hex

DEST Module Address Range Module Address Range

OFFSET 56 Channel MADI Mode 64 Channel MADI Mode
0 1 - 64 1 - 68
1 65 - 128 69 - 136
2 129 - 192 137 - 204
3 193 - 256 205 - 272

HEX Switch Position Logical Level

0 1
1 2
2 3
3 4
4 5
5 6
6 7
7 8

2 MADI inputs are available, A & B. If input A fails the module automatically switches to input B.
The MADI output is Dual. Refer to Pyxis User Guide for full information.

Examples of the audio mapping between discrete audio (AES or Analog) and MADI is shown
overleaf. Refer to the Pyxis user guide for full port mapping details.
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Nebula Control
Route Numbering
56 Channel MADI Mode

MODULE DEST STEREO PAIR I/O AUDIO

OFFSET NUMBER FORMAT
1 to 36 Analog or AES
1 0
37 to 64 MADI
65 to 100 Analog or AES
2 1
101 to 128 MADI
129 to 164 Analog or AES
3 2
165 to 192 MADI
193 to 228 Analog or AES
4 3
229 to 256 MADI

Route Numbering
64 Channel MADI Mode

MODULE DEST STEREO PAIR I/O AUDIO

OFFSET NUMBER FORMAT
1 to 36 Analog or AES
1 0
37 to 68 MADI
69 to 104 Analog or AES
2 1
105 to 136 MADI
137 to 172 Analog or AES
3 2
173 to 204 MADI
205 to 240 Analog or AES
4 3
241 to 272 MADI
Configuration: RS422 Modules
The only configuration required on RS422 modules is setting the Control Level using the Rotary
Hex Switch in the front left hand corner.

Label Type Functionality

LEVEL Rotary Hex Switch Sets modules ‘logical level’ adjusting port
offset (numbering)
TEST Rotary Hex Switch Not Used
MODE DIP Switch Not Used

Control Card
2449 basecard 2445 Nebula card
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2445 Nebula Card Switch Settings

Switch Function Selection Setting for Pyxis

OFF ON

1 MASTER/SLAVE SELECT SLAVE MASTER Single ON

Controller

Dual One Controller ON

Controller One Controller OFF

2 µP CLOCK SELECT 10 MHz 20 MHz ON

3 SYSTEM RUN MODE NORMAL TEST OFF

4 RS232 PORT BAUD RATE 9600 38400 ON

5 DEFAULT TRIGGER SELECT 625 525 Not Used

6 RE-CONFIGURE MANUAL AUTO ON

7 DATABASE TYPE FIXED CONFIGURE ON

8 CONTROL MODE GENERAL PANELS Not Used

Note: A configured database MUST be downloaded to the Pyxis using the Nebula editor.
Refer to Pyxis and Nebula documentation for full details.

Database Configuration

If a database is not installed on the router, follow these steps:

If your router has a dual controller configuration, remove the slave controller from the frame.

Install the Nebula editor on a suitable PC (Running Windows 2000, XP or Vista). Connect the PC to
Port 2 of the Pyxis router with a pin to pin cable using the RS232 port of the PC.

Create a new database, dependant on your equipment. When completed save the file on the PC
and download the database created.

You can then (if desired) disconnect the PC from the Pyxis router.
Connecting your Pyxis Router to Panels and Control Systems

Default Configuration of Ports

Port 1: RS422 - SW-P-06 Multi-drop protocol

Port 2: RS232 – Configuration

Port 3: RS485 – SW-P-02 General Switcher protocol

The jumper links and switch settings on the 2449 Controller are set as described overleaf as
default to give the port configurations described above. To change port settings refer to the
Pyxis User Guide for detailed information.
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Port 1

RS422 Control (default = SW-P-06 multi-drop protocol) when used in a Master Frame

EXP_IN when used in a slave frame with a 2451 Slave controller.

SW-P-06 protocol allows connection directly to a control panel.

If a 9 Way interface is required Snell provide an adapter (Part Number HW-RJ45D9SA) which
converts the RJ45 socket to a 9 Way D-Type socket.

Port 2

RS232 CONFIG default – connection to a PC for database configuration, upload or download.

Can be configured to RS485 but disconnects Port 3.

Port 3

RS422 Control (default SW-P-02 general switcher protocol).

If Port 2 is configured as RS485 – Port 3 is no longer connected.

SW-P-02 protocol allows connection to a Snell control system.

Rear Panels
Video

9100: 72 x 72 SDI Rear Panel

9101: 34 x 34 SDI Rear Panel

9102: 17 x 17 SDI Rear Panel

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Audio

9105: 72 x 72 High Density Balanced Audio Rear Panel

Unbalanced Audio

9107: 36 x 36 AES Unbalanced Audio Rear Panel

9108: 18 x 18 AES Unbalanced Audio Rear Panel

RS422

9121: 128 Port RS422 Rear Panel

9122: 64 Port RS422 Rear Panel

9123: 32 Port RS422 Rear Panel

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Snell, Hartman House, Danehill

Lower Earley, Reading, Berkshire RG6 4PB
United Kingdom / +44 (0)118 986 6123 /
info@snellgroup.com

Company policy is one of continuous

product improvement. Specifications are
subject to change without notice.

© 2009 Snell. All rights reserved. 900028-01