Getting Started: Controls System Overview

Getting Started: Controls System Overview

What is the KanexPro Controls Line?

KanexPro Controls is a scalable AV control system for meeting rooms, boardrooms, auditoriums, and multi-room installations. It allows a single, unified interface — a wall keypad or touch panel — to control all AV devices in a room: displays, projectors, matrix switchers, audio DSPs, lighting, and shades.

The system is built around four product types:

  • Control Processors: The brain. Runs scripts, manages I/O, communicates with AV devices.
  • Extenders & Expanders: Add I/O ports at remote locations or operate standalone for simple deployments.
  • Keypads: Wall-mounted buttons for one-touch scene control.
  • Touch Panels: Graphical touchscreen UI for full room control with feedback.

Product Overview

Control Processors

SKUKey SpecsBest For
CR-HOST6S6× RS-232, relay, IR, dual Gig PoE out, compactSmall–medium rooms
CR-HOST8R8× RS-232, 8× relay, 8× IR/serial, 8× digital I/O, 1U rackLarge rooms, boardrooms

Extenders & Expanders

SKUKey SpecsBest For
CR-3XCONTROLIR + RS-232 + relay, PoE, standalone or expanderSimple room, single-device IP control
CR-EXPAND1RS-232, IR, relay, digital I/O, PoERemote I/O expansion
CR-EXPAND44× RS-232, relay, EthernetRack AV, multiple serial devices

Keypads

SKUButtonsKey Feature
CR-KEY10R10Onboard RS-232, IR, relay, PoE
CR-KEY8U8Onboard RS-232, IR, relay, PoE, decora
WP-IPKEYPAD88Wall plate, IP-only, PoE

Touch Panels

SKUScreenKey Feature
CR-TOUCH4A4" Android 11App-based, compact, PoE
CR-TOUCH6R6" widescreenPhysical knob, onboard RS-232, PoE

How the System Works

  1. The control processor is installed in the AV rack and connected to all AV devices via RS-232, IR, relay, or IP.
  2. Keypads and touch panels are mounted in the room and connected to the same network as the processor via PoE Ethernet.
  3. The programmer configures the system in EasyAccomplish — mapping button actions, macros, device feedback, and schedules.
  4. When a user presses a button, the keypad sends the event to the processor over IP, and the processor executes the appropriate commands.

EasyAccomplish Programming Software

EasyAccomplish is KanexPro’s proprietary programming platform for all control processors. It is available in three ways:

  • Browser-based: Access directly from any web browser — no installation required.
  • Mac App: Available on the Mac App Store.
  • iOS App: Available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.

EasyAccomplish includes an event-driven scripting engine, a real-time scheduler, a built-in device driver library, and tools for configuring all I/O ports, keypads, and touch panels in the system.

Next Steps