CMA 6.154 - The D-Box Experience and Signal Routing in the Imagine Lab
Purpose: The purpose of this wiki is to demonstrate the recent upgrades in CMA 6.154 (Spring 2021) and how to experience the motion programming of your favorite entertainment titles with the D-Box chair.
The Imagine Lab has been slightly modified to better fit the needs of the classwork and the students in Erin Reilly's courses. The room is divided into four quadrants:
Quadrant 1: VR Workstation/AV Rack Projection Controls/Light Controls for Ceiling Lights Quadrant 2: Work Area/AV Plug-and-Play Quadrant 3: D-Box Experience/Standalone Playback System/Surround Sound Quadrant 4: Work Area/Light Controls for Ceiling Lights/Light Controls for Third Party LED Lighting |
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Focusing on Quadrant 3, let's take a look at the components of the new rolling media cart:
Section I - D-BOX Experience: Rolling Media Cart Components and How to Display Images on the Video Monitor | |
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The rolling media cart has 7 major components indicated above. The cart is fully capable of playing back media independently of the projection system. See Section II for details on sending audio and video to the projector. The D-BOX chair can recognize and playback feature titles on Blu-Ray discs, DVD discs, or Video On Demand services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO MAX, etc. Please bring your own media with you! | |
1.) Turn on the Video Monitor using the provided remote control. The red indicator light in the bottom left corner of the monitor should turn green when powered on. If there is not a red or green light visible in the bottom left corner of the monitor, confirm the physical power button is depressed under the ↓POWER label. | |
2.) Confirm the Crestron HDMI Source Switcher has power. There are 4 available HDMI Inputs/Sources and 2 available HDMI Outputs. Review the Image to the right with the information below: HDMI Input 1: Sony PS4 Console (Orange) HDMI Input 2: Microsoft XBOX One Console (Green) HDMI Input 3: Spare Laptop or Plug-and-Play Input (Yellow) HDMI Input 4: Spare Laptop or Plug-and-Play Input (Purple) HDMI Output 1: Quadrant 3 Video Monitor HDMI Output 2: Projection Screen/Audio De-Embedder (Down-mixing) Routing your inputs and outputs can be advanced. A single input can be routed to both outputs, or two inputs can be routed individually to each output. We'll cover this more below in Step 4. | |
3.) For laptop playback, connect the HDMI Input 4: Spare Laptop or Plug-and-Play Input (Purple) cable to your laptop. If your laptop does not have an internal HDMI port, you may need to use an adapter as illustrated here. Be sure to bring it with you as well as your laptop's power supply! | |
Once you've connected the HDMI cable, be sure to set your audio and video settings properly on your laptop (Set both to CRESTRON.) In this instance, I am mirroring my displays so the Outputs will be the same as my laptop screen. | |
4.) Reviewing the Crestron HDMI Switcher, routing is fairly simply. Sources and Outputs that are available are Amber colored. Sources and Outputs currently selected and assigned are Green colored. In this instance, I have the Sony PS4 powered on and currently selected. Input 1 is Green but the Outputs have not yet been assigned and are Amber. | |
To select my laptop, I will press the Input 4 button. It will begin to flash. | |
5.) Now that I have my input selected, I need to assign my output(s). Press the Output 1 button to assign Input 4 to the Video Monitor. | |
6.) Additionally, to make sure the D-BOX chair gets the properly down-mixed audio signal it needs to operate, you need to also route your Input to Output 2 by pressing the Output 2 button. | |
An example of Input 4 properly connected to both Output 1 & 2 is illustrated here | |
8.) Once your Inputs are routed, begin to play your media from the start of the program. Please note: always start titles from the beginning. The technology may need 1-2 minutes to accurately synch and load the corresponding motion code. Once the chair becomes responsive, you may jump around the movie to experience different chapters/scenes. | |
9.) Use caution when sitting in the D-BOX chair. The platform is capable of vibrating heavily and shifting axis' quickly. The platform is completely secure, and you will not unintentionally fall out of the chair. Most importantly, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride/experience | |
10.) Dependent on your media, the audio source may be Stereo or Surround. Listening out loud via the 6 surround sound speakers is the preferable method. To adjust the volume:
The higher the VOL indicator reads on the display, the louder your sound/speaker volume will be. In this instance, my volume level is set to VOL 20. | |
If playing audio out loud is not favorable (i.e. others are working in the lab with you), the audio may also be enjoyed via the provided pair of Sony Headphones. The cord is long-enough to reach from the cart to the chair, but feel free to move the entire rolling cart closer to the chair, if necessary. To adjust the volume of the headphones:
