ELK M1G Audio Amp On/Off Events

[fcwilt]

Hi,

It is possible to create rules in an ELK M1G using AUDIO AMP ON/OFF events. When exactly are these events fired?

This is what I am trying to do and the reason for my question.

The ELK M1G was retrofitted to my home where the original alarm system only had one speaker per floor. As the home is somewhat large, to be able to hear the speakers everywhere the volume for output 1 on the ELK needs to be set rather high. This makes the volume TOO high for those areas close to the speakers.

I have a while house audio system with 12 pairs of speakers in various rooms on the house. I was thinking that if there was a "signal" I could use from the ELK that was active whenever it was making a voice announcement, I could devise some hardware (some relays, an amp, etc) that could grab control on the whole house speakers for the duration of the announcement.

I have tested the AUDIO AMP ON/OFF events for a few conditions and it seems like they MIGHT do the trick but I cannot find any documentation that states clearly and completely when these events are fired.

Thanks much!

 

[fcwilt]

No takers?

 

[Lagerhead]

I have tested the AUDIO AMP ON/OFF events for a few conditions and it seems like they MIGHT do the trick but I cannot find any documentation that states clearly and completely when these events are fired.

Haven't had a need for this function so I don't have first-hand information. Most of us resort to experiments, as you have, owing to the Elk documentation not covering the topic. For my part, I just try to be diligent and thorough in these tests, and then cautiously rely on the results of my testing.

 

[tmbrown97]

If for any reason that doesn't work, there's also always the option of some auto-sensing devices that can high-level audio and trigger a zone... but I second Lagerhead - I've found a trick or two through experimentation as well.

 

[fcwilt]

If it's not documented I will just have to give it a try.

Thanks to all.

 

[Spanky]

Sometimes we sneak in features and do not tell the documentation people. B)

The Rule for Audio Amp On and OFF, fires slightly before the speech starts and fires off when the speech stops.

 

[felixrosbergen]

Sometimes we sneak in features and do not tell the documentation people. B)

The Rule for Audio Amp On and OFF, fires slightly before the speech starts and fires off when the speech stops.

Thats seems reasonable .....well.....sensible...not sure why somebody would expect it to work differently.

If the amps you're triggering (say with a 12v trigger of an Elk Ouput) has a delay...how do we handle this? Is there a delay parameter in the Elk? Do you need to change the speech rules to start of with multiple instances of '200ms silence'?

 

[fcwilt]

Sometimes we sneak in features and do not tell the documentation people. B)

The Rule for Audio Amp On and OFF, fires slightly before the speech starts and fires off when the speech stops.

Only for speech then - not alarm sounds?

 

[tmbrown97]

It's probably safe to assume it'll work for alarm sounds as well - anything that uses the amp.