EPIC Admin Training

December 13, 2022

 WELCOME
Alan Coleman
Educational Development Specialist
Alan.Coleman@audioenhancement.com

THANK
YOU
Training Objectives
Front Office Uses

Make an Intercom Call

Make a Zone/Entire School Page

Activate a Notification

SAFE System Overview

Scheduling overview and adjustments

Epic Admin Controls

Set-up 
Customization
Troubleshooting
Grand Stream Phone

 Redundant source for paging!

 Has speed dials for common
numbers
 A complete list of extensions is
provided in the close out
documents

4
Identifying Device Status on the Kiosk

• The Home page Map is the focused dashboard for EPIC.

The Map “tells the story” of the campus
Identifying Device Status concerns

• IF a device goes offline or a wiring issue occurs, the

room/location of that assigned device will turn yellow
Identifying Device Status concerns

To further troubleshoot these devices, it is recommended to utilize your

school/district HelpDesk ticketing process for support
Making an Intercom Call
Select INTERCOM
Select the appropriate Room

 Tap/click on the Room name from the drop-down list or directly on the
Campus Map
Select the INTERCOM button and speak into mic
Intercom Call is now active
Tap END when INTERCOM call is complete
Tap END when INTERCOM call is complete
Paging (Announcements/All Calls)
Select PAGE
Select the appropriate ZONE
Tap/Click the Page button to initiate
Page is now active
Tap END when PAGE is complete
You’ve just completed a Page!
Use of Notifications
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Use of Notifications

• By default, EPIC Notifications come pre-created with Fire,

Lightning, Tornado, All Clear, Lock Down, and Bell Notification
Custom Notifications

• Custom Notifications can be easily created

and added to the existing list.
Notifications-Stop All
If you ever need to
stop a notification,
there is a "Stop All"
button on the left
side menu
SAFE System
 SAFE System
SAFE (Signal Alert For Education)
System™ is an alert and notification
solution that connects teachers
and classrooms to first responders
for quick response and
communication.
SAFE Device Components

XD Teacher Mic

MS-300 amp

Wall Box
Emergency Wall Plate
 SAFE User SAFE Device Components:
Wall Plate
• Teacher VIEW
• Kiosk VIEW

XD Receiver
Emergency Wall Plate

EPIC Server
 SAFE Device Components:
Wall Plate
• Teacher VIEW
• Kiosk VIEW

XD Receiver
Emergency Wall Plate

EPIC Server
 SAFE Device Components:
XD Mic pre-Alert
• Teacher VIEW
• Kiosk VIEW

XD Receiver
XD Teacher Mic

EPIC Server
 SAFE Device Components:
XD Mic post-Alert
• Teacher VIEW
• Kiosk VIEW

XD Receiver
XD Teacher Mic

EPIC Server
SAFE Alert acknowledged
• Kiosk VIEW

• Teacher VIEW

XD Receiver
SAFE Alert acknowledged
• Kiosk VIEW

• Teacher VIEW

XD Receiver
 SAFE Alert Email/SMS message Notifications
• A default SAFE Alert
Event (paired/non-
paired) will display on
the console and can be
configured to send an
email(s) and SMS text
message(s) to
identified recipients.
• Follow the steps ahead
to ensure the accuracy
of those contacts
SAFE Alert Email/SMS message Notifications
 Ending a SAFE Alert

XD Receiver

• Once the Alert has been acknowledged by an admin, the

teachers XD Receiver will provide a visual display of LED colors
changing from all red to green-red-green
 Ending a SAFE Alert

XD Receiver

• After ending a SAFE Alert, the XD Receiver lights will revert

back to “normal” indicating Power with a solid green LED
VIDEO: SAFE Alert in action
Non-Paired Alert
 Ending a SAFE Alert-Teachers

• Teachers need to
POWER off their Mic to
reset it after sending an
alert. If the Mic is not
reset, it will continue
sending an alert signal
and can set off non-
paired alerts. XD Receiver
A Note on the SAFE System
• In times of stress, the sudden release of adrenaline into the human body can affect
thinking and reasoning abilities greatly.
• The use of frequent fire drills helps condition first responders to handle an emergency
evacuation and allow them to respond to it as if it was a common everyday event.
• When staff and students are trained for emergencies, everyone is familiar with the plan
and how to conduct themselves during such an event. The training normalizes the event
and conditions us with the appropriate response.
• This same type of training and conditioning should be applied to SAFE System alert
activations. All parties involved in responding to a SAFE System alert should be trained,
rehearsed, and practiced in their roles according to the response protocols developed and
established by school administration.
• Frequent training in responding to a SAFE alert event will provide the response team with
the self confidence and skills needed to respond appropriately even when the adrenaline
is flowing.
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training”
…..Archilochus
Front Office LIVE Demo

