Cognio C20 Smart Processor
The C20 processor provides signal processing, audio channels, and control all in a single unit, and also bridges the gap between IP networks and USB-equipped devices. The C20 functions as a simple yet reliable way to connect external USB audio sources to networks with a plug and play experience that is easy to use and understand. C20 features a modern locking USB-C connector with 8 x 8 audio bridging.
- 64x64 transmit and receive Dante channels
- 8 AEC channels
- 32 playback channels
- 8 record channels
- 8x8 USB-C Audio Bridging
- 48 / 96 kHz, 24-bit Signal Processing
- USB-C port (3.2)
- USB-A port (3.2)
- 2x 1Gb Ethernet ports
- Web server functionality for third party control / personal device integration
- Device sample rate conversion.
- HID sync
- Rack or surface mounting- 1RU height
To push a site file to C20, the computer running the DesignOps application must be on the same network. C20 includes a RJ-45 connector port supporting 1 Gbit/Sec Ethernet networking for this purpose. DesignOps provides complete configuration, programmimg, and management of all C20 functionality.
Front Panel Status LEDs
The C20 front panel has two network status LEDs that tell you the state of each network connection at a glance:
- Top LED — Control network (Network 1)
- Middle LED — Dante audio network (Network 2)
In the tables below, each LED color is shown as a colored dot: 🟢 green, 🔵 blue, 🔴 red, 🟡 yellow, 🟣 purple.
TODO: Add photo of the C20 front panel status LEDs.
Startup
When the C20 powers on, it waits for a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol — the service that automatically assigns IP addresses) address on each network port before it starts passing audio. If no DHCP address is found within 20 seconds, the C20 assigns itself a link-local IP address (a private address in the 169.254.x.x range) and starts anyway.
During startup, the LEDs show the progress of each network as it acquires an address:
| Top LED (Control) | Middle LED (Dante) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Blinking yellow | 🟡 Blinking yellow | Both networks are waiting for a DHCP address. If the 20-second wait expires, the C20 assigns a link-local address instead. |
| 🟢 Solid green | 🟡 Blinking yellow | The Control network has a DHCP address. The Dante network is still waiting. |
| 🟡 Blinking yellow | 🟢 Solid green | The Control network is still waiting for a DHCP address. The Dante network has one. |
| 🟢 Solid green | 🟢 Solid green | Both networks have a DHCP address. Once both LEDs are solid green with no blinking, the C20 has started and audio is flowing. |
Runtime
Once the C20 has started, the audio subsystem is running. The status LEDs then indicate each network's connection type — or a loss of connectivity.
| Top LED (Control) | Middle LED (Dante) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Solid green | 🟢 Solid green | Both networks are connected with a DHCP-assigned IP address. |
| 🟢 Solid green | 🔵 Solid blue | Control has a DHCP address. Dante has a link-local address (169.254.x.x). |
| 🔵 Solid blue | 🟢 Solid green | Control has a link-local address (169.254.x.x). Dante has a DHCP address. |
| 🔵 Solid blue | 🔵 Solid blue | Both networks have a link-local address (169.254.x.x). |
| 🟢 Solid green | 🔴 Solid red | Control has a DHCP address. The Dante cable is unplugged or has lost its connection. You can still connect through the Control port in DesignOps, but Dante audio will not pass. |
| 🔴 Solid red | 🟢 Solid green | The Control network has lost its connection. Dante has audio. You cannot reach the device through the Control port in DesignOps, but audio still flows over the Dante network. |
| 🔵 Solid blue | 🔴 Solid red | Control has a link-local address. Dante has no connection. You can reach the device in DesignOps as long as you are on the same 169.254.x.x link-local network, but audio will not pass over the Dante port. |
| 🔴 Solid red | 🔵 Solid blue | Control has lost its connection. Dante has a link-local address. Audio works as long as the rest of the audio network is on the same 169.254.x.x link-local subnet. |
| 🔴 Solid red | 🔴 Solid red | Neither network has connectivity. The C20 keeps running. When you reconnect the cables — or the switches, DHCP server, or routers come back online — each LED turns green (DHCP) or blue (link-local) once its original IP address is re-acquired. Any port that cannot re-acquire its original address stays red. |
When both network LEDs are red
Both LEDs can also turn red if the C20 powered on before any cable was connected and the 20-second DHCP wait expired, or if the connected switch is powered off or its ports are disabled (no carrier means a link-local address cannot be assigned). In this state, power cycle the device to acquire an IP address on at least one port.
All LEDs Red or Purple
The status also uses all three front panel LEDs together to signal two whole-device conditions:
| LEDs | What it means |
|---|---|
| 🔴🔴🔴 All three solid red | Critical system error. The C20 has crashed and cannot recover. It will attempt to restart up to three times — repeating the startup network discovery each time — before giving up. |
| 🟣🟣🟣 All three solid purple | Firmware update in progress. A firmware update is installing. Do not power off the device. The update and reboot usually take 2–3 minutes. |
Do not power off during a firmware update
While all three LEDs are solid purple, a firmware update is installing. Powering off the C20 during this time can interrupt the update. Wait for the update and reboot to finish — this usually takes 2–3 minutes.