Yamaha 2A- User Manual

MCS-2A

Programmable

Zone Controller

For Use with the

Model MDS-6A Music Distribution System

Installation & Operation
Instructions

1. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The MCS-2A Zone Controller is designed as an in-room control for the MDS-6A Music Distribution System. The MDS-6A distributes
amplified audio from up to six sources to up to six speaker zones. In a typical installation, an MCS-2A Zone Controller would be
installed in each listening room or location to control the speakers in that zone. The MCS-2A mounts in a standard double-gang
electrical box and is covered by a standard Decora™ wall plate (neither item is included with the controller).
The MCS-2A Zone Controller’s source keys are used to select which audio source device (CD, TUNER, TAPE, DVD, DBS, TV, etc.) will
be played from its specific speaker zone. The speaker’s volume can be adjusted, or muted, using the keys on the Zone Controller.
Function keys for PLAY, STOP, PAUSE, SKIP FORWARD, SKIP BACKWARD, NEXT TRACK, and PREVIOUS TRACK are provided to control
the source device action. Numeric keys allow direct access to numeric selection functions of the source device. Custom “macros”
can be programmed into the MCS-2A to perform multiple commands for a source device by simply pressing

*

then a single key.

Pre-programmed infrared remote control codes for over 500 types of audio sources can be selected for each audio source key. In
addition, infrared remote control codes can be “learned” into the Zone Controller directly from the source device’s handheld remote
control and assigned to almost any key on the controller. To make system setup easy, once the infrared codes are programmed into
one Zone Controller, the same codes can easily be sent to other Zone Controllers in the system using the “clone” feature. Any infrared
code send to the MCS-2A from a handheld remote will be repeated to all source devices through the MDS-6A.
Two special features are available for each Zone Controller. The “whole-house-music” feature will play a selected audio source from
all of the system’s speaker zones. The “do-not-disturb” feature prevents a speaker zone from responding to “whole-house-music”
commands from other Zone Controllers and mutes any system wide pages to that speaker zone.
The MCS-2A keys can light in three colors (green, red, & yellow) to show the status of the speaker zone. The optional key backlighting
(selectable with dipswitch #1) lights all of the keys with a pleasant green glow. The audio source selection keys will light red to
indicate the selected audio source. When “whole-house-music” is selected the designated audio source key lights yellow. The MUTE
key normally lights green, then lights red when the speaker zone is muted. The MUTE key blinks yellow when “do-not-disturb”
feature is active for the speaker zone and lights yellow when “do-not-disturb” is active and the speaker zone is muted.

2. COMPONENT LOCATIONS

3. CUSTOMIZE THE SOURCE BUTTONS

4. SET THE DIPSWITCH

5. BUILD AND CONNECT THE CABLE

6. INSTALL THE CONTROLLER INTO A DOUBLE-GANG JUNCTION BOX

7. ENTERING IR CODES FROM THE DEVICE CODE TABLE

8. LEARNING IR CODES FROM HANDHELD REMOTES

9. PROGRAMMING RECORDABLE MACROS

10. CLONING DATA BETWEEN CONTROLLERS

11. ERASING SOURCE BUTTON MEMORY & CLEARING ALL MEMORY

12. INSTALL THE WALL PLATE

13. OPERATION

LIMITED WARRANTY

Linear LLC warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for 2 years. The time period will be measured
using the date code labeled on the product. Linear LLC is not responsible for damage to the product resulting from the buyer’s
improper handling, stocking or warehousing of the product. Any implied warranty arising from the sale of the product including
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for purpose are limited. Linear LLC shall not be responsible for any losses,
damages or expenses, whether direct, consequential, or incidental arising from the use or the inability to use the product. Some
states and countries do not allow limitations or how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limitation or incidental or
consequential damages, so the above exclusions may not apply. The Linear LLC warranty gives specific legal rights in addition to
other rights, which may exist and vary from state to state and country to country.
The warranty is limited to repair or replacement of products returned, freight prepaid, to Linear LLC, there is NO PROVISION FOR
LABOR COST OR OTHER REIMBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND.