• Demonstration on how to:

• Settings
• System Settings
• Users/Roles
• Schedule Bells
Admin Functions
Admin Settings

• Select “Map Setup” tab from the top-level

ribbon
 Settings: Roles – User List
• Under Settings—Roles—
User List: we can edit user
info, change role and reset
passwords (local users only),
and search for users to verify
they are in system or add a
local user
• Adding Local Users is a
unique method to creating
additional Admin accounts
for school/district support
staff

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  Roles  User List 52

 Settings: Roles – User List
• Under Settings—Roles—
User List: we can edit user
info, change role and reset
passwords (local users only),
and search for users to verify
they are in system or add a
local user
• Adding Local Users is a
unique method to creating
additional Admin accounts
for school/district support
staff

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  Roles  User List 53

 Settings: Roles – User List
• Under Settings—Roles—
User List: we can edit user
info, change role and reset
passwords (local users only),
and search for users to verify
they are in system or add a
local user
• Adding Local Users is a
unique method to creating
additional Admin accounts
for school/district support
staff

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  Roles  User List 54

 Settings: Roles – User List

• IF LDAP is enabled, use of

the “Import Specific Users”
button will be
visible/functional
• Use this button to fetch
added LDAP users from AD

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  Roles  User List 55

Settings: Creating a Local User
 You can add local users – if LDAP is not being
used, if other admins need to access the
system or if there are multiple consoles onsite.
 Username (required)
 Password (required, but throwaway)
 Email (required for VIEWpath)
 Full Name (required)
 *Leave the SIP Extension field blank
 Lastly select User Group

56
 Settings: Roles - Permissions

• Go to Roles -- Permissions
to see and edit individual
roles.
• Almost all categories of
information in EPIC can be
adjusted for each type of
user in this section

57
Map Setup LIVE Demo

• Demonstration on how to:

• Create a Zone
• Rename the Zone and Display
Name
• Add Teacher(s)
• Assign Device(s)
• Editing Zones
EPIC Map Setup
• Admins should use their
personal devices to access
EPIC via the Chrome
browser URL
• UN: schooladmin
• PW: EPIC will prompt you to
set up a password
• *We recommend creating
Local Admin Users within
EPIC for individual access
EPIC Map Setup

• We’ll focus on understanding the EPIC Map, significance of rooms/zones,

and how to modify maps, rooms & zones
• Tap/click on Settings
EPIC Map Setup

• Select “Map Setup” tab from the top-level

ribbon
EPIC Map Setup

• We’ll focus on understanding the EPIC Map, significance of Rooms/Zones,

and how to modify maps, Rooms & Zones
• To add a new Zone, select “Add Zone” from the options on the right
EPIC Map

• Name the new Zone according to your prescribed and

documented terminology for the school/location
EPIC Map

• Select the rooms/areas to be added to the new Zone by either

selecting them individually on the map or via the checkboxes from
the Room list
EPIC Map

• Select the rooms/areas to be added to the new Zone by either

selecting them individually on the map or via the checkboxes from
the Room list
EPIC Map

• Select the rooms/areas to be added to the new Zone by either

selecting them individually on the map or via the checkboxes from
the Room list
EPIC Map

• Lastly, confirm the new Zone creation by

selecting “Apply”
EPIC Map – Room Devices

• Returning to the Map Setup main screen, select an individual

room/location in order to view it’s assigned devices and users
EPIC Map

• Within the room/location information you can add/edit the Room #, apply an installed
camera, adjust the display name, provide a description if the area is unique in its use,
assign a teacher(s), assign device(s), and add to created zones where applicable
EPIC Map
• The EPIC Map is the primary interface for users
• User friendly navigation 
• Zones easily identified due to coloring
• Displays alert location for SAFE
• Non-paired Alerts – Importance of Scale
• The map and rooms are what EPIC uses to tie everything together.
Devices are assigned to rooms, teachers are assigned to rooms, rooms
are assigned to zones. All of these assigned devices can then interact
seamlessly on the EPIC platform 
• Zones are used for bells, paging and notifications. Visual representation
of zones makes it simple for users & admin
• Only 1 user can modify the Map Setup at a time!
• Remember to not remain logged in to Map Setup
EPIC Map
• Only 1 user can modify the Map Setup at a time!
• Remember to not remain logged in to Map Setup
Calendar, Schedule, & Bells Preparation

