MSD-MATRIX WEB v. 1.0

The Web-Application

1. Introduction
2. The User Interface
   • Connecting
   • Matrix
3. The Left Sliding Menu Layout
4. System Recovery
5. Software Update
6. Activation Key
7. BIOS Mode
   • Entering BIOS Mode

Technical Reference

1. The Physical Interface

2. The DOT Protocol

   • The Protocol Flow
   • Command Layout
   • Matrix Commands
     • Set and Connect (S,C)
     • Interrogate (I)
     • List (L)
     • Message Field
   • Matrix Responses
   • Power-Up Responses
   • Matrix Identifiers
     • Audio Matrix (A)
     • Information Matrix (I)
     • Control and Readout (P)
     • Response Handling

3. The Low-Level Protocol

   • Break Start Sequence
   • Idle State Re-entry
   • Idle State Command Table

4. The Original Pascal Source Codes

5. Revisions

6. References

Introduction

The MSD-MATRIX WEB¹ system enables web-compatible browsers²³ to interface with MSD⁴ devices, providing control, monitoring, and software maintenance capabilities.

This is open-source software. If you are interested in contributing, please contact me⁵.

The User Interface

Connecting

Please visit the web application for instruction¹. Upon connection the Matrix screen is presented.

Matrix

From the Matrix screen all internal routings can be controlled.

The Left Sliding Menu

Display of the menu depends on the width of the browser window.

Menu Structure

Connect Page

Connect Page
Click to Connect

Main Menu

Main Menu
Preset Select
Application Select
Utility Menu
About Menu

Preset Select

Preset Select
Preset 1
Preset 2
Preset 3
Preset 4
Preset 5
Preset 6
Preset 7
Preset 8
Rename
Mark Default
Exit

Application Select

Application Select
Exit

Utility Menu

Utility Menu
Disconnect
Keyboard
Exit

Keyboard

Keyboard
KEY 1
KEY 2
KEY 3
KEY 4
KEY 5
KEY 6
KEY 7
KEY 8
Exit

About Menu

About Menu
Software Update
Purchase License
Exit

System Recovery

If the software is broken causing the unit to cycle the reset cyclus or frozen during power-up a complete reprogramming is required. When power is applied hold the leftmost key in order to force the unit in BIOS mode. It is possible to release the key and still remain in the BIOS mode but that could take a couple of attempts in order to be successfull. Alternaltively hold the key while reprogramming the unit.

Software Update

Activation Key

BIOS Mode

The BIOS Mode provides a restricted set of low-level commands for:

• Serial communication
• Flash memory access
• Basic system settings

The BIOS is located in a permanent part of the FLASH memory and cannot be altered.

Entering BIOS Mode

As the last stage in a system power-up cycle the leftmost key is checked and if engaged the main program loading is halted displaying the BIOS template.

Technical Reference

The Physical Interface

The interface uses an physical RS232 serial connection configured at:

• 9600 baud rate
• 8 data bits
• No parity
• 1 stop bit (9600,8,N,1)

Alternatively, a USB serial dongle can be used.

The DOT Protocol

The protocol was developed in 1980 for the serial control of the NTP Audio Matrix 512 system for the BBC at Broadcasting House. It was later implemented in the MSD600M (from software version 5), with additional functionality.

The Protocol Flow

• Commands & responses start with a dot (.)
• Messages terminate with carriage return (\r)
• An optional message field, beginning with an asterisk (*), can be appended to the command echoed in the response.

🔝

Command Layout

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
.	Command	ID	X	,	Y	cr
.	Command	ID	X	,	Y	ID	X	,	Y	cr

Matrix Commands

Set and Connect

Command S and C are handled identical and multiple crosspoint can be set in one command as shown in line two of the below table. Upto ten commands is possible in one string.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
.	S	ID	X1	,	Y1	cr
.	S	ID	X1	,	Y1	ID	X2	,	Y2	cr

Example 1:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Command	.	S	A	32	,	52	cr
Response	.	A	A	32	,	52	cr

Example 2:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Command	.	S	A	32	,	99	cr
Response	.	N	A	32	,	99	cr

The command routes source 52 to output 32, with the MSD acknowledging. A negative acknowledgment ('N' in field 2) indicates out-of-range commands or an illegal identifier.

