I am considering using an AHM vs a few competitors. I just did my first AHM program and install and I was happy with the feature set for signal processing.
The only reason I’m shying away is control of third-party devices via IP is very limited.
When I was going through the online certification training I distinctly remember that it was mentioned that the UDP command be formatted as hexadecimal. What if I want to control something like a PTZ Otptics SuperJoy that only accepts HTTPS strings? Does the format have to be Hex or can it be any text string?
I think if A&H beefed up thier feature set for controlling third party devices it would be my go-to for small to medium systems as I try to use A&H mixers whenever possible.
Strings can be hex, decimal or ASCII, and sent over a UDP or TCP message.
We are certainly exploring ideas to expand the AHM functionality in this area, but I cannot offer any timeline at this stage.
I’ll echo this hurdle as a major factor as to why the AHM may have trouble in some firms and markets.
I just installed an AHM as the core DSP in our theater with a custom control touch panel. It’s great — with one exception: I can’t get a stupid ON/OFF button to fire the Lyntec zones for power sequencing in the facility that needs an HTTP message. While relatively minor, it’s a big deal.
In AHM System Manager version 1.6, there’s HTTP(S) stuff available in the device control section, yet I haven’t tried to use it yet.
I’m not sure if this can be linked to zone mute/unmute, but I managed to configure a front panel button to do something HTTP in System Manager, although not having actually tested it.
I think that many people see a system such as the AHM more as a slave to something Crestron or similar. But I think, for smaller installations, it would actually a big benefit to not have any Crestron system but to do these few things with the AHM directly, like switching on amps or powered speakers for zones. At least in my surroundings, this whole Crestron story means you call someone who is specialized, who does something with equipment special to you as an A&H user, and who you need to call when it doesn’t work. I would rather avoid this for simpler installations, because these often are on a tight budget.
Another thing I have not tried, but that in theory should work: Use Bitfocus Companion as a link between systems. Known primarily for Streamdeck operation, I think Companion can also listen to things happening with sc. triggers, and it has a (simple) AHM integration. A Raspberry Pi SD card image of companion should be available. Companion then should be able to control all kinds of things in the network, from VISCA-IP over Blackmagic video switchers to generic HTTP requests.
Perhaps I am missing something, but… like we have level sensing in the AHM, there should be some kind of general event listener. Events could be like: zone mute/unmute, IP level change… etc. – this could then activate a device control command, which supports HTTP.
I’m well aware that A&H does not try to be Crestron or Kramer here, and it’s also not what I would suggest. Like lowering the blinds and powering up the projector, probably not the task for an AHM system. But there might be smaller targets around there.
Also, how about Open Sound Control (OSC) as device control? It seems to be a simple network protocol and there is so many targets supporting it. Plus, the commands are also very simple to construct for the maintainer of an AHM.
(I see some folks would also love to have OSC in the DLive… Support for OSC - #16 by GHPAudio – probably more to control their DLive than to have their DLive control things.)