The myServer 6 media control system supports MANY ways to route audio to multi zone areas.  Here are the most common ways for commercial and larger residential installations.

Definition of Zone:  An area where the audio source (DirecTV, music player, movie player, juke box, etc) needs to be selected independently for that area, and / or ability to control the volume just for that area seperately from other areas.

Examples of Audio Sources:  DirecTV, Cable Box, music player, juke box, michrophones, PC, Smartphone, DJ mixing board, etc.

 

Audio Matrix Manages all Audio Distribution

Here is the conventional way of feeding an Audio Source to an Audio Matrix. 

Advantage: Easier to understand for the end user.  Complete flexibility. 

Disadvantage:  Need an audio matrix that has enough input channels for all of your audio sources.  Large audio matrix systems can be expensive and complicated to program.  Allonis supports any scale system including infinately scalable Dante based ethernet audio distribution.

If the audio matrix hardware doesn't have enough Inputs for all Audio Sources, many installations choose a few Video sources (ie: DirecTV1, DirecTV2, Cable1) that are reserved as Audio sources.  The end user needs to remember whatever that video source is playing is what is being listened to.

myServer 6 supports many commercial duty audio matrix hardware and can control Max / Min volumes, Scheduled audio presets (background for morning, high volume for night, off for overnight), and many other functions that make the overall system easy to use.

This is the recommended method for the best user experience, though the most expensive option.

 

 Video Matrix routes Audio to an Audio Matrix

A more advanced way is to leverage the Video Matrix Switch to send any Video Source to a reserved Audio Output card (typically has an HDMI AND an analog audio minijack or phoenix connector).  This audio connection is then plugged into one of the Audio Matrix inputs. 

One selects a Source, Selects a Video Matrix output (click the "chevron" in the standard sports bar user interfaces to select which Video source goes to the available Outputs), and the selects the Audio Channel and the Zone to where to listen.

Advantage:  Any of the video devices can be used as both a video AND as an audio source.  The Audio matrix can be small (less expensive). 

Disadvantage:  you need one video output card for each concurrent video source you want to listen to ie: one card for Zone 1, and a second for what you want to listen to in Zone 2.  If there are two video cards, then the user needs to select which video card is used for that audio source.  So, not quite as intuitive as there is one additional step (selecting the Video matrix output)  but less expensive for the flexibility.

 

 

Audio distribution with no audio matrix

The idea is to leverage the routing capability of the video matrix without implementing an audio matrix (to save $).

The issue is there is no way to control volume.  Sometimes the "dumb" amplifier has a volume control knob that can be set to a fixed position.  This works, but is not the best, simple, user experience.   If there is no volume control, then the system will be at full volume, all the time (ouch).

For the above reasons, Allonis does not recommend this as a solution.