ALWAYS EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN USING HEADPHONES! LOUD SOUNDS AND MUSIC CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR HEARING. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO START WITH THE HEADPHONES VOLUME TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE), AND GRADUALLY INCREASE THE VOLUME (TURNING KNOB CLOCKWISE) UNTIL COMFORTABLE VOLUME IS ACHIEVED IN THE HEADSET AND YOUR EARS. | |
11.) For a list of the titles with available motion codes, please consult the D-BOX Plus library catalogue. |
Section II - D-BOX Experience: How to Display Images on the Projection Screen | |
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1.) Approach the AV rack in the northwestern corner of the room | |
2.) Locate the touch panel screen on the AV rack. If not already illuminated, touch the black screen to wake it up. Review the available options. In this instance, let's touch the Room Quadrants Inputs button to select our Quadrant 2 Rolling Media Cart. *Please note the projector screen should automatically lower and the projector should automatically power on. | |
3.) You will see the option to select an HDMI sources from one of the quadrants in the room. This wiki is focusing on Quadrant 2. To enable audio and video playback from the rolling media cart on the AV projection system in the room select Quadrant 2 - HDMI 1. | |
Should you ever need an additional source (outside of those allotted on the Crestron HDMI switcher), you can always plug the HDMI source (from a laptop or similar display device) directly into the HDMI 2 port on the Crestron Transmitter Wall Plate in the northeastern corner of the room. Once connected, select Quadrant 2 - HDMI 2 on the touch panel screen on the AV rack. | |
4.) Now that the AV touch panel is receiving signal the rolling media cart in Quadrant 2, we need to make sure we're routing our HDMI sources properly to the AV projection system. Reviewing the steps in Section I, we know that HDMI Output 2 on the Crestron HD Switcher sends signal to the Projection Screen and to the Audio De-Embedder for down-mixing. a.) Therefore, to route the audio and video from a source simply press the desired input source selection button on the Crestron HD Switcher b.) Press the HDMI Output 2 selection button on the Crestron HD Switcher In this instance, we've successfully routed Input 4 to both the rolling media cart video monitor (Output 1) and the AV Projection Screen (Output 2). | |
Should it be needed, you are able to route one HDMI signal to Output 1 and route another HDMI signal to Output 2 on the Crestron HDMI Switcher on the rolling media cart. *** Do not route two sources to separate outputs if you're attempting to use the D-BOX chair. *** *** The chair requires BOTH Outputs 1 & 2 to de-embed audio and work properly. See Section I for detailed instructions. *** In this instance, we've routed two laptops to two different outputs. Laptop #1 is connected to HDMI Input 3 and Output 2 (Projection Screen) Laptop #2 is connected to HDMI Input 4 and Output 1 (Video Monitor) The routing on the Crestron HDMI Switcher looks like the image to the right. | |
5.) Volume can be adjusted on the AV rack touch panel with the +/- buttons. This will increase/decrease the volume of the classroom wall-mounted speakers. |
Section III - Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): How to Connect and Share Wireless Devices on the Projection Screen via Apple TV | |
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1.) Approach the AV rack in the northwestern corner of the room | |
2.) Locate the touch panel screen on the AV rack. If not already illuminated, touch the black screen to wake it up. Review the available options. In this instance, let's touch the Wireless button to select our the Wireless AppleTV device. *Please note the projector screen should automatically lower and the projector should automatically power on. | |
3.) Follow the detailed instructions in the following wiki. |
Section IV - Troubleshooting Problems | |
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If the D-BOX chair is not responding to the media you're playing back, please do the following: | |
1.) Check the Behringer Audio Mixer to confirm audio signal is being output form the device. Refer to the image to the right. a.) Box 1 - Confirm Main Mix knob is turned up. Preferably leave it at the 12 o' clock position. b.) Box 2 - Confirm 2/3 knob is turned up. Preferably leave it at the 12 o' clock position. c.) Box 3 - Confirm neither of the two push-buttons are depressed. These functions should not be enabled. d.) Box 4 - Confirm all 4 audio cables are securely plugged into their corresponding jacks. | |
2.) Check that the D-BOX chair is currently powered. The power cord and plug should be connected to the power strip on the floor directly behind the desk. | |
3.) Check the HEMC controller and confirm the device is powered on by confirming the power button on the front panel is depressed and glowing blue | |
4.) Check the HEMC controller and confirm all of the 4 cables are securely plugged into the device. Refer to image to the right: From left to right:
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5.) Confirm the Sony audio amplifier is on the correct input. The LCD display should read BD/DVD. | |
6.) Double-check the D-BOX Plus library catalogue to confirm your title has a supported motion file available for the chair. |
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