1. Failures due to product abuse, such as negligence, improper use, and electrical surge including damage from lightning, water

damage or other damage due to natural disasters are not covered by the warranty. The most common form of product abuse
is surge damage caused by lightning.

2. The warranty shall also be voided by any tampering with the date code, labels or other markings on the product.
3. Products that are damaged in transit to Linear LLC due to improper packaging or by the carrier (shipping company) will not

be covered under the warranty. If the product was damaged or lost by the carrier, it is the sender’s responsibility to create a
claim against the carrier.

4. The user is responsible for all labor costs associated with removing, reinstalling and returning the product to Linear LLC.

Linear LLC, at its option, will repair or replace the defective product. Replacements will be made from B-Stock, if an exact
replacement is not available, Linear LLC, at its option, will select the nearest equivalent product. The user is responsible for freight
charges to Linear LLC. Linear LLC will return warranted repaired or replacements by UPS Ground or an equivalent service. A
customer may pay the additional costs for second-day or next-day service.
All products returned for warranty service require a Return Product Authorization Number (RPA#). Contact Linear Technical Services
at 1-800-999-5225 for an RPA# and other important details.

MCS-2A

P R O G R AM

C L E A R

C L O N E R X

C L O N E T X

L E A R N

O K

C L O N E /

L E A R N

I R S E N S O R

E R R O R

1

2

3

4

5

6

PLAY

7

8

9

E

R

0

VOL

VOL

CD1

CD2

DM1

DM2

AMFM

TAPE

MUTE

INFRARED RECEIVER WINDOW

•

Receives IR from handheld remotes

•

IR is passed through to MDS-6A

AUDIO SOURCE BUTTONS

•

Press to select audio source

•

Selected source button lights red

•

Push for 5 seconds to select

"Whole-house-music" feature

MUTE BUTTON

•

Press to mute the local speakers

•

Lights red when source is muted

•

Lights yellow during "Do-not-disturb"

•

Push for 5 seconds to switch

MDS-6A power off

VOLUME BUTTONS

•

Press VOL-UP for louder local speakers

•

Press VOL-DOWN for quieter local speakers

•

Push with VOL-DOWN to select

"Do-not-disturb" feature

PROGRAM BUTTON

•

Puts unit in Program Mode

•

Used for entering device IR codes

CLEAR BUTTON

•

Press CLEAR then a source button

to erase source device IR codes & macros

•

Push for 5 seconds to erase

all device IR codes & macros

CLONE RX BUTTON

•

Press to set MCS-2A into clone

receive mode for 10 minutes

•

Press CLONE TX on a programmed

MCS-2A to send IR codes & macros

to all units in clone receive mode

CLONE TX BUTTON

•

Press CLONE TX on a programmed

MCS-2A to send IR codes & macros

to all units in clone receive mode

CLONE/LEARN INDICATOR

•

Lights while unit is in clone receive

•

Lights during IR code programming

OK INDICATOR

•

Lights when clone data is received OK

•

Flashes when IR code is learned from a remote

IR SENSOR

•

Receives IR codes from handheld remotes

during Learn Mode

NUMERIC KEYPAD

•

For entering numeric functions for source devices

"E" BUTTON

•

Press to send "enter" command for some source devices

LEARN BUTTON

•

Press to put unit in Learn Mode

•

Press again to exit Learn Mode

•

Used for programming macros

"R" BUTTON

•

Press to send "last channel" command

•

Press to send "repeat" command for some

some source devices

STAR BUTTON

•

Press before pressing a action button to play a macro

•

Press after PROGRAM button to record a macro

ACTION BUTTONS

•

Press PLAY, STOP, PAUSE, SKIP FWD, SKIP BACK, NEXT

TRACK, PREVIOUS TRACK to control source device action

NOTE: UP TO TWO MCS-1A OR MCS-2A CONTROLLERS CAN BE CONNECTED IN PARALLEL TO THE SAME
AMPLIFIER ZONE (WIRE ANOTHER CONTROLLER PLUG TO THE SAME CABLE). WHEN ADDING A SECOND
CONTROLLER PER SPEAKER ZONE, FOLLOW THE SAME COLOR CODED CONNECTION FOR THE SECOND

CONTROLLER.

