I was heavily programming URC's line up until late fall last year, then started doing almost all RTI. (Not my call, it is all supply and demand). Anyway, my timing was bad since I really never had the chance to play around with the MSC-400. Could anyone tell me how intuitivie it is to program? Not interested if it's hard or easy, just wanted to know if the features and functionality make it a good programming experience and want to get an idea of enhancements before I take a course on it...

Thanks!

Hi Vincent - I'm a DIY, not a CI, so factor that in to my comments. I installed and programmed an MX-950 and 2 900s (3 video zones) talking to an MSC-400 that in turn controls a Fujistu plasma, Escient MX-111/Sony DVD-777ES, Neothings Borrego video switch, NAD M15 preamp, and Arcam DV-78 via serial (with Lutron Homeworks to be added soon) and 2 Series 3 Tivos via IR. (Also using a voltage sensor with an audio sensor on a Sonos ZP-80 to automatically turn on and set the right presets on the NAD when you turn on a specific Sonos zone).

The only real problem I ran into was needing to reverse the pinouts on the serial cables for some devices to get them to work. With that out of the way, programming is straightforward and only has a few additional wrinkles vs. doing a 950 or 900 standalone - those primarily revolve around additional features like variables and IF/THEN logic which make the device very powerful.

For example... an event is generated when the ZP-80 starts playing. If the variable for the living room TV doesn't indicate that it is already turned on (e.g. someone is watching it), then go ahead and turn the preamp on and set it up to play the Sonos input... otherwise don't do anything. Reverse that logic when the ZP-80 stops playing, combined with a delay loop that checks that it *really* has stopped and it wasn't just a gap while a new track was selected.

AFAIK there is no documentation for the MSC, just a training presentation that you should be able to secure. Training would be a luxury but I was able to get this done with just the info from that presentation.

Hope this helps
Skip

If you are doing RTI, the MSC-400 is similar to doing RTI remotes that have stand alone devices. If all your devices are stored on the RP-1/RP-6 and the remote doesn't have any stand alone devices you will find RTI easier. Otherwise it is a wash for programming.

Bob

Thank you all for the insight.

At first it is a lot to wrap your head around, because it isn't a remote, and yet it kind of acts like one. It is very powerful, and as such can do almost anything you can think of, so that makes it a bit tricky because you can use it so many different ways.

After you get the hang of it, though, it really isn't hard.