Lexicon MC-12 - 2.1 Protocol Version Cross-reference

Lexicon
MC-12 Serial Communications Protocol Printed on: 07/13/05
2.1 Protocol Version Cross-reference
All references to MC-12 shall be valid for both the MC-12 and SDP-40 products unless specifically
documented otherwise. All references to MC-1 shall be valid for the MC-1, DC-2 and SDP-3 products
unless specifically documented otherwise.
3 Abbreviations
SOP Start of Packet
EOP End of Packet
ACK Acknowledge
NAK No Acknowledge
FPD Front Panel Display
4 General Description
The intention of the MC-12 serial port and protocol communication is for an external connected HOST to
control and obtain status from the MC-12. The protocol has been designed to focus on two specific goals.
The first is HOST uploading and downloading of MC-12 configuration, and system/effect setups. The
second is HOST control of basic user adjustable parameters.(i.e. input, volume, balance…)
The MC-12 uses simple notification, command, response and acknowledgment packets to have
communication transactions with a given HOST. This protocol is designed for point to point
communication between a HOST and MC-12. The MC-12 Protocol is a 3 layered system. The MC-12
serial protocol allows for the MC-12, or the HOST, to initiate a communication transaction. Most
transactions are initiated by the HOST. MC-12 then responds to the HOST command with either a
response or acknowledgment packet. There are a few asynchronous notifications that MC-12 initiates
indicating system changes. Each transaction initiated must wait for a corresponding response before
initiating the next transmission.
HOST
Rs-232 Serial Link
CD VOL
Lexicon MC-12
The 3 protocol layers are Physical, Data Link, and Application Layers.
Application Layer
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer (RS232)
The MC-12 Serial Protocol attempts to be as backward compatible with the MC-1 as possible. This
document will try to inform the user/programmer of the consistencies and differences between the MC-1
protocol and the MC-12 protocol. The basic structure of the protocol has not changed. A number of
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