USE CAT-5 CABLE AND TWO RJ-45 PLUGS TO

BUILD A STRAIGHT THROUGH DOUBLE-ENDED

RJ-45 CABLE

BE SURE TO CONNECT THE SAME PIN NUMBERS

TOGETHER BETWEEN EACH PLUG: 1-1, 2-2, 3-3,

4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8

AS LONG AS BOTH RJ-45 PLUGS ARE WIRED IN

THE SAME WIRING STANDARD (T568A, T568B OR

AS SHOWN IN THE EXAMPLE) THE CONTROLLER

WILL OPERATE THE MDS-6A

MAXIMUM CABLE LENGTH RECOMMENDED

IS 500 FEET

TO MDS-6A

AMPLIFIER

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

R

J-

45

P

LU

G

CLIP

WHITE/BROWN

BROWN

WHITE/GREEN

GREEN

WHITE/ORANGE

ORANGE

WHITE/BLUE

BLUE

TO PRIMARY

MCS-1A OR MCS-2A

CONTROLLER

TO SECONDARY

MCS-1A OR MCS-2A

CONTROLLER

R

J-

45

P

LU

G

CLIP

R

J-

45

P

LU

G

CLIP

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

2

3

THE SOURCE BUTTONS AND BEZELS CAN
BE CHANGED TO SUIT THE INSTALLATION

CUT NEW
BUTTONS
FROM HOLDER

SQUEEZE BEZEL SIDES TO
REMOVE INNER BEZEL(S)

WHITE &

IVORY

BEZELS

ALTERNATE
SOURCE
BUTTONS

PLACE NEW BUTTONS
ON POSTS AND INSTALL
CHOSEN COLOR BEZEL

SET THE DIPSWITCH TO ASSIGN THE CONTROLLER'S

SPEAKER ZONE NUMBER AND KEYPAD

BACKLIGHT OPTION

THE MCS-2A CONTROLLER'S SPEAKER ZONE NUMBER

MUST MATCH THE NUMBER OF THE MDS-6A ZONE

THAT THE CONTROLLER IS CONNECTED TO

ON

OFF

WHEN THE CONTROLLER IS ASSIGNED TO A SPEAKER ZONE USING THE DIPSWITCHES AND THE CONTROLLER IS PROPERLY

WIRED AND PLUGGED INTO THE CORRESPONDING KEYPAD ZONE, A GREEN LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE

MDS-6A WHEN A SOURCE IS SELECTED INDICATING THAT THE CONTROLLER HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR THAT SPEAKER

ZONE. WHEN THERE ARE TWO CONTROLLERS PER SPEAKER ZONE, BOTH CONTROLLERS WILL NEED TO HAVE THE SAME

DIPSWITCH SETTINGS FOR THAT SPEAKER ZONE.

NOTE: DIPSWITCH #5 IS NOT USED.

1

3

CONNECT THE KEYPAD
END OF CABLE

SECURE CONTROLLER

TO JUNCTION BOX
WITH THE FOUR SCREWS

2

SLIDE THE CONTROLLER

INTO THE JUNCTION BOX

P R O G R A M

MUTE

C L O N E / L E A R N

CD1

CD2

EACH SOURCE KEY SHOULD BE PROGRAMMED
WITH A CODE NUMBER TO MATCH A SPECIFIC
MANUFACTURER'S AUDIO SOURCE DEVICE

THE CODE NUMBER DESIGNATES WHICH
INFRARED CODES WILL BE SENT FROM THE
MDS-6A INFRARED EMITTERS WHEN THE
SELECTED AUDIO SOURCE DEVICE IS BEING
OPERATED FROM THE ZONE CONTROLLER

INFRARED CODE NUMBERS FOR MOST DEVICES
ARE LISTED IN THE TABLE ON THE BACK OF THIS
INSTRUCTION SHEET

IF A DEVICE IS NOT LISTED, ITS INFRARED

CODES CAN BE LEARNED BY THE ZONE
CONTROLLER DIRECTLY FROM A HANDHELD
REMOTE CONTROL (SEE SECTION #8 IN THESE
INSTRUCTIONS)