• We highly recommend that prior to

working in EPIC to configure your
calendar, schedule(s), and bells, you
gather some/all of the following:
• Current/forecasted Bell Schedule(s)
• Multiple campus maps and several
highlighters
• Color code and name specific zones to
be used in EPIC
• Current school year calendar and
Master Schedule of dates, holidays,
and events
Calendar, Schedule, & Bells Preparation

• Current/forecasted Bell
Schedule(s)
Calendar, Schedule, & Bells Preparation

• Current/forecasted
Bell Schedule(s)
• Multiple campus
maps and several
highlighters
Calendar, Schedule, & Bells Preparation

• Current/forecasted Bell
Schedule(s)
• Multiple campus maps and
several highlighters
• Color code and name specific
zones to be used in EPIC
• Current school year calendar
and Master Schedule of dates,
holidays, and events
Creating/Modifying Schedules
Creating/Modifying Schedules

• By default, the Schedule page is blank allowing the user to organize

and create discrete Day Types with attributed bell schemes
Creating/Modifying Schedules

• By default, the Schedule page is blank allowing the user to organize

and create discrete Day Types with attributed bell schemes
Bells & Day Type LIVE Demo
• Demonstration on how to:
• Create a Day Type
• Select a Bell Tone
• Select a Zone
• Add Day Type to Calendar
• Dragging across Calendar
• Selecting Individual Days
• Selecting Days of the Week
• Apply and Save Day Types on
the Calendar
Creating/Modifying Schedules

• Day Type refers to the different types of bell schedules that you will
use throughout the school year. You can set up as many day types as
needed.
Adding Custom Audio for Bells Notifications
 Adding Custom Audio for Bells

• You can “Add” a custom audio file by either choosing from a

pre-recorded audio file OR recording LIVE within the system
 Adding Custom Audio for Bells

• You can alter a pre-recorded message (like Lockdown) with a

custom message recorded from a reliable and trusted staff
member on campus
Editing a Day Type

• When editing a Day Type, click the “pencil” to

expand the screen to edit/delete created bell(s)
Adding a Bell to a Day Type

• Add a name, set the bell start time, Audio

tone, and appropriate Zone(s) for each bell
Saving a Bell to a Day Type

• Remember to Save your bell once completed

Creating/Modifying Schedules

• Once you’ve completed creating your Day Type(s), make

sure to select the “Apply” button to confirm creation
Creating/Modifying Schedules

• Adding “Day Type’s”

• As an example of EPIC’s flexibility with scheduling, here is what SY 2019-2020 (the year of COVID)
could have looked like once schools shut down and required a modified schedule (in FL from
March 2020-on)
Bell Schedule TIP

• Only 1 Bell Schedule can be assigned to a

single day
EPIC Settings: Device Status page
 EPIC Settings: Device Status page

• Devices and EPIC System reside within the

district/school network.
• NAVIGATION: Settings  Devices
 Device Status page

• Red
• Disconnected, not reachable on network
• Yellow
• Online, but some other issue, hover
over to get more info
• Most likely – XD Receiver not
responding
• SIP could be disconnected or other
programming issue
• check device credentials and resave settings
is best way to fix
• Green
• Good to Go!
 EPIC Settings: Set Up Primary Contact
• On the “School” tab under
System Settings it’s
important to populate the
fields for Maintenance
Contact
• Specific individual
necessary to engage with
AE Support for
assistance/leadership with
troubleshooting, updates,
and general/advanced
support

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  School 93

 Settings – UI (User Interface)

 The UI tab provides you with

the ability to adjust the
following critical settings:
 Bell Time Format
 (12-hour v. 24-hour)
 Calendar start month
 Adjusts the Schedule
calendar view
accordingly
 Calendar start year
 Adjusts the Schedule
calendar year for
accuracy between years

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  UI 94

 Settings – UI (User Interface)

