Ross® XPression

This setup information applies to the Ross® XPression.

Cable Connections

The device connects to the switcher over either an RS-232 serial connection to a remote port on the frame or a standard ethernet connection. The RS-232 serial connection requires the USB-to-Serial converter that is provided with XPression.

Switcher Setup

The switcher must be set up to communicate with the CG using either serial or ethernet protocols, as well as associate the video inputs that are coming into the switcher from the CG with the channel on the device that they are coming from.

Tip: XPression also support the RossTalk protocol either directly . Refer to XPression Supported RossTalk Commands for a list of supported commands.

To Set Up Serial Communications

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select CG.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select XPression.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-232.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 9600 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    Software Ver Select the version of software that XPression is running.
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Ethernet Communications

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the net port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select CG.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select XPression.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select Network TCP.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Client/Server knob to select Client and enter the IP Settings.
    IP Setting Value
    Remote IP Address (IP of device)
    Remote Port 9090
    Local IP Address 0.0.0.0
    Local Port 0
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    Software Ver Select the version of software that XPression is running.
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up RossTalk Communications

Note: You can only use custom controls to control a RossTalk device from the switcher.
  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the net port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select RossTalk.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select RTalkXPN.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select Network TCP.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Client/Server knob to select Client and enter the IP Settings.
    IP Setting Value
    Remote IP Address (IP of device)
    Remote Port 7788
    Local IP Address 0.0.0.0
    Local Port 0
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    HTTP protocol None (default)
    Ping Off (default)
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up a Video Input

In addition to the video/fill input coming from the CG, you must also set up the alpha input and associate it with the video/fill. Refer to your Acuity™ Setup manual for more information.

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Source Configuration > Input Type.
  2. Use the Input knob to select the input video/fill source that is coming from the CG.
  3. In the Input Type area, select Char Gen.
  4. Press More > More.
  5. Press CG Setup and use the CG and Channel knobs to select the device that the video signal is coming from.
    • CG — select the device that the video signal is coming from.
    • Channel — select the channel on the device that the video signal is coming from.
  6. Press HOME > Confirm.

Device Setup

The device must be set up to communicate with the switcher using the same serial or ethernet communications as you set the switcher up to use.

Note: This information in this procedure is provided as a guide and is based on the current version of hardware and software that was available at the time of testing. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the documentation that came with your device.
Note: No device setup is required for RossTalk communications.

To Set Up Serial Communication

  1. Insert the USB-to-Serial adapter into a USB port on the XPression computer.
  2. From the Device Manager Console of Windows®, identify the port that the USB-to-Serial adapter is on.
  3. In the XPression application, load the XPression CII Gateway - Settings.
  4. On the Settings 1 tab, in the CII over RS232 section, select the following settings:
    • Port — Select the port for the Device Manager Console that the USB-to-Serial adapter is on.
    • Baudrate — 9600
    • Data Bits — 8
    • Parity — None
    • Stop Bits — 1
    • Flow Control — None
  5. Click OK.