FAQs - vAutomation on LiivController

[Steven C]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the vAutomation 2.0 platform & LiivControllers

See screenshots here - VidaBox on FaceBook

General Questions:

Question: What is vAutomation 2.0 (vAuto2/vAuto2.0 for short)?
Answer: vAutomation 2.0 is the brand name of our custom, proprietary software platform that provides "Total Control of Any Device from Any iPad, iPod, or iPhone." Its runs natively on our LiivController.

Q: What is a LiivController? How does it work with vAuto2.0?
A: The vAuto2.0 software runs on our LiivController hardware, which provides the IR ports, with voltage, current, and contact sensors, RS-232/serial ports, plus TCP/IP communications backbone for control. In short: vAuto2.0 = software, and LiivController = the hardware that runs vAuto2.0 software.

With just the LiivController by itself, you get : Multizone Audio + automation controls. (No additional VidaBox hardware is required).

Q: Do I need a VidaBox media server for this to work?
A: Not at all! You DO NOT need a VidaBox media center or any of our media systems for vAutomation. They are separate product lines that can be integrated together if you wish - but we DO NOT require a media server to be present to work!

Q: Do I still need a LiivController for the iPad controls, if I already have a VidaBox media server / center?
A: Yes - if you want iPad Controls, a LiivController is required.
iPad controls are powered by vAutomation 2.0 software, which runs exclusively on the LiivController.

Q: When will this be available?
A: Production units will start shipping on/after September of this year, and will be available via dealers / integrators, or via select physical and online retail outlets, depending on your region.

Multi-room Audio Feature:

Q: How does the multi-room audio feature work?
A: Every LiivController already has multi-room audio distribution capabilities built-in, starting with our 4-zone LC-200 LiivController, or our 12-zone LC-500 LiivController. Simply connect its 4 or 12 audio outputs to a multi-channel amplifer - and you're set!

Q: Where can the music be stored? Can it work with NAS devices?
A: On the LC-500, the system will have 1-Step Drop-n-Rip that archives the music onto its onboard storage - that's where the music will be stored. Both the LC-200 & LC-500 can be pointed towards NAS devices and pull music across the network from those devices as well.

Q: What kind of audio outputs do the systems have?
A: Both LC-200 and LC-500 will have 3.5mm line-level, unamplified outputs. You need to connect this to a multi-channel amp before connecting it to speakers. We will have a recommended list of amplifiers for best / cleanest sound & performance at the time of release.

Q: Do I need an additional audio matrix switcher?
A: No! The beauty of the LiivController is that it can synchronize its outputs internally, eliminating an expensive matrix switcher! Just add amplification & your favorite speakers to enjoy!

iPad / iPod / iPhone Browsing:

Q: How does the music cover art browsing work? What hardware is required?
A: For music browsing, only the LiivController, WiFi Router/Access Point, & an iOS device is needed. The music cover arts will show up once properly configured and detected. It's designed to be very simple

Q: How does the movies cover art browsing work? What hardware is required to get that to work?
A: For the movie browsing to work, you would need to add a VidaBox media center, or server-extender combination. Our systems will auto-magically connect to each other after the initial setup, allowing you to browse for both movies and music via the iPad! Non-VidaBox media centers/extenders will not work.


Integrating non-VidaBox media servers:

Q: I already have a non-VidaBox media center / extender - can I get music cover art browsing to work as shown in the demo?
A: Yes - as long as you set up the shares/permissions correctly. You can set shares to be open on your server, then detect/link them in the vAuto2.0 GUI, and the LiivController will then access these music shares across the network & stream MP3s, WAVs, AAC, FLAC, and WMAs stored on the system.

Q: What about movie browsing with non-VidaBox media centers/extenders? Will the Blu-ray/DVD movie browsing work as shown in the demo?
A: No. Only VidaBox media centers & extenders will integrate with our movie browsing function.

Q: What if I buy a VidaBox chassis and build my own system? Would I be able to get access to the software and browse my movies that way since the case is a VidaBox piece of hardware?
A: No. It is not a complete VidaBox system.


vAutomation 1.0 vs 2.0

Q: What's similar between vAutomation 2.0 & vAutomation 1.0 (the original, CQC-based version?)
A: Here's the breakdown:

Similarities:
- Both feature touch-panel based controls
- Both are ideal for AV integration

Differences:
- vAuto2.0 has multiroom audio support build in. vAuto1.0 does not.
- vAuto2.0 works natively w. iPad/iPod/iPhones. vAuto1.0 is designed to run on more proprietary tablet-style touch panels.
- vAuto2.0 is not fully customizable; vAuto1.0 is.
- In terms of difficulty, vAuto2.0 is far easier to program then vAuto1.0 - but it's not as powerful/flexible.
- When considering cost, vAuto2.0 projects can be started at a much lower price point compared to vAuto1.0

Q: Can I upgrade my projects from vAuto1 to vAuto2?
A: Possibly - note that there are significant design differences between the two platforms. Dealers and integrators will need to determine if the newer, yet simpler platform will fit their clients needs.

