Rane Mongoose Design Manual - Page 9

MONGOOSE Design Manual Simpler and Faster to Change Audio Routing In an analog system, audio is often routed by hardwiring the necessary connections. Therefore, to change the routing, you must change the wiring - often a tedious and time-consuming process. With the Mongoose system, however, the audio routing is handled by software. To change the routing, you simply point and click within the Mongoose software application. Audio routing changes are literally as simple as the click of a mouse. Easier Troubleshooting Have you or your installers ever been baffled by an audio connection that fails to work? You've pulled all the cables, installed all the equipment, and, when you flip the switch, you hear silence instead of the glorious sound you expected. You must then retrace your steps and try to locate the problem. In an analog system, wiring mistakes and broken cables can be quite difficult to troubleshoot. The ends of the wires are often hundreds of feet apart in completely different rooms. In a RAD network, the equipment contains status indicators that immediately notify you if there's a problem. For example, on a single RAD, a power indicator tells you if a power signal is present, a communications indicator tells you if a data signal is present, and an Audio Rx and an Audio Tx indicator tell you if an incoming or outgoing audio signal is present. The Mongoose itself contains numerous status indicators as well. And the Mongoose Tracker software, used primarily for configuring the system, provides even more troubleshooting information, allowing you to troubleshoot your system from one location! Components of a Mongoose System A Mongoose system contains three primary components: 1. The host device (called the Mongoose) to which you can connect up to eight RADs. You can then connect the Mongoose to your Ethernet network (for setup and control) and to additional CobraNet-enabled audio equipment. The Mongoose is typically located in the audio rack room. 2. The RADs that serve as the input/output devices located in the rooms in which you want to send or receive audio. 3. The Mongoose software (called the Mongoose Tracker), which you use to configure and troubleshoot the system. Another key player in a Mongoose system is the CobraNet network. Although there may be a few scenarios in which CobraNet is not required (for example, sending audio from one RAD to another RAD on the same Mongoose), in most applications you will want to take advantage of the power of CobraNet. Combining a RAD and CobraNet network allows you to digitize and aggregate scattered channels and efficiently route them to any location within the entire audio system. If you are unfamiliar with CobraNet, you may want to review the CobraNet RaneNote on Rane's website. This document serves as a CobraNet primer. 9