Interrogate

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
.	I	ID	X	,	-	cr
.	I	ID	-	,	Y	cr

List

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
.	L	ID	X	,	-	cr

Message Field

The message field starting with '*' can be attached to any command and response. In a multi-control environment, it helps filter responses effectively. Example:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Command	.	S	A	32	,	52	*	MY MESSAGE	cr
Response	.	A	A	32	,	52	*	MY MESSAGE	cr

Matrix Responses

The Power Up Responses

Matrix Identifiers

Audio Matrix A

Information Matrix I

Control and Readout P

Response Handling

The Low Level Protocol

A low-level protocol has been implemented to access the internal FLASH memory and DSP resources.

Break Start Sequence

All control sequences begin with a two-character break sequence:

• '¦m' (hexadecimal: <0xA6><0x6D>) synchronizes the MSD protocol state machine
• Upon entering Idle State, the MSD returns:
• ACK (<0x05>) if successful
• NACK (<0x04>) if unsuccessful
• If unsuccessful, additional breaks must be sent (up to 5 retries).
• Maximum response time: 15ms

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Command 1	<0xA6>
2	Command 2	<0xAD>
3	Response		<0x05>

Idle State Re-entry

Upon successful execution, the MSD remains in IDLE State, ready for the next command.

Idle State Command Table

Commands assume the MSD is in IDLE state (after break). Commands available in BIOS mode are marked with "*".

HEX	Function	Available in BIOS Mode?
<0x00>	Write_BDMA_address	Yes
<0x01>	WriteBDMA	Yes
<0x04>	WriteProgramLine	No
<0x0A>	ToggleProtectFlag	No
<0x0E>	Restart	Yes
<0x0F>	WriteKeyboard	No
<0x10>	ReadBDMAaddr	No
<0x11>	ReadBDMA	Yes
<0x12>	ReadRAMbytes	No
<0x13>	ReadProgramLine	No
<0x14>	CatchReadVar	No
<0x1A>	ReadProtectFlag	No

Write_BDMA_address

Program of the DSP BDMA setup registers.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Write Comand	<0x00>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	BDMA external address	LSB
4	BDMA external address	MSB
5	BDMA external address	HSB
6	Response		<0x05>
7	Stays in IDLE State

WriteBDMA

Write data to the DSP external FLASH or RAM memory.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x01>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Bytes to transmit	0xXX
4	Data	BYTE
5	Data	BYTE
..	Data	BYTE
n	Checksum	BYTE
	Stays in IDLE State

WriteProgramLine

This function write a program line into the internal 24 bits DSP memory. The address is set with the WriteBDMAaddr. Handle with care!!

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x04>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Program Memory	LSB
4	Program Memory	MSB
5	Program Memory	HSB
6	Stays in IDLE State

ToggleProtectFlag

Restart

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Restart	<0x0E>

WriteKeyboard

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x0F>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Key Number	No
4	Response		<0x05>

ReadBDMAaddr

Read back of the DSP BDMA setup registers.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x10>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	BDMA external address		LSB
4	BDMA external address		MSB
5	BDMA external address		PAGE
6	Checksum		BYTE
7	Stays in IDLE State

ReadBDMA

This function return data from the DSP external byte wide FLASH or RAM memory.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x11>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Bytes to receive	0xXX
4	Data		BYTE
5	Data		BYTE
..	Data		BYTE
n	Checksum		BYTE
	Stays in IDLE State

ReadRAMbytes

This function return data from the on chip 16 bit wide DSP memory. The address is set with the WriteBDMAaddr command and the maximum bytes to read are 128.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x12>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Bytes to receive	0xXX
4	Data 1		MSB
5	Data 1		LSB
..	Data 2		BYTE
n	Checksum		BYTE
	Stays in IDLE State

ReadProgramLine

This function return one 32 bits wide memory cell from the DSP Program memory.

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x12>
2	Response		<0x05>
3	Bytes to receive	0xXX
4	Data 1		LSB
5	Data 2		.
6	Data 3		.
7	Data 4		MSB
8	Checksum		BYTE
9	Stays in IDLE State

CatchReadVar

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x14>
2	Response		<0x05>

ReadProtectFlag

Step	Function	TX	RX
1	Comand	<0x1F>
2	Response		<0x05>

The Original Pascal Source Codes

The msd-load.exe code can be compiled using Borland's Turbo Pascal and TurboPower's libraries.

MSDLIB.PAS

MSD-LOAD.PAS

Revisions

1.0 Basic Matrix functionality MSD600M++

References

Footnotes

1. Link to the application (https://msd.hansens.dk) ↩ ↩²

2. Web Serial API (https://wicg.github.io/serial/) ↩

3. Serial Port Documentation (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/SerialPort) ↩

4. DK-Audio website (https://hansens.dk/pages/documentation) ↩

5. Contact: Karsten Hervoe Hansen kh@hansens.dk ↩