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ISM4 INSTALLATION & PROGRAMMING MANUAL
12
MULTI-ZONE A/V SYSTEM (Figure 6)
The multi-zone configuration provides automatic power management (system sync) when used with a multi-zone
system controller that does not feature intelligent source power management. Some multi-zone controllers come
equipped with proper, reliable system sync management capabilities (Xantech MRC44/88). Some provide
methods that guess at system status, that is, they will output ON/OFF commands in conjunction with the controller
status, but do not really know if the source components are ON or OFF, while others provide no method of power
management at all. ISM4 is the perfect complement to these last two types of controllers.
In this configuration, system commands are initiated in the remote zones via keypads and/or IR Receivers.
Typically, when the first zone on a multi-zone controller is activated, the controller will turn ON and in most cases,
also turn on a Common 12V Control Output. With this Control Out connected to a SMVLT01 Voltage Sensor, the
SMVLT01 Voltage Sensor will detect the change of state, (in this case from OFF to ON) and show a control
voltage to the Source 1 “Sense In” on the ISM4. (ISM4 System Status is always referenced to the device sensed
by the Source 1 “Sense In”.) The ISM4 will then ‘look’ at the other Source Sense Inputs and if they are OFF (no
sensor control voltage), the ISM4 will output the Power ON Macros associated with each source to turn them ON.
KEYPADS AND ZONE REMOTES SHOULD BE PROGRAMMED ONLY TO TURN THE LOCAL ZONE ON AND
SHOULD NOT INCLUDE SOURCE POWER COMMANDS IN “ON MACROS”. The ISM4 will control the other
devices for turn ON. Additionally, each Source Power ON Macro can be programmed for up to five IR commands
(and associated delays) so if the sources are to be set to particular settings at turn on these commands will be
issued by the ISM4, NOT the multi-zone controller. If at any time that the System Reference Device (multi-zone
controller) is ON, any of the other sources turn off, for any reason, the ISM4 will sense the variation from system
sync (source OFF vs system ON), and the ISM4 will automatically issue the Power ON Macro for the device out of
sync.
In a typical multi-zone system, the connected keypads and/or IR Receivers will issue zone/system commands
directly to the system controller (Zone ON/OFF, Volume, Source Select, etc). (The ISM4 does not play any part in
controlling the multi-zone controller, only the source components.) Some multi-zone systems issue IR commands
for source control from the keypads or pass through IR commands from IR Receivers and zone remotes, while
others generate IR commands initiated by keypad button presses or ‘IR trigger commands’. In any case, the IR
commands that are output from the controller must be routed from the Common IR Output on the multi-zone
controller and then to the IR Control In on the ISM4. The source IR commands will then pass through the ISM4 to
the Source IR Outs. This means the IR emitters for the sources will be connected to the ISM4, NOT the multi-
zone controller. This allows use of one IR emitter per source rather than having one from the multi-zone controller
and one from the ISM4. System operation will be normal and the IR routing will be ‘invisible’ to the user. (This
makes the ISM4 a perfect ad-on for exiting systems with sync issues.) One important note: The ISM4 IR pass-
through is not routed so systems with multiple same brand/same model devices will not have selective control for
tuning SAT 1 or SAT 2 unless multiple IR code groups are available.
Turning the system OFF is the opposite process. Typically, when the last zone on the multi-zone controller is
turned OFF the Common 12V Control Out will also turn OFF. The SMVLT01 Voltage Sensor will detect the
change of state, (ON to OFF), and cut the control voltage to the Source 1 “Sense In”. The ISM4 will then ‘look’ at
the other Source Sense Inputs and if they are ON, (sensor control voltage) the ISM4 will output the Power OFF
Macros associated with each source to turn them OFF. KEYPADS AND ZONE REMOTES SHOULD BE
PROGRAMMED ONLY TO TURN THE LOCAL ZONE OFF AND SHOULD NOT INCLUDE SOURCE POWER
COMMANDS IN OFF MACROS. The ISM4 will control the other devices.