1. PRESS THE PROGRAM BUTTON

2. THE CLONE/LEARN INDICATOR LIGHTS RED
& THE MUTE BUTTON BLINKS RED/GREEN

3. PRESS A SOURCE BUTTON WITHIN
10 SECONDS (THE CONTROLLER WILL EXIT

PROGRAM MODE IF A SOURCE BUTTON IS
NOT PRESSED IN 10 SECONDS)

4. THE SELECTED SOURCE BUTTON
FLASHES RED

5. ENTER THE SIX-DIGIT CODE FOR THE DEVICE

FROM THE CODE TABLE ON THE BACK OF THESE
INSTRUCTIONS (PRESS THE CLEAR BUTTON IF
YOU PRESS A WRONG DIGIT AND START OVER)
6. GO BACK TO STEP #1 AND REPEAT FOR EACH

SOURCE BUTTON

2

3

4

5

1

6

USE THE CLEAR BUTTON TO ERASE THE INFRARED

CODES FOR A SINGLE SOURCE BUTTON OR TO
ERASE THE UNIT'S ENTIRE MEMORY AND RETURN
IT TO THE FACTORY DEFAULTS

1. PRESS AND RELEASE THE CLEAR BUTTON

MCS-2A

P R O G R AM

C L E A R

C L O N E R X

C L O N E T X

L E A R N

O K

C L O N E /

L E A R N

I R S E N S O R

E R R O R

1

2

3

4

5

6

PLAY

7

8

9

E

R

0

VOL

VOL

CD1

CD2

DM1

DM2

AMFM

TAPE

MUTE

CAUTION: PUSHING THE CLEAR BUTTON FOR LONGER THAN
5 SECONDS WILL CLEAR THE UNIT'S ENTIRE MEMORY

ERASING A SINGLE SOURCE BUTTON'S PROGRAMMING

ERASING THE ENTIRE MEMORY

2. ALL SOURCE BUTTONS WILL BLINK YELLOW

3. PRESS THE SOURCE BUTTON TO ERASE

4. THE ERASED SOURCE BUTTON WILL FLASH RED THEN

THE UNIT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION

1. PUSH AND HOLD THE CLEAR BUTTON FOR LONGER

THAN 5 SECONDS

2. ALL SOURCE BUTTONS WILL FLASH YELLOW THEN
THE UNIT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION

C L E A R

CD1

CD1

CD2

CD1

DM1

C L E A R

CD2

CD1

DM1

ONCE THE CLONING PROCESS IS COMPLETE, PRESS THE

CLONE RX BUTTON TO EXIT CLONE MODE

MCS-2A

P R O G R AM

C L E A R

C L O N E R X

C L O N E T X

L E A R N

O K

C L O N E /

L E A R N

I R S E N S O R

E R R O R

1

2

3

4

5

6

PLAY

7

8

9

E

R

0

VOL

VOL

CD1

CD2

DM1

DM2

AMFM

TAPE

MUTE

MCS-2A

P R O G R AM

C L E A R

C L O N E R X

C L O N E T X

L E A R N

O K

C L O N E /

L E A R N

I R S E N S O R

E R R O R

1

2

3

4

5

6

PLAY

7

8

9

E

R

0

VOL

VOL

CD1

CD2

DM1

DM2

AMFM

TAPE

MUTE

CLONING SAVES INSTALLATION SETUP TIME BY

SENDING ALL PROGRAMMING DATA FROM ONE

CONTROLLER TO OTHER CONTROLLERS IN THE SYSTEM

1

3

2

PUSH THE CLONE TX BUTTON ON THE PROGRAMMED

CONTROLLER. THE CONTROLLER WILL BEGIN SENDING

ITS PROGRAMMED DATA TO OTHER CONTROLLERS AND

THE MUTE BUTTON WILL FLASH DURING THE TRANSFER

PRESS THE CLONE RX BUTTON ON ALL CONTROLLERS

READY TO RECEIVE PROGRAMMING DATA FROM ANOTHER

PROGRAMMED CONTROLLER. THE CLONE/LEARN INDICATOR

WILL LIGHT AS THE UNIT WAITS FOR DATA FOR 10 MINUTES.

