Assigning Audio
There are many ways to configure FreeSpeak II to route audio.
In FreeSpeak II Base, audio routes can be made between beltpacks and external interfaces by putting all members (audio feeds and beltpacks) in a Channel together. In this way, beltpacks, audio and the controller all communicate with each other. A Channel operates as a Partyline or conference.
You can see all active sources in a Channel or Group in the Assignments page.
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Channels are set to 'Talk and Forced Listen' by default. See Key behavior for more information. |
Audio can also be configured into Groups. Groups are programed in a similar way to Channels; simply assign the audio sources to the Group (Group Members) and then program a key to talk to the Group. Ports, the Base headset, and beltpacks can all become Group members. Once a Group member, users will be able to hear announcements to the Group, and reply using the Reply key.
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You can see all members of a Group at a glance in the Assignments page of the CCM. Navigate to Assignments and click the Group tab. Beltpacks will not be visible in the Group until they are online. |
Channel or Group?
Both Channels and Groups are essentially digital containers for digital audio sources, allowing communication between members.
Channel
A Channel operates as an intercom Partyline or conference. All members can talk to and listen to all other members, as long as they have keys to do so.
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The default key behavior setting for a member of a Channel is Talk and Forced Listen. See Key behavior for more information. |
You can see Channel members in the Assignments page of the CCM. Navigate to Assignments.
Group
A Group configuration enables an announcement or broadcast to a number of members simultaneously.
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A group member can reply directly to the announcer using the Reply key. The other group members will not hear this.
Example Group set-up
To set up a Group you must first put the members in the Group. Ports, Beltpacks and the Base headset can all become members of a Group. When the members of the Group are assigned, you must program a key to talk to the Group members.
How to make an audio source a Group member
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How to program a Talk key to the Group
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The default key behavior setting for a talk key to a Group is 'Talk Only'. See Key behavior for more information. |
You can see Group members in the Assignments page of the CCM. Navigate to Assignments and click/touch the Groups tab. Beltpacks will only be visible in the Group when they are online.
Follow steps 1. to 3. to connect audio from external devices to the Base Station, populate Channels and and set up communication with beltpacks.
- Connect 2-Wire or 4-Wire audio devices to interfaces/ports.
- Assign interfaces/ports to Channels.
Setting audio on interfaces/ports can be done from the CCM or the Base Station:
- Port assignment in the CCM.
- Port assignment from the Base Station menu screens
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You can also assign a port to a Channel or Group in the Assignments page of the CCM. |
Assign Channels to beltpack keys (A, B, C, D, Reply)
Audio assignment for beltpacks is always done with a Role. A Role is a pre-defined beltpack configuration map. You select a Role for a beltpack when it is first powered on. The Role a beltpack is using can be changed from the Base station, the CCM or the beltpack itself.
In the first case, it is easiest to use the default Role. This puts Channel 1 and Channel 2 on to the beltpack keys. See for how to do this.
To change the Channel on a beltpack you need to edit the Role that beltpack is using. Find the beltpack Role name at the bottom of the beltpack screen:
How to edit beltpack Role in the CCM
How to edit beltpack Role from the Base Station menu screens
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You can assign audio to keys C, D and Reply. To return the status of these keys to Call and Reply, you must deselect or unassign the audio assignment. A selected assignment turns blue in the CCM. Click on a blue assignment again to deselect it. From the Base Station menu screens go to Key Assign/Role/Key/Unassigned. |
See also:
Registering beltpacks
Roles
Change Channel Key Assignments on the Base Station
The Base Station default setting has Channels 1 - 3 on the first three Keysets. The 4th Keyset is a Reply key.
The Base Station default setting can be edited.
Change Base Station key assignment from the CCM
Change Base Station key assignment from the Base
Configure a one-to-one connection
As well as into Channels, audio can be configured in a point-to-point relationship (for instance, one beltpack to another in a private communication).
When selecting an audio source for any key, (in this example key C on a beltpack), instead of selecting a Channel, select a beltpack Role or port.
This creates a point-to-point connection. A similar effect could be achieved by putting two beltpacks into a Channel of their own.