Q: Will vAuto1.0 still be available?
A: Yes - as stated in the Q3 2010 pricing update, vAuto1 availability and support will continue into Nov. of 2011, so that all dealers will always have a vAutomation control option available.


Miscellaneous

Q: Can I buy the vAutomation 2.0 software by itself?
A: No, it is tied to our LiivControllers. We do not sell software separately.

____________________

Didn't see your question answered?
Register on the forum and reply here!

(Please, no emails/calls for yet-to-be-released products.)

[VidaBox]

Question:

Can I hook up the Lutron HomeWorks Processsor and Russound Processor via RS232 ports to LiivController, create a interface layout (do you have a predefined modules written with RS commands for those systems maybe?) and use iPad’s around the house to manage those subsystems via the LiivController?

Answer:

Yes - the most recommended way to do this is to add a simple button via the vAuto2.0 GUI to send out 1-way RS-232 or TCP/IP commands to your Lutron, Russound, or any other processors to execute specific actions - such as lighting scenes for the Lutron or all on/off for the Russound. Note that you would NOT be able to customize the interface layout much - it's designed so that it is very simplistic and easy to program.

With our audio server, only amplification is required. A matrix switching system liks Russound is totally unnecessary, and would only add to the cost of your project.

Please note that we do not have any predefined modules written with RS-232 commands. The iPad controls are designed to execute simple, 1-way commands to other subsystems (like lighting, climate, etc.)

_

[VidaBox]

Question:

1. What is the Ethernet port for?

2. Are you using minijack outputs for audio? (I don‘t see it clear on picture)?

Answer:

1. The Ethernet port is for the iPad controls. The LiivControllers do not have WiFi built in, and requires a wired network connection for maximum reliability.

2. All audio outputs are 3.5mm jacks - you can easily obtain 3.5mm to L/R RCA audio cables, or they can be purchased as an accessory as a part of the systems.

_

[VidaBox]

Q: I currently have a whole-house nuvo audio system and would like to see if I can use your LiivController with my iPhone or iPad to control - do you know if this would interface and work with the Nuvo Concerto? Thanks.

A: Our upcoming LiivControllers w. vAutomation 2.0 can make use of a NuVo Concerto, but it's not directly compatible with it. Here's how it'll work:

First, our systems can already do the matrix switching necessary to synchronize audio streams internally - so an additional matrix switcher like the NuVo isn't needed. However, you can still use the Concerto strictly as a multi-channel amplifier, since the audio coming out of the LiivController is line level out.

For controls, you’ll definitely be able to use a iPhone/iPad to control the system directly. If there are existing keypads, they would be obsoleted, and be replaced with iPod/iPhone/iPads as the new interface.

_

[VidaBox]

Q: Can I use video matrix switchers with the LiivController?

A: Yes - you can tie the LiivController together with any IP/232 addressable/controllable matrix switcher.
First, take a look at the video here (you may have seen it already):
VidaBox CEDIA Demo (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgRbDGQuAjk

In the demo, notice that the video source switches between VidaBox and DVR when a new device on the iPad controls is selected.
This is caused by the LiivController sending out a discrete IR code to the TV for HDMI1 vs HDMI2 vs HDMI3.

Instead of discrete IR codes, you can send a signal into matrix switch to switch between its ports.
So, it can be a IP/232 command to switch between Source1 to Output1, and so on.

_

[paja]

Can we connect multiple Liiv Controllers (200’s) over network in different locations with amps connected to each Liiv controller to reduce cabling and booster amp requirements? or is a 500 in a central location the only way to have more than 4 audio outputs?

[VidaBox]

Originally Posted by paja

Can we connect multiple Liiv Controllers (200’s) over network in different locations with amps connected to each Liiv controller to reduce cabling and booster amp requirements? or is a 500 in a central location the only way to have more than 4 audio outputs?

Hello Paja,

Thank you for your interest - we do plan on supporting multiple LC-200s connected over different locations, and they will be synchronized across the network, once again eliminating the matrix switcher requirement.

Further details will be made available to official dealers as the launch date nears, thank you.