PRESSING CLONE RX AGAIN EXITS CLONE MODE.

CAUTION: CLONING WILL OVERWRITE ALL PROGRAMMED

DATA IN THE RECEIVING CONTROLERS

AFTER ALL DATA IS RECEIVED, THE OK INDICATOR LIGHTS

4

DATA

L E A R N

PLAYING A RECORDED MACRO CAUSES THE
CONTROLLER TO AUTOMATICALLY PERFORM A

SEQUENCE OF UP TO 10 BUTTONS

A MACRO IS PLAYED BY PRESSING THE STAR KEY
FOLLOWED BY THE SPECIFIC KEY THAT THE
RECORDED MACRO IS ASSIGNED TO

EACH SOURCE BUTTON AND THE FOLLOWING

ACTION BUTTONS CAN BE ASSIGNED TO PLAY
RECORDED MACROS

THE BUTTONS AVAILABLE TO RECORD INTO
MACROS CAN BE ANY OF THE SOURCE BUTTONS
AND THE FOLLOWING ACTION BUTTONS

2. PRESS THE LEARN BUTTON

4. PRESS THE STAR BUTTON

3. THE MUTE BUTTON BLINKS RED & GREEN

6. WITHIN 10 SECONDS, PRESS THE BUTTON

THAT WILL BECOME THE BUTTON TO PLAY

THE MACRO BEING RECORDED (MUST BE A

VALID BUTTON)

5. THE MUTE BUTTON FLASHES GREEN

7. RECORD THE MACRO BY PRESSING UP TO 10

BUTTONS IN THE ORDER THE MACRO WILL BE

PLAYED (MUST BE VALID BUTTONS)

NOTE: PRESS MUTE THEN A DIGIT TO INSERT TIME

DELAYS BETWEEN PLAYED MACRO BUTTONS

9

0 -

MUTE

NOTE: IF A SOURCE DEVICE HAS A TIME DELAY
BETWEEN THE TIME IT RECEIVES ANY I/R
COMMAND AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETE
THAT COMMAND, INSERT A TIME DELAY IN THE
MACRO AS SHOWN IN #7

E

R

9

0 -

MUTE

MUTE

9. MUTE BUTTON FLASHES GREEN FOR

2 SECONDS & THE UNIT EXITS PROGRAM MODE

MUTE + 0 = 1/2 SECOND

MUTE + 1 = 1 SECOND

MUTE + 2 = 2 SECONDS

MUTE + 3 = 4 SECONDS

MUTE + 4 = 6 SECONDS

MUTE + 5 = 8 SECONDS

MUTE + 6 = 10 SECONDS

MUTE + 7 = 12 SECONDS

MUTE + 8 = 14 SECONDS

MUTE + 9 = 16 SECONDS

8. PRESS THE STAR BUTTON TO END THE MACRO

RECORDING (NOT REQUIRED IF THE MACRO

CONTAINS 10 BUTTON ENTRIES)

1. PRESS THE SOURCE BUTTON YOU WANT

TO ASSOCIATE THE IR CODES WITH

L E A R N

THE FOLLOWING BUTTONS CAN BE CUSTOM
PROGRAMMED FOR EACH SOURCE BUTTON

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO THE RIGHT TO SELECT

A SOURCE BUTTON, THEN CHOOSE A
PROGRAMMABLE BUTTON TO LEARN THE
INFRARED CODE FROM A HANDHELD REMOTE

NOTE: WHEN USING A HANDHELD REMOTE TO
TEACH INFRARED COMMANDS TO THE
CONTROLLER, POINT THE HANDHELD REMOTE
AT THE CONTROLLER'S IR SENSOR WINDOW
BELOW THE LEARN BUTTON FROM ABOUT 2"
AWAY OR CLOSER

IMPORTANT: AVOID INFRARED INTERFERENCE
(COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND OTHER
INFRARED SOURCES) WHEN SENDING CODES
TO THE CONTROLLER. INTERFERENCE WILL
MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO LEARN THE PROPER
CODE.

