Understanding Virtual Channel Groups - Polycom SoundStructure C16 Design Manual

There are two types of virtual channels in SoundStructure: mono virtual channels and stereo virtual
channels.
Understanding Mono Virtual Channels
Mono virtual channels are a representation of a single physical channel. All parameters of the physical
channel are controlled through the virtual channel. An example of where a mono virtual channel would be
used is a microphone input.
Understanding Stereo Virtual Channels
Stereo virtual channels combine exactly two physical channels to create a stereo pair. All controls and
processing take into account the stereo nature of the virtual channel. For example, when mono virtual
channels are routed to stereo virtual channels in the matrix, the SoundStructure device will send the mono
channel to both stereo channels with the appropriate gain. Additionally, a pan control is available that allows
adjustment of the relative signal level in the left and right channels. An example of a stereo virtual channel
would be a stereo VCR signal.

Understanding Virtual Channel Groups

It is often convenient to refer to a group of virtual channels and control a group of virtual channels with a
single command. Virtual channel groups are used with SoundStructure products to create a single object
made up of loosely associated virtual channels. Once a virtual channel group has been created, all
commands to a virtual channel group will affect the virtual channels that are defined as part of the virtual
channel group and command acknowledgments from all the members of the virtual channel group will be
returned. Virtual channel groups may be thought of as a wrapper around a number of virtual channels as
shown in the following figure.
Virtual Channel Groups
p
Physical
Channel
As an example of a virtual channel group, consider in the following figure the creation of the virtual channel
group "Mics" made up of the entire collection of individual microphone virtual channels in a room. Once the
virtual channel group "Mics" has been created, it is possible to configure and control all the microphones at
the same time by operating on the "Mics" virtual channel group.
It is possible to have multiple virtual channel groups that include the same virtual channels. Commands can
be sent to the particular virtual channel group will affect the members of the group and those members will
respond with the appropriate command acknowledgments.
Polycom, Inc.
Virtual Channel Group
Physical Physical
Channel Channel
Physical
Physical Physical
Channel Channel
Channel
Left Right
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