Navigating and Using the Front Panel UI

With your Omnia XII rack-mounted, connected to a program audio source, and turned on, you are ready to use the front panel and its touchscreen for some basic functions. This includes configuring your Omnia XII unit network settings for the first time, so that you can remotely manage and control the unit with the Omnia XII web UI.

Some functions (such as configuring I/O) can done via the front panel or the web UI. Typically, users find it easier to use the web UI. See Configuring I/O.

Omnia XII Front Panel

The front panel includes these hardware items:

• 1/4” Headphone jack

• Touchscreen user interface: For more information, see UI (Front Panel Touchscreen).

• Control knob (rotary encoder) and encoder LED ring

• PSU1, PSU2, SYNC, and STAT Lights

• Ventilation areas

For more information, see Hardware Front Panel.

Navigating Touchscreen Menus

The Omnia XII touchscreen provides drop-down menus, controls, and metering to get you started in using your Omnia XII.

The Omnia XII logo in the upper left corner contains the touchscreen menu list for access to controls and metering.

The top of the screen displays three meters, the current preset, and a headphone level control. These items display regardless of which touchscreen menu is selected.

• In: Displays separate left and right input meters

• Out: Displays stereo output meter

• MPX: Displays stereo composite output meterIn: Separate left and right input meters, -36 to 0 dB (with scale markings every 6 dB)

• Current Preset: Displays the currently-selected preset.

• Headphone: Adjusts the headphone output level.

The contents of the large display below the top area is based on the current menu or sub-menu page. The touchscreen includes these drop-down menus:

• Home: Displays a Dorrough loudness meter.

• Inputs: Provides controls to assign audio sources to Omnia XII back-panel input connections and configure those inputs, including your Preferred Mix (primary audio) and Fallback Mix (backup audio).

• Outputs: Provides controls to assign audio sources to the Omnia XII output connections and configure the settings for each output in use. Output connections include the back-panel analog and AES outputs, front-panel headphone output, and AoIP outputs.

• MPX: Provides controls for configuring FM options, stereo generation, and routing the resulting composite signal to physical composite outputs.

• Presets: Provides access to factory and user presets. The selected preset displays in the top area preset box.

• Network: Provides networking controls for the three back panel network connections (Net 1, 2, and 3), Host Name, and DNS (DNS servers). For each network connection, you can set the network Mode, IP Address, Net Mask, and Gateway.

• Admin: Provides controls for setting the touchscreen display Timeout (Sleep mode) and Brightness level, Front Panel Password requirement for security, plus access to system information (software Version and Built date) and a system Reboot button.

Touchscreen Use Cases

From the touchscreen, you can:

• Set the touchscreen brightness and sleep mode.

• Adjust the headphone level.

• Configure Omnia XII network settings (so that the system settings and processing can be managed remotely). Network settings are also used for configuring IP-based routing.

• Select a processing preset.

• Configure inputs, outputs, and composite MPX outputs.

• Require a password for front panel access.

• Reboot the system (without unplugging and replugging a power cord).

Selecting a Menu Page

Prerequisite: Power up the unit and let the Home screen boot up.

To select a front panel touchscreen menu:

1. Press the Omnia XII logo in the upper left corner of the screen to reveal the menu list.

2. Press the desired menu.

• For menus that do not have a sub-menu, the respective menu page displays.

• For menus that have a sub-menu, select the desired submenu.

Adjusting Settings with the Control Knob

On the front panel of the Omnia XII, the control knob (rotary encoder) supports parameter navigation and adjustment. Surrounding the knob is an LED ring, which provides visual feedback.

Control Knob (Rotary Encoder): This is a continuous dial that handles adjusting on-screen parameters. After pressing a touchscreen control that has a list of items or numeric values, the control displays as an overlay in the center of the screen, and you can use the control knob to make adjustments:

• To scroll through the list of items: Turn the knob to move the highlighted selection through the menu.

• To change a value: Turn the knob to increase or decrease the value.

• To make a selection: Press the knob inward to act as an Enter button in order to confirm a menu choice or lock in a parameter value.

• To exit some overlays that remain onscreen after changing the setting, press the touchscreen area outside of the overlay.

Setting Touchscreen Brightness and Sleep Mode

Before you use the touchscreen to configure network settings or do other tasks from the front panel, we suggest you set the touchscreen brightness and sleep mode.

To set the display brightness:

1. Touch the Admin menu.

2. On the Admin page, press the Display tab.

   

3. Press the Brightness control, ensuring that the control area is outlined (enabled).

4. Use the front panel control knob to raise or lower the brightness value (from 0 to 100%).

To set how long the display stays awake before going to sleep:

1. Touch the Admin menu.

2. On the Admin page, press the Display tab.

3. Press the Time out drop-down menu, and then select one of the available times: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 hour, 12 hours.

To exit Sleep mode and turn the screen back on:

• Touch the screen or press the control knob.

Adjusting Front Panel Headphone Level

You can listen to audio passing through the Omnia XII by connecting a pair of headphones to the headphone jack, located to the left of the rotary knob.

When using a headphone via the front panel headphone connector, be aware that levels can be louder than expected.

You can change the preset from the front panel touchscreen or remotely using the web.