 *Important note:
 The Time Settings button
will display the selected
Time Zone/NTP server for
the system
 An improperly set Time
Zone will cause
problems with the
accuracy of bell
schedules and other
time-dependent
functions in EPIC

• NAVIGATION: Settings  System Settings  UI 95

SSL Certificate Management
• How does it help us?
• Administrators can replace
EPIC’s SSL certificate so that
it can be accessed from a
hostname and without any
warnings! Enter the
appropriate hostname and
provide the SSL certificate
and Key.
• A valid SSL certificate and
hostname is required for
District View
• See EPIC SSL Certificate
guide for further details

96
Network Tests
• How does it help us?
• EPIC has network testing capabilities to
ensure communication with critical
services or other hosts on the network.
• This will show the connection to critical
services that may be required for EPIC
System or VIEWpath.
• Administrators can type in an
IP/hostname in the “IP Address” field
and click “GO” to perform a ping test
from the EPIC System directly.
• The email and text message services
can also be tested here by entering
valid email/phone numbers and
pressing “GO”.

97
Manual Back-up of EPIC settings

• Manual Back-up
• Before making any significant
changes, taking a manual
back-up is a “Best Practice”
• After making significant
changes, taking a manual
back-up is a “Best Practice”
• Manual back-ups are a
manageable file size and
should be stored on a
separate network or device
that has a different power
supply than the EPIC server

98
Control Volume for Paging Zones
Several Methods for Control of Zone Audio, depending on original
design
• Control volume knob on amp
• Small office Wall Mounted Volume Control
• Speaker taps
• How much power (hence volume) a speaker will draw. Sometimes a dial,
sometimes wiring differs for the tap options, however, most speakers
will label or come with instructions. Not always red/black
• There is also adjustments in EPIC for Paging Volume at the device
level

99
 Events – SAFE alert –
Adding Email/SMS text contacts

• A default SAFE Alert Event

(paired/non-paired) will
display on the console and
can be configured to send
an email(s) and SMS text
message(s) to identified
recipients.
• Follow the steps ahead to
ensure the accuracy of
those contacts

100
Events – SAFE alert

• Navigate to Settings…

101
Events – SAFE alert

• Once in Settings, select Events…

102
Events – SAFE alert

• Once in Events, select the drop-down Event option…

103
Events – SAFE alert

• Select “safealert” from the drop-down menu

104
 Events – SAFE alert

• A default SAFE Alert Event

will display on the console
(an optional MS1000) and
can be configured to send
an email(s) and SMS text
message(s) to identified
recipients.
• Selecting the icon for
“sendEmail” and
“sendSms” will allow you
to add appropriate
recipients for alert
notification(s)

105
Events – SAFE Alerts (Non-Paired)

• All custom actions setup for

safeAlert must also be setup
in SAFEAlertNonPaired
 Customizing Notifications

• In this example, the default “Tornado” notification is being

edited and recorded over with a custom message from a
trusted staff member with an individualized campus message
 Making a Notification Visible/Invisible

• In this example, the “High Five” Notification is going to be

made invisible, however, if the High Five notification was
added as a Bell in the Schedule, it would continue to play
Additional Notifications Support
• Additional examples of custom Notifications from existing
schools:
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Special Area Cleanup (Art/PE)
• Tardy Bell/Warning notice
• SAFE Alert notice
• Common messages that can be pre-recorded to allow Admin the ability to be
present elsewhere at the same time
• For assistance with additional customizations please contact
AE Customer Support for personalized guidance
 LDAP- Auto roles
• LDAP allows users to access EPIC
using their “normal” credentials.
We generally only require it when
using VIEWpath

110
 LDAP- Auto roles
• Users provides read-access
account here and it will allow
users to map security groups
from LDAP to permission “Roles”
in EPIC on new Group Mapping
tab
• Multiple groups can be selected
for one role, but it is best for
them to create a specific group
with correct users
• It is recommended that Admin
and Standard roles are created
as Local Users and LDAP for
Teachers.
• All three fields (Admin, Standard,
Teachers) must be populated,
however, for Admin/Standard, a
non-user container would be
appropriate (ex.: Printer, Server…)
Discover and Add Devices to EPIC
 EPIC will discover all devices on the
same network and show in
“unknown devices” until added
 Devices on other network EPIC will
still function but no discovery – so
virtualized/centralized server will not
see this

 Uses unique MAC Address to

distinguish devices
 Your devices have MACs labeled on
them! You will all see other’s devices,
double check your MACs!!!

