How to setup SDS – Signal Detection Switching – on Director and CM-70 volt matrix DSP amplifiers.

How to setup SDS – Signal Detection Switching – on Director and CM-70 volt matrix DSP amplifiers.

The AudioControl Director Matrix series and CM 70 volt Matrix series amplifiers have a feature called SDS which stands for Signal Detection Switching. SDS allows you to connect the audio output of a doorbell system, home automation system, or a voice activated device to an SDS designated input on the amplifier so you can hear a doorbell or an announcement/page through your home or commercial audio distribution system.

The way it works is, you assign a particular input on the amplifier as the SDS input and, you select what zone outputs will play the audio from the SDS input. When the SDS input detects an incoming audio signal the amp immediately plays that audio through the speakers in the zones you have assigned in the SDS setup. When the SDS input is activated, any audio that was playing will be fully muted until the announcement is completed.

  1. To setup SDS you will need to log into the Director Matrix or CM amplifiers web UI by entering the amplifiers IP address into a web browsers address field. If you do not know your amplifiers IP address you can use an IP scanner such as Advanced IP Scanner to search for the amplifier on your network.
  2. Once you are logged into the web UI open the settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
  3. Open the SDS tab.
  4. In the SDS Input drop down list, select an input to be assigned as the SDS input, the input button will turn orange.
  5. Select the Zone Outputs you want to use for SDS.
  6. Adjust the volume for each SDS zone (SDS feature does not perform audio ducking, see note below*).


This screen shot is from a Director Matrix M6800 amplifier (SDS setup is the same in the CM series 70 volt amps):


Audio ducking refers to lowering the volume of any audio that might be playing when an SDS input detects an incoming audio signal, so the SDS audio overlays the currently playing audio rather than fully muting it.

SDS will not turn on zones that have been turned off by a trigger or IP command, and will only output to active zones. The SDS feature will turn on zones if signal sense is on.

To ensure signal sense and SDS are functioning properly, turn signal sense off, then manually turn on all of the individual zones in the amp's web interface. Once all zones are on, go to the amplifier settings and turn signal sense on.

When signal sense is on, all the zone power icons in the web interface will be always on (green), but the LEDs on the front and rear panels of the amplifier will turn off to indicate a zone has gone into standby. If a zone is off in the web interface, it will not power on when signal is sensed.


Related Links:




Firmware updates

If you need assistance our Customer Service and Technical Support representatives are available Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm PST. 425-775-8461