Key Concepts
Overview
There are a few important concepts you need to understand to design a Cognio system. Cognio was designed for the modern world, starting from a blank slate. That means it is faster, more flexible, and more scalable than other systems, but it also does a few things differently from software you may have used before. Don't worry, none of it is difficult, and this section gives you the basics you need to start building your first Cognio site.
Cognio Operating System
Cognio is a next-generation audio, video, and control platform in which every product is smart and contributes processing to the system. Every product runs the same Cognio OS, so every product can offer the same audio and control features, differing only in how much capacity its hardware provides.
Control Concepts
Every Cognio product includes a control engine. You build control screens with control panel groups, control third-party devices with Lua drivers, and control Cognio from external systems over JSON-RPC.
See Control Concepts.
Distributed Processing and Scalability
Because processing lives in every product, a system needs processing rather than a dedicated processor. The same products, concepts, and software scale from a single small room to an entire building, and processing can be distributed across devices or shared among multiple spaces.
See Distributed Processing and Scalability.
File Extensions
Cognio uses a set of file extensions for sites, spaces, drivers, control panel groups, module configurations, themes, and firmware. Knowing them helps you recognize and organize the files a design produces.
See File Extensions.
Signal Processing Devices vs Managed Devices
Cognio smart products run Cognio OS and add processing to the system, while managed devices are configured and controlled through Cognio smart hardware. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right mix of hardware for a design.
See Signal Processing Devices vs Managed Devices.
Signal Flow Concepts
Each space has a signal flow view for designing its signal processing. Cognio removes long-standing pain points with automatic wiring, flexible modules, software patching, and integrated live metering.
See Signal Flow Concepts.
Site Manager and Device Manager
The Cognio Design Ops app sits on top of Site Manager, the engine on your computer that orchestrates the system. Every Cognio device runs Device Manager, the same engine in device mode. Understanding the distinction helps you reason about how your design runs on the hardware.
See Site Manager and Device Manager.
Space-Driven Design
In Cognio you start a design by creating spaces, not by choosing hardware. Each space has its own signal flow, can pass audio and control to other spaces, and can be taken online or offline independently.
See Space-Driven Design.