 Click the + in the unknown devices

section to add a discovered device
 Credentials should be set in configure
before adding – check individual
device credentials by clicking the lock
icon
 Add Devices from Discovery to EPIC
 Adding device from discovery, most of this will
already be filled out – this is preferred method
to add devices
 Device Name AE standard is school abbreviation-
room number-device type (RES-315-MS500)

 Set an IP for the device when adding

 Add an Extension
 Should match room number where possible

 XD/TLD/None
 This should reflect what is tied to that specific
device! It will determine how the device is
monitored and whether alerts will be received – if
none is selected a device will not react to SAFE
Alerts!
 Check Receiver won’t work until after device added

 Credentials should be set in template prior to

adding devices
 Device will be configured upon clicking submit!
 Add Devices from Discovery to EPIC
 Click Add Device tab near top of page to
manually add
 May manually add if devices on another subnet

 Select the Driver Name for the appropriate

device
 Add an Extension
 Should match room number where possible

 XD/TLD/None
 This should reflect what is tied to that specific
device! It will determine how the device is
monitored and whether alerts will be received – if
none is selected a device will not react to SAFE
Alerts!
 Check Receiver won’t work until after device added

 Credentials should be set in template

prior to adding devices
EPIC Map

• The EPIC Map is a PNG depiction

of a “clean” floorplan for the
school
• Room objects are added on top
of map image for interaction
• Map PNG file can be updated or
replaced without affecting the
rooms
• Scale is added to show signal
strength on map during SAFE
Alerts.
• Scale bar should be matched to
a known length room and the
scale value updated accordingly
EPIC Map

• Map Setup can be found by accessing Settings…

EPIC Map

• Tap or click on Map Setup on the upper tab ribbon…

EPIC Map

• Within Map Setup you can Add, Remove, and/or adjust details for every
mapped Room and Zone on campus
• You can also upload a new map in event the campus is altered or modified
from the original view provided during implementation
EPIC Map: Editing Zones
• Zones are used for paging and bells
• Cannot ring a bell to individual room or device,
it must go to a zone
• To add, go to map setup and click “Add
Zone”
• To edit a zone, under Map Setup, expand
zone list and select zone you want to modify
• Highlighted rooms are part of the selected
zone
• Zones have paging extensions which can be
called from the GrandStream phone by
dialing the extension (auto-increments from
5000 which is default “Entire School”)
EPIC Map: Editing Zones
• Zones are used for paging and bells
• Cannot ring a bell to individual room or device,
it must go to a zone
• To add, go to map setup and click “Add
Zone”
• To edit a zone, under Map Setup, expand
zone list and select zone you want to modify
• Highlighted rooms are part of the selected
zone
• Zones have paging extensions which can be
called from the GrandStream phone by
dialing the extension (auto-increments from
5000 which is default “Entire School”)
EPIC Map: Editing Zones
• Zones are used for paging and bells
• Cannot ring a bell to individual room or
device, it must go to a zone
• To add, go to map setup and click “Add
Zone”
• To edit a zone, under Map Setup, expand
zone list and select zone you want to
modify
• Highlighted rooms are part of the
selected zone
• Zones have paging extensions which can
be called from the GrandStream phone
by dialing the extension (auto-increments
from 5000 which is default “Entire
School”)
Device Status page

• We have “Query ALL XD” button so all online devices can fetch all XD
receiver ID’s automatically
 Settings--Logs
Useful Terms Log shows
ALM logged during a “paired” alert • EPIC logs EVERYTHING!!!
ALL is logged during a “non-paired” alert
05 is logged when a SAFE alert is initiated by an IO2
• The logs are invaluable
closer when troubleshooting and
Comment is logged when a SAFE alert is ended, and the
comment is entered
can be used to pinpoint
$SXI to see if device received bell almost any problem
Notification is logged when a notification is played – ex
Name “Lockdown”
ffmpeg is logged for every device at time of bell
Help and where to get it
• Audio Enhancement Website
• www.audioenhancement.com
• Audio Enhancement Support
• Em: support@audioenhancement.com
• Ph: 800.932.3578 8AM – 7PM EST
• Alan Coleman
• alan.coleman@audioenhancement.com
• 770.313.3719
• Customer Success Team
• customersuccess@audioenhancement.com