Extron devices differ in how much audio control they expose to Space CE. A DSP provides one fader per gain block, a presentation switcher provides a single fixed fader, and a matrix provides none — even though the configuration accepts a fader pointed at one. This article covers which device each audio fader should address.
In summary: point every audio fader at the room’s DSP where one is present. Use a switcher’s fader only where the rack contains no DSP. Never point a fader at a matrix.
What Each Device Can Do
| Device | Audio level and mute | Faders available | Addressed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extron CrossPoint DSP, MVC DSP, DMP 64 Plus | Yes | One per gain block | Block ID and Channel ID |
| Extron IN1608 switcher | Yes | One, fixed | Nothing. Both fields are ignored |
| Extron IN1804 switcher | Yes | One, fixed | Nothing. Both fields are ignored |
| Extron IN1806 matrix | No | None | Not applicable |
| Extron CrossPoint matrix | No | None | Not applicable |
| Extron NAVigator matrix | No | None | Not applicable |
Choosing a Device
Work down this list and stop at the first match.
- The room has an Extron DSP. Point every fader at the DSP. This applies to rooms that also contain a switcher: the switcher routes video and the DSP handles all audio.
- The room has a switcher and no DSP. Configure a single Program Audio channel against the switcher. No further channels are available, so microphone and auxiliary channels serve no purpose.
- The room has only a matrix. No audio control is available. Program audio must come from another device.
Level Range Units
Minimum and Maximum on a Level are expressed in the device’s native units, which differ between Extron drivers.
| Device | Native units | Usable range | Step size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extron DSP (all variants) | Whole decibels | Set by the gain block | 1 dB |
| Extron IN1608 switcher | Tenths of a decibel | -1000 to 0 | 5 dB |
| Extron IN1804 switcher | Whole decibels | -100 to 0 | 1 dB |
-50 and 0 defines a 50 dB window. The same values on an IN1608 produce a 5 dB window, because that driver interprets them as tenths of a decibel.On both switchers, leave Minimum and Maximum blank so the driver applies its own full range. This is the recommended configuration.
Addressing a DSP Fader
Only the DSP uses Block ID and Channel ID. Three points apply.
Level and mute are addressed separately and typically use different channels. They are configured as two independent objects, each with its own Device ID, Block ID, and Channel ID. On a device built around group masters, a fader typically takes its level from one group and its mute from another. Read both numbers off the DSP file rather than assuming they match.
group is the correct Block ID for almost all configurations. A group master already bundles the levels the DSP programmer intended a user to control. The mic, input, virtual return, and expansion blocks address an individual gain block that has no group of its own, and are rarely required.
One fader can drive several channels. Channel ID accepts a comma separated list, and level and mute are applied to every channel in it. Only the first channel is read back, so the fader shows that channel’s state.
See Configuring Extron DSPs for the full Block ID to Object ID mapping.
Audio Routing
The limits described here apply to level and mute only. Routing is unaffected: every Extron switcher and matrix can still switch audio, including breakaway routes where audio and video come from different inputs, configured as an Input Switch with Type set to Audio under AV Sources.