Prerequisite: Ensure source audio is feeding into the unit.

To adjust the headphone level from the front panel:

1. In the touchscreen, touch the headphone horizontal fader or level display.
   The headphone level adjustment overlay displays in the touchscreen.

2. Turn the control knob to decrease or increase the level.

3. Press the control knob inward to set the new value.

4. In the touchscreen, touch the blurred background area surrounding the overlay to close the overlay.

To adjust the headphone level remotely (using the web UI):

1. Launch Omnia XII web UI.

   See Launching the Omnia XII Web UI (in Setting up Omnia XII System Software).

2. In the web UI, click the Out button.

3. In the block diagram in the center of the window, click Back Panel.

4. In the bottom panel, Headphone section, adjust the Master Gain as needed.

Selecting a Preset

By default, the unit boots up with a preset loaded. You can change the preset from the front panel touchscreen or remotely using the web UI.

To select a preset (from the front panel):

1. In the touchscreen, press the Presets menu.

2. In the Presets page, press the Factory or User tab to display the respective list of presets in the presets box.

3. Scroll through the list of presets in the box by using the front panel knob and stop when the desired preset is displayed.
   Turn clockwise to scroll down the list; turn counter-clockwise to scroll up the list.

4. Press the knob to select the preset. Alternatively, you can press the preset in the preset box.

Configuring Omnia XII Network Settings (Initial Access)

Before you can access Omnia XII from a web browser, initial network configuration must be completed using the front panel touchscreen. This process establishes basic IP connectivity on the selected Ethernet interface.

To configure Omnia XII network settings (from the front panel):

1. Press the Network menu to display network settings.

   

2. Select the interface (NET 2 or NET 3) that you used that you will use for management access, .

3. Press the Mode drop-down menu, and then select either Auto (DHCP) or Manual (Static).
   For initial setup, use Manual (Static) if a fixed IP address is required for remote access or facility addressing schemes.

4. Configure the IP Address, Net Mask, and Gateway for the selected interface.

   Note: Omnia XII factory defaults are typically:

   • Net 1: Manual (Static), 192.168.2.100 / 255.255.255.0 (no gateway)

   • Net 2: Manual (Static)

   • Net 3: Auto (DHCP)

   For each parameter, enter the corresponding value:

   1. Press the field to open the touchscreen keyboard.

      

   2. Enter the value using the keyboard.

   3. Press OK to confirm (or Cancel to discard changes).

   4. Press Save to apply settings.

5. (Optional) Repeat the network configuration steps for additional interfaces as needed.

   We recommend configuring the network for IP-based audio transport settings later through the web UI as it is an easier method. See Setting up Omnia XII System Software.

6. Set the Host Name:

   1. Press the Host Name tab.

   2. Enter the desired hostname using the on-screen keyboard.

   3. Press OK to confirm.

   4. Press Save to apply the hostname.

7. Set DNS Servers by pressing the DNS tab and performing these steps as needed:

   To add a server:

   1. Press Add.

   2. Press the DNS server field to open the touchscreen keyboard.

   3. Enter the DNS server IP address.

   4. Press OK to confirm (or Cancel to discard changes).

   5. Press Save to apply settings.

   To delete a DNS server:

   1. Press the trash icon for the DNS server.

   2. Press OK to confirm (or Cancel to discard changes).

   3. Press Save to apply settings.

9. Reboot the unit to apply settings:

   9. In the touchscreen, press the Admin menu.

   10. Press the System tab.

       

   11. Press Reboot.

   12. Confirm the reboot when prompted.
       When the unit restarts, the updated network configuration will be active.

       
       

       At this point, Omnia XII can be accessed via the web UI using the assigned IP address. All further configuration and system management is performed through the web UI. Some of the web controls (such as those for configuring inputs, outputs, and MPX I/O) can also be done via the front panel.

Rebooting the System

You can reboot the system from the front panel using the touchscreen.

Alternatively, you can reboot from the web UI.

To reboot the unit:

1. In the touchscreen, press the Admin menu.

2. In the Admin page, press the System tab.

3. Press the Reboot button.

4. When prompted with a dialog message to confirm the reboot, press the Reboot button in the dialog.

Viewing Additional System Information

The touchscreen System menu page displays the Omnia XII software Version and Built date.

To view Omnia system information:

1. In the touchscreen, press the Admin menu.

2. In the Admin page, press the System tab.

   

Requiring a Password to Access the Front Panel

You can lock the front panel touchscreen and control knob for security or to avoid unintentional changes. Unlocking the screen requires the username and password you use to log into the Omnia XII web UI. See Setting up Omnia XII System Software.

Note: This feature is disabled until you create a username and password via the web UI. See Setting up Omnia XII System Software.

To lock the front panel:

1. In the touchscreen, press the Admin menu.

2. In the Admin page, press the Security tab.

   

3. Press the Front Panel Password drop-drown menu.

4. Rotate the control knob to select Enabled.

5. Press the knob inward to confirm the selection.

To unlock the front panel:

1. In the touchscreen keyboard, type in your Username and press OK to confirm.

2. Type in your Password and press OK.

   The front panel touchscreen and control knob unlock.