The Benedini Mini is a high quality sound board sold by Thomas Benedini from Germany.
Please visit the Benedini website for more information on his products: Benedini RC Model Electronics
The instructions on this page apply only to use of the Benedini Mini in combination with the Armortek Command Module (CM), and only when the CM is placed into pre-configured mode (see here).
When using the CM in full-featured mode, or when using the Mini with the Open Panzer TCB, use the instructions on this page instead.
The Command Module (CM) has three RC outputs dedicated to the Mini, they are labeled Prop1, Prop2, and Prop3 which are the same labels used on the Mini.
Note that the Mini has two Prop 1 connections, one for incoming and one for outgoing. Connect the CM to the incoming Prop 1 connection on the Mini. Use male-to-male servo cables for the connection.
Benedini provides a free configuration software called TBS-Flash. The CM is only compatible with TBS Flash v3, v4, or later. If you are using an earlier version, you must not only download the new version of TBS Flash from Benedini's website, but you must also update the firmware on your Mini to match the version of Flash you are using.
TBS Flash has many features and configuration options we will not need. The information here is not a comprehensive overview of everything the Benedini sound card can do, but only a highlight of the specific settings we need in order for it to work with the CM. Please read the Benedini manual to learn more about its other features which you might find useful.
In TBS Flash there are three tabs: Sounds, Parameter, and Diagnostic (the Diagnostic tab used to be called “Misc” in TBS Flash v3 and earlier). We discuss each one below:
The Sounds tab of TBS Flash is where you import all your sound files, and then write them to your Benedini device. In addition to 6 engine sounds, in pre-configured mode the CM will also automatically control the sounds for turret, barrel, cannon, machine gun 1 and 2, and headlight sounds when the Mini is setup as described below. Additionally, up to 8 extra user sounds can be also controlled at will if your radio has sufficient number of channels.
All these sounds can be imported in any order on the Sounds tab, but will then need to be assigned to specific slots on the Parameter tab in TBS Flash.
When all your sounds are imported, it's a good idea to save a soundfile to disk as backup. You also need to put all the sounds onto your Mini by clicking the write Sounds button.
The Parameter tab is where we specify how the Mini will be controlled. The screenshot below highlights the important areas that related to the Command Module (but again, only when using the CM in pre-configured mode! If you are configuring the CM with the OP Config software, the Mini setup will be different, see here instead). You are free to use any of the other many settings the Mini provides, but you will need to read about those in the manual from Benedini.
Note: Drop-down values highlighted in green in the image above represent the literal selection to make. Values highlighted in blue represent the sound number from the Sounds tab that should be placed in that slot. For example, if you have the cannon fire sound loaded into the Sound 1 row on the Sounds tab, then you should select Sound 1 in position 4 of the 1st Coder column since that is where that cannon sound needs to go.
The other settings in TBS Flash you can set as you like and are not discussed here. When you have the Parameter tab configured as shown above, make sure you click the write Param (Flash v4) or Write Device (Flash v3) button to save these settings to your Mini. It is also recommended you save a copy of the parameter file to your hard-drive for backup.
The third tab is called Diagnostic in Flash v4 but was called the Misc tab in Flash v3. On this tab you need to set the prop settings to the numbers shown below. These settings let the Mini know what range of signals to expect from the Command Module. You can type them in manually or just import one of the PropSettings files below, select the one that matches your version of Flash and your version of the Mini:
Download:
For Flash v3 and Mini V1
For Flash v4 and Mini V1
For Flash v4 and Mini V2
First download the file to your computer. For TBS Flash v4 go to File menu and select Open PropSettings to import the file. For TBS Flash v3 click the Load File button on the Misc tab to import the file. Now it is wise to verify the Prop 1, 2, and 3 numbers match the screenshot below. Finally, click the Write Device button to save these prop settings to your Mini.
That's it! Your Mini is ready to go.