Setting up a CobraNet system

There are multiple steps necessary to set up a CobraNet enabled MediaMatrix System.

Step 1 : The Hardware

First you must configure your physical network equipment. A single MediaMatrix system can have multiple CobraNet networks. Each CobraNet network consists of a CobraNet MediaMatrix interface card, some number of input and/or output CABs, and an standard Ethernet hub.

Each CAB needs to be assigned a unique ID using the 4 hex switches on the front of the CAB. This ID needs to be unique for the entire system, and not just the particular CobraNet network it is wired to.

Step 2 : Building the View File

For each CobraNet interface card in the system, place the CobraNet Interface Device in the view file. This compound device consists of 4 CobraNet Input devices, 4 CobraNet Output devices, and a CobraNet Status device. For each CAB in the system, place the appropriate CAB 8i or CAB8o device. Each CAB device needs to be assigned the same ID as the physical CAB it represents.

Step 3 : Wiring the View File

The CobraNet Input and Output devices are used to get audio on and off the CobraNet network. Each CobraNet Input device can receive a single network channel from a CAB 8i, and each CobraNet Output device can transmit a single network channel to a CAB 8o. The input and output devices can be wired in exactly the same manner as BoB I/O devices in the view file.

Step 4 : Configuring the View File

It is now time to assign network channels to all CobraNet device in the View File. To route audio from a CAB 8i to a CobraNet Input device, or from a CobraNet Output device to a CAB 8o, set their channel assignments to the same number. Only one 'transmitter' (CAB 8i or CobraNet Output devices) on a CobraNet network can be on a given channel, but multiple 'receivers' (CAB 8o or CobraNet Input devices) can receive the same channel. If two or more transmitters are assigned the same network channel, only the first transmitter assigned will be allowed to transmit. If a CobraNet device is not allowed to transmit, its 'Channel Active' LED will not light. If the 'Channel Active' LED is lit, that channel is being received or transmitted (depending on the device) properly.