2. PRESS THE LEARN BUTTON

3. THE CLONE/LEARN INDICATOR LIGHTS

RED, THE MUTE BUTTON FLASHES

RED & GREEN, THE SELECTED SOURCE

BUTTON LIGHTS YELLOW

4. PRESS A DIFFERENT SOURCE BUTTON OR

JUST THE PROGRAMMABLE BUTTON WITHIN

10 SECONDS (THE CONTROLLER WILL

EXIT LEARN MODE IF A BUTTON IS NOT

PRESSED IN 10 SECONDS)
5. THE MUTE BUTTON FLASHES GREEN

6. SEND THE INFRARED CODE FROM THE

HANDHELD REMOTE WITHIN 10 SECONDS

TO TEACH THE SELECTED BUTTON ON

THE CONTROLLER

7. IF THE CODE IS ACCEPTED, THE OK

INDICATOR WILL FLASH GREEN

E

R

9

0 -

MUTE

C L O N E / L E A R N

CD1

MUTE

IR SENSOR

O K

CD1

OR

8. GO BACK TO STEP #3 AND REPEAT FOR

ANY ADDITIONAL BUTTONS (PRESS LEARN

BUTTON AT ANY TIME TO EXIT LEARN MODE)

NOTE: A MAXIMUM OF
25 INFRARED CODES
CAN BE LEARNED

1. PRESS THE SOURCE BUTTON YOU WANT

TO ASSOCIATE THE IR CODES WITH

1

2

INSTALL A DOUBLE-GANG DECORA™ WALL PLATE

(NOT INCLUDED) TO COVER THE CONTROLLER

AND THE INSTALLER SETUP BUTTONS

SECURE THE WALL PLATE

WITH FOUR SCREWS

USING THE SOURCE BUTTONS

USING THE VOLUME BUTTONS

USING THE MUTE BUTTON

PLAYING MACROS

USING THE WHOLE-HOUSE-MUSIC FEATURE

USING THE DO-NOT-DISTURB FEATURE

•

Press any source button to turn the MDS-6A power on if it's off

•

Press a source button to select the desired audio source for this controller's

zone (the selected source button lights red)

•

Press VOL-UP to increase the volume for this controller's speaker zone

•

Press VOL-DOWN to decrease the volume for this controller's speaker zone

•

Press MUTE to silence this controller's speaker zone (the MUTE button lights red)

•

Press MUTE again to return this zone's speakers to their previous volume

•

Push MUTE for 5 seconds to turn the MDS-6A power off

•

Press the STAR button

•

Within 2 seconds, press a button with a recorded macro.

•

The recorded macro will play (the MUTE button flashes green during play)

•

Push a source button for 5 seconds to turn whole-house-music on or off

•

The selected whole-house-music source button lights yellow

•

The selected source will play through all system zones

•

Push and hold the VOL-DOWN button, then press the MUTE button to turn

the do-not-disturb feature on or off (the MUTE button lights yellow when on)

•

When do-not-disturb is on, the zone will

not

play whole-house-music or

paging tones

CD1

CD2

DM1

DM2

AMFM

TAPE

VOL

VOL

MUTE

CD1

CD1

VOL

MUTE

DIPSWITCH SETTINGS

1

2

3

4

5

ZONE

ON

ON

ON

OFF

ZONE 1

OFF

ON

ON

OFF

ZONE 2

ON

OFF

ON

OFF

ZONE 3

OFF

OFF

ON

OFF

ZONE 4

ON

ON

OFF

OFF

ZONE 5

OFF

ON

OFF

OFF

ZONE 6

#1

ON

TURNS KEYPAD BACKLIGHT OFF

#1

OFF

TURNS KEYPAD BACKLIGHT ON

PRINTER’S INSTR

UCTIONS:

INSTR,INSTL,MCS-2A - LINEAR P/N:

222137 D - INK:

BLA

CK - MA

TERIAL:

20 LB

. MEAD BOND - SIZE:

17.000”

X 11.000”

- SCALE:

1-1 - SIDE 1 OF 2 (FR

ONT)

USA & Canada (800) 421-1587 & (800) 392-0123

(760) 438-7000 - Toll Free FAX (800) 468-1340